The Importance of Volunteering

Considering prioritizing your give-back game in the coming year? Volunteering can be a beautiful thing. It creates a greater sense of community and connects you to those around you in an authentic, genuine way. At Levo, we happen to value it so much, we encourage our team members to use up to 12 hours per year of paid work time on volunteering projects!

Here are just a few of the many reasons we believe in volunteering at Levo.

It Connects You

There’s no better way to branch out and learn something about what it’s like to walk in others’ shoes than by volunteering. Sioux Falls provides ample opportunities to help gather food and necessary items, help build or help maintain South Dakota’s natural beauty and environment. And one of the best side effects? It helps you find like-minded folks who feel as passionate as you—and connects you to hard-working people in need from all walks of life.

Our own team members get out into the community in droves! In a single year, Levo employees donated as much as 1349 hours to 93 different organizations in our area. Beneficiaries have included Stand Down For Veterans, Dress for Success, Sioux Falls Area Human Society and Teddy Bear Den, among many others!

It Makes You Healthier

Piles of research have made it clear—engaging in community service and volunteering is good for your mental and physical health. Volunteering has been shown to reduce depression and anxiety, as well as engages hormones in your brain that improve your happiness, confidence and sense of purpose. So that feel-good feeling is scientific!

One of the ways we financially support causes that keep kids happy, healthy and educated is participating in the Operation Hope & Caring, which raises funds within local schools in order to help level the playing field for kids who can't afford school supplies, field trips, clean clothes and other elements for school that help a student's success.

It Can Teach You

Learning new things is one of the best perks of volunteering. So whether you find yourself working on a Habitat for Humanity project or working with adult literacy programs or river clean-up, there are plenty of skills you can gain that can be applied to your everyday life. See it as an opportunity to step outside your norm and try something new and different—it could have great effects on your skillset well into the future!

Speaking of learning, one of the pillars of Levo’s give-back efforts is financial education—we strive to support community efforts such as Adopt-a-Classroom grants, Junior Achievement and scholarships that support community service projects!

It Makes a Difference

Regardless of how you feel about the above benefits, one is entirely clear—volunteering impacts people who need a helping hand, and making a difference in the lives of your neighbors is the ultimate goal. The beauty of it is that it doesn’t have to be a full-time job—dedicating a few hours a month to volunteering benefits the greater good of making Sioux Falls a community where everyone can live safely, comfortably and happily. And you’re a major component of that.

Want to find out more about how Levo encourages its employees and members to give back to the Sioux Falls region? Click below to find out what initiatives we are a part of today.