EDITORIAL: Volunteer, and help transform the community
The Town Talk (excerpt)

More than 24,000 Louisianians are helping with 262 national service projects statewide, according to the federal agency. Serving with national and local nonprofits, schools, faith-based organizations and other groups, these volunteers tutor children, coordinate after-school programs, build homes, conduct neighborhood patrols, restore the environment, respond to disasters, build nonprofit capacity and recruit and manage volunteers.

Research has shown a relationship between communities with high levels of social capital -- our connectedness and involvement in the community -- to the overall quality of life. Getting there takes commitment from everyone.

When people are involved, their communities are healthier, more vibrant places because the people are healthier and more vibrant.

"Over the past two decades, a growing number of national studies have also established a relationship between volunteering and individual well-being," the study found.

"On average, volunteers appear to live longer and have greater functional ability and lower rates of depression later in life than those who do not volunteer."

Get engaged. Everybody wins.