Haven’t you heard?

According to recent news reports, public service in the United States is on the verge of becoming a national movement. From September 2007 to September 2008, more than 25 percent of the United States population volunteered for or through an organization at least once.

The idea of volunteering may conjure up images of a community building a new home or running a 5K race for charity, but there are many other facets to public service and several ways to give back.

For many across the nation, public service often means participating in small but empowering and uplifting acts that not only benefit one’s community, but can also play a role in improving one’s health. In fact, recent research has found a connection between volunteering and good health.

This connection can be especially important for people living with a chronic illness, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). For example, 81% of people with RA said in a recent survey that they wish they could do more independently rather than rely on others, and 40% said they want to give back through volunteering or public service to prove that they are not limited by their RA.

For those newly diagnosed with RA or those who may have never volunteered before, you may ask: What can I do to give back?

For Debbie McGrady, 55, an active participant in Hand in Hand for RA, it means driving her elderly neighbors to important doctor’s appointments. And for Kristi Brown, 36, the symptoms of RA do not hold her back from watching over toddlers at her church during her free time.

To help you find what volunteer activity might be right for you, click on tips, and to learn more about what others with RA are doing to give back in their communities, click on volunteer stories.