Extension expert shares benefits of volunteering
By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Sept. 9, 2025
Fast Facts:
- Consider your interests, skills, issues of importance when deciding where to volunteer
- Research shows helping others can lead to increased happiness, positive worldview
- Cooperative Extension Service offers several volunteer opportunities
(837 words)
(Newsrooms: Download graphic)
LITTLE ROCK — When deciding where and how to lend a helping hand, it’s important to identify your interests, skills and the issues you are passionate about. Or consider the “AAA” approach: aid, action, and advocacy.
Nina Roofe, assistant vice president of family and consumer sciences for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said she began volunteering as a teenager as a candy striper at a local hospital and later in community service projects as part of her school’s home economics club.
“These experiences compelled me to step out of my comfort zone, acquire new skills, and meet people I would not have met otherwise,” Roofe said. “Volunteering allows you to be in a setting where you are not expected to already ‘know everything.’
“You can try new things and gain knowledge and experiences to take into your future, and build your resume for future success,” she said.
Roofe said that according to a 2020 review of research published in the Social Issues and Policy Review, volunteering can uplift one’s spirits.
“Helping others, feeling useful, engaging in meaningful work, and participating in purposeful and intentional activities can lead to feelings of happiness,” Roofe said.
A 2021 journal article in The Gerontologist also reports that volunteering is associated with less depression and self-directed ageism among older adults. According to a 2023 article published in the Journal of Service Theory and Practice, Roofe stated that research suggests volunteers “perceive the world differently.”
“Engaged volunteers feel empowered to create change and inspire others, rather than sitting back in frustration and inaction,” Roofe said.
Deciding where to volunteer
For help navigating the many volunteer opportunities available, Roofe suggested using an “ISI” approach: Interests, Skills, and Issues.
“First, make a list of your interests,” Roofe said. “What do you like to do for fun? Next, make a list of your skills. What are you good at that you can use to help others? Finally, make a list of any issues or situations you would like to address.
“Are there causes you want to support, problems you or your loved ones face, issues in your community that are dear to you, or something broader you want to get behind?” Roofe said. “Ask yourself if you see any overlap among these lists. Are there any local, county, state, or national organizations that align with your lists?”
Another approach uses “AAA:” Aid, Action, and Advocacy. Providing aid could involve raising money or collecting goods, such as participating in food drives, toy collections, or creating items to donate for these purposes.
Action involves donating your time and energy to an issue, such as serving food at a shelter, picking up trash at a local park, or reading to children.
“Advocacy involves raising awareness or educating others about an issue, making it a suitable choice for those with a background in writing, social media, newspaper journalism, or graphic design,” Roofe said. “As you consider giving aid, taking action or advocacy, look for local groups that align with the issues you are passionate about to support.”
When you volunteer, “everyone wins,” Roofe said.
“You can build a network of like-minded people focused on similar goals who can become lifelong friends and colleagues,” she said. “Volunteering benefits the recipients of volunteerism through direct and indirect actions.”
Volunteer opportunities with the Cooperative Extension Service
Roof said there are many opportunities to get involved as a volunteer through your local extension office. In 2024, the estimated economic value of Cooperative Extension Service volunteer efforts exceeded $10 million.
“This does not include the direct benefits of education, mentoring, and advocacy provided by extension,” Roofe said. “You have a place here.”
Contact your local county extension 4-H, family and consumer sciences, or agriculture agent for more information about the following programs:
- 4-H: Roofe said 4-H volunteer leaders “use their knowledge and diverse skills in youth development, organizational planning and program management to provide positive experiences for Arkansas youth.” Learn more at 4-H Volunteering Training and Resources.
- Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council: As the largest volunteer organization in the state, EHC members have a three-pronged mission — promoting lifelong learning, engaging in community service, and fostering leadership development. “EHC is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals, families, and communities,” Roofe said. Learn more at Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council.
- Extension Get Fit: Volunteers are Extension Get Fit participants who have a desire to help others improve their health. “These volunteers act as community contacts to expand program participation with their social media skills and organizational abilities,” Roofe said. Learn more at Extension Get Fit Program Teaching Resources.
- Extension Health Ambassadors: Roofe said these volunteers work in six rural Arkansas counties to address “health challenges, assets, and capacity within their communities, utilizing all factors to build a healthier population.” Learn more at Extension Health Ambassadors.
- Arkansas Master Gardeners: Master Gardeners are horticulture volunteers who use their skills and knowledge to “extend research-based information demonstration and educational programs that utilize best practices, thereby strengthening communities and families throughout Arkansas,” Roofe said. Learn more about the Arkansas Master Gardeners Program.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
# # #
Media Contact:
Rebekah Hall
rkhall@uada.edu
@RKHall_
501-671-2061