Volunteering while pursuing drug or alcohol addiction recovery is very beneficial. Many people in recovery find tremendous fulfillment and benefit in giving back to the community and helping people. Sober volunteering in Pennsylvania can involve helping fellow addicts find recovery, or helping any of other sector of society, like the homeless.
There are so many volunteer opportunities in Pennsylvania for those who are interested. Interestingly, many of these opportunities are in close proximity to our rehab centers in Pennsylvania. Both of our rehab centers in Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania, and Bucks, Pennsylvania have countless volunteering opportunities nearby, allowing people to attend rehab and recover, while also giving back to the community.
Benefits of volunteering in recovery:
There are so many benefits to recovery through service. Firstly, volunteering in recovery can help relieve depression, stress, anxiety, and loneliness. It allows you to connect with other people, bringing you out of isolation. (Avoiding isolation is also crucial to healthy recovery.) Helping people less fortunate than you also promotes gratitude and overall positivity, improving your quality of life.
Additionally, one of the traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous teaches that “service keeps me sober.” One of the key principles of the AA program is helping others who are struggling with alcoholism, and giving back that which has been given freely to you. This is why AA meetings are comprised of fellow addicts - because people recovering from addiction need to help each other find sobriety.
Service can involve anything that allows the person in recovery to contribute to the group and coach fellow people in recovery through working the 12-step program. This helps you stay sober, and helps other suffering people find lasting sobriety.
How volunteering helps recovery in Pennsylvania:
When volunteering to help people in recovery, you practice peer support volunteering recovery, and can expand your network and sober community. Making sober friends is a vital aspect of sobriety because it provides accountability, support, and constructive friendships. Many newly sober people will relapse when they return home from rehab to their old friends and habits - so creating a new community of sober, emotionally healthy people is critical to retaining sobriety long-term.
In addition, addiction is a deeply selfish disease. People caught in the grips of addiction often seem to struggle with an inflated ego and selfishness, as their brain learns to prioritize obtaining and using their drug of choice over anyone and anything else. They think obsessively about their drug, how to obtain it, when to use it, and more, leaving over little brain space to consider how their actions affect others.
But if you volunteer in addiction recovery, you are automatically thinking of others and how you can help them - combatting this toxic attitude of selfishness.
Giving back in recovery- how to find the right opportunity for you:
Many people enjoy volunteer work for recovery that involves other people in recovery. For example, you can offer to chair a 12-step meeting, take on a service position like treasurer or General Service Representative (GSR) at a meeting, sponsor another sober person through the 12 Steps, allow addicts to call and share their story, or raise awareness of recovery in the general public.
You can also choose any cause that lays close to your heart, whether it’s education, children, animals, homelessness, the elderly, or the sick, and find ways to help that sector of society. For example, you can choose to tutor children, visit terminally ill patients at a hospice, or cheer up sick children at the hospital. Think about your hobbies and strengths, and how they can best be used to benefit others.
Recovery community volunteer opportunities in PA:
In Pennsylvania, there are so many opportunities to help people in society - many of them near our rehab centers in Bucks and Lake Ariel:
- The American Red Cross is a wonderful place to volunteer. You can impact children, the elderly, the vulnerable, and everyone in between, by organizing blood drives, supporting veterans and military family members, helping out during natural disasters, and more.
- Central Pennsylvania Food Bank is the perfect place to volunteer if you’re passionate about feeding the hungry. As a volunteer, you can help sort, process, and pack food that is distributed all across Pennsylvania.
- The Nature Conservancy is a nonprofit aimed at conserving the nature in Pennsylvania. There are volunteer opportunities to lead hikes, monitor trails, or serve as a photographer, videographer, or social media ambassador.
- Muddy Paws Farm Rescue is an awesome opportunity for people who love animals and would like to help them find a secure home. The farm accommodates over 100 animals, and volunteers are needed to help with the running of the farm.
- Opportunity House is for people who would like to help the homeless. They offer emergency housing, run a retail thrift shop, and serve meals, along with other services to benefit the poor and the homeless.
How to balance recovery and volunteerism:
Although drug and alcohol addiction recovery takes precedence over all other activities, ideally service and volunteerism should support each other. People in recovery are advised to adjust their lifestyles to support their recovery process. This includes practicing proper sleep hygiene and better eating habits, surrounding yourself with emotionally healthy friends, working a steady job, and maintaining a daily schedule overall.
As part of practicing a healthier lifestyle, it is wonderfully beneficial for people in recovery to find the time to give to others in the community. Many people find it easier to provide service within the recovery community itself - either in their local 12-step meeting, or one-on-one with fellow addicts. If you feel like you can spare some time outside of your recovery, you may find that you enjoy pursuing volunteer opportunities that match your passions.
Conclusion:
There are so many volunteer opportunities for people who are seeking recovery at either of our rehabs in Pennsylvania, including Lake Ariel and Bucks. Our rehab centers have successfully guided thousands of people through the process of medical detox, therapy, and ongoing sobriety. We employ professional therapists and mental health counsellors who are caring, skilled, and passionate about what they do.
The accommodations are comfortable, the food is superb, and the overall experience is supportive, caring, and encouraging.
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, know that we are here to help. You can embrace a life of recovery, sobriety, and true serenity.
Reach out today to start your journey!