We all love giving to the people we love, but what if we could make it last all through the year?

Donating to others not only makes the receiver happy, but it makes you feel good too. Giving lights up reward and pleasure centers in the brain just as if you’re the one getting the gift. You’ll feel great for hours afterward because of the endorphins your body releases.

According to Utah State University, College of Science, subjects of a 2008 study asked them to rate their level of happiness, and they were given an envelope with either $5 or $20. The participants were urged to spend the money on someone else or spend it on themselves. Money spent on someone else instead of oneself resulted in a happier mood for those who spent it on others.

We feel happier when we give to charity, especially when it’s our choice.

It doesn’t matter how much money we have. It’s what we do with it that delivers us happiness. Our time is the same way. Donations in Utah to a charity are good for your mental health. If you want to add some much-needed joy to your life and make other people happy, evidence suggests you should be deliberate about giving your time and money to charity.

If you are interested in donating your time and live in Utah, change your life by changing a kid’s future by becoming a mentor with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah. Supporting the 1-to-1 mentoring model of Big Brothers Big Sisters and helping Utah’s kids can help defend their potential. They help youth facing opportunity gaps find the most significant possible future through mentoring. Kids will benefit from your time donations in Utah. There’s evidence that mentored kids do better in school, have better attendance, and feel more confident.

There are other ways to give donations in Utah to the Big Brothers Big Sisters.

As well as volunteers donating their time, you can provide used items and financial contributions to help youth and the environment.