5 Ways to Connect and Contribute as a Family

Volunteering does more than give back to your community—it also makes you feel good. Here are five ideas for volunteering together as a family

You may have heard of the runner’s high—that burst of energy followed by calm that comes from physical exertion. Volunteers have actually reported the same euphoria from helping others. Allan Luks, long-time executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City, coined the term “helper’s high” after surveying 3,300 volunteers and finding that many reported feeling exhilarated when they helped out.

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The Act of Kindness and its Positive Health Benefits

"People naturally feel good when they give, help or serve others because they experience something called “helper’s high,” which authors Allan Luks and Peggy Payne (The Healing Power of Doing Good) describe as a feeling of exhilaration and burst of energy similar to the endorphin-based euphoria experienced after intense exercise … followed by a period of calmness and serenity."

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"The term ‘Helper’s High’ was first coined by Allan Luks, in his book, ‘The Healing Power of Doing Good’. You’re probably familiar with the high. It’s that good feeling you get when you do something kind for someone."

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The Science Behind the Power of Giving (Op-Ed)

By Jenny Santi

"The idea of altruism behaving like a miracle drug has been around for at least two decades. The euphoric feeling we experience when he help others is what researchers call the "helper's high," a term first introduced 20 years ago by volunteerism and wellness expert Allan Luks to explain the powerful physical sensation associated with helping others.

"In a 1988 piece for Psychology Today, Luks looked at the physical effects of giving experienced by more than 1,700 women who volunteered regularly. The studies demonstrated that a full 50 percent of helpers reported feeling "high" when they helped others, while 43 percent felt stronger and more energetic. "

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