Wednesday, April 1, 2009

The Benefits of Volunteering

There are some things you can just never trust: weather reports -- the stock market -- campaign promises -- the latest "deal of the week" -- but there's one thing you can always trust: the accuracy and reliability of the information you get here at Hicks Car Works. We bring you the latest scientific knowledge that directly impacts you, things you can't find on any other railfan website -- it's truly "News You Can Use"!

Scientists and social workers have long suspected that volunteerism brings important benefits not only to the community as a whole, but directly to those who volunteer their time to make their community a better place. But scientific proof was lacking, until now. A recent study published in the prestigious McHenry County Journal of Medicine provides surprising confirmation of this: people in the study who started volunteering had dramatic increases in their health, self-esteem, and general well-being. You may find these results hard to believe. But remember that this is a scientific study published in a peer-reviewed journal, and that it is full of numerical results like "84.7%" so you know it must be correct. Here is a typical case study.


Before
Before becoming a volunteer, subject is bored, depressed, morose, even anti-social. With nothing to do in his spare time but watch TV and eat junk food, life lacks purpose and meaning. Has few friends, little to talk about other than sports. Subject has very poor self-esteem and absolutely no sense of humor.







After
Same person after becoming a volunteer at a local non-profit organization. Subject is now much more active and engaged. Self-esteem is improved by 84.7%. Subject has made new friends and acquired new skills. In fact, subject even appears younger, healthier, and has better teeth.







We cannot guarantee that your results will match those in this scientific study. But you won't know until you try it, will you? You have nothing to lose! The time to join the volunteer team at IRM is now!

4 comments:

David Wilkins said...

These results aren't just limited to those who volunteer exclusively at IRM.

I used to be a bitter, angry recluse, sitting at home watching Cable news all day. Since I began volunteering at various rail musuems, I am healthier, happier, much better looking, trimmer, wealthier, and smarter.

Thanks Volunteering!

John Cloos said...

Can we only hope that's a soda, not beer in the "before" picture ?

Not that I have anything against beer (Heaven forbid !), but really, for beer drinking glass bottles are the way to go.

No doubt this would be shown in the "after" photo, should the test subject be so inclined to "toast" his efforts.

Randall Hicks said...

No, that's root beer, the official soft drink of Hicks Car Works.

David Wilkins said...

I just noticed that the subject in the "before" photo is wearing a U of I hat. I too would be upset if I watched my team get beat by Western Kentucky University.

That looks like a can of Barg's Root Beer in the hands of the "before."

David Wilkins, WKU Class of 2002.