How Good is It? - Volunteerism (04/08)
By Julie Webster-Matthews
Have you ever seen the television commercial for a national brand yogurt in which two friends go to great lengths to describe the awesome taste of the yogurt they are eating? They describe the taste as “a day at the spa” or “finding an awesome pair of shoes on the 75% off clearance rack” kind of good. That is precisely the way I describe the feeling I get when I give to or help others. Giving to others makes me feel really good (actually, even better than shoe shopping!) If you have ever volunteered to help another person or a cause, I am sure you can relate to that same all-consuming feeling of joy and satisfaction. Giving is so often measured in terms of the size of the check. Millions of dollars are donated annually to support thousands of worthy campaigns and causes, but volunteerism is a form of giving in which anyone can participate, regardless of income bracket. In fact, that is the beauty of volunteerism—everybody has something to give.
Obviously, financial contributions are essential to the success of programs designed to assist those in need. However, once the donations are made, organizations need people to complete the work and provide the services those dollars fund. National Volunteer Week is April 27 – May 3, a perfect time to not only acknowledge volunteerism, but also to evaluate your own passions and talents to see how you might be able to make a difference. The hours that volunteers give to individuals, organizations and communities all over the world are a precious and priceless gift. The Hurricane Katrina disaster, to date, has propelled over one million volunteers into action to help restore the city of New Orleans and the lives of its citizens. Those volunteer contributions have been called one of the greatest volunteer efforts in American history, likened only to that of 9/11. The aid and assistance given would never have happened without people who cared enough to give of themselves. They helped mend the lives of the people who desperately needed assistance. However, not only are the lives of the victims changed, the lives of the volunteers are also changed.
When disasters and tragedies occur, the need for volunteers becomes more pronounced and people respond to the call for action. Yet volunteers are needed every single day in quiet ways everywhere. So, why don’t more people volunteer? Some of the common reasons given for not volunteering include:
“I don’t know where I can volunteer.”
Find a volunteer opportunity through your employer.
Today many corporations encourage their employees to “give back to their communities.” They have established relationships with charitable organizations and they support their employees’ involvement. Reed Elsevier and LexisNexis are two such corporations. Reed Elsevier Cares and LexisNexis Cares support and encourage employees to volunteer and give back. At LexisNexis, each employee is given two paid days off each year to volunteer. There is a Web site that lists hundreds of volunteer opportunities in communities all over the country. Your Human Resources department may have a list of organizations to help you find a match. If not, now is a good time to inquire about your company, firm or school establishing a formal volunteer program for the employees. And you’ve created an opportunity to volunteer by offering to spearhead the project.
Check the Internet for volunteer opportunities.
A great Web site that lists hundreds of volunteer opportunities is VolunteerMatch. You can look for organizations that match your interests. Of course, the Internet is a tremendous resource for obtaining contact information for local chapters. And local chapters mean that you contribute your time in your own backyard.
“I don’t have anything special to offer?”
Everybody has a passion, a talent or activity they like to do.
Turn your passions into a volunteer opportunity. For example, if you like to play guitar, volunteer to provide entertainment for a children’s program or at an assisted-living facility during mealtime. This is a wonderful way to volunteer your time that brings you great pleasure and provides a treat to an appreciative audience. The world assumes all librarians love to read, and if you do, volunteer some time to a reading program. Almost any craft or hobby can be transformed into philanthropic effort. Quilting, sewing, making pottery or jewelry are examples of hobbies that you can become volunteer activities by teaching them to others or donating finished products to charitable organizations.
Volunteerism has always been a part of my life, even though I do not have a special talent to contribute. As a child, I remember participating in community projects like collecting canned goods for less fortunate families or picking up trash to help keep our neighborhood clean. I became involved through my Girl Scout Troop or church. As an adult, I’ve donated time by serving on boards of organizations; and even now, I volunteer on Sundays to provide church services for patients at a nursing home. It is a pleasure to be there every single Sunday.
“I don’t have time.”
Give what time you can around your schedule.
Who says the time you donate has to be in one-hour increments? If you find an organization you want to support, contact them and tell them how much time you have. A savvy organization will find a way to make use of your offer. I offer these activities as ideas of what you could do in thirty minutes or less:
- Make a delivery
- Draft a short letter
- Complete a few phone calls
- Check homework
- Make somebody smile
I guarantee if you start with a little, pretty soon you’ll want to find more time to give.
“I don’t want to volunteer alone. I’d rather work with a group.”
Make your own group.
The next time you have a party or plan to invite friends over, contact a local charity to find items or a service they may be in need of. Perhaps a local daycare center needs a fence repaired. Inform your friends about the need and your desire to help. Make the fence-mending the first part of the party, and then have everyone meet at your house afterwards for refreshments and fun. Now you have a compelling reason for the party. You can also use a party to collect items for a charity. When you extend the invitation, inform your guests of the need and your desire to help. Ask each of them to bring one item with them to the party. You can accomplish a tremendous amount with the help of your friends.
Even with LexisNexis giving paid time to volunteer, it can still be a struggle to make volunteering a priority. We in the Librarian Relations Group wanted to participate as a team, but being spread across the country makes it impossible for us to volunteer together at the same place. But we realized we could volunteer at the same time and still have togetherness. In 2007 we agreed to all volunteer in our communities on the same day. It was a wonderful experience! Some of the places we volunteered included:
- Jenny Kanji—sorting donated clothing at St. Francis Church in Palo Alto, CA.
- Michael Saint-Onge and Rachel Schultz—sorted food at a food bank in Los Angeles, CA.
- Julie Webster-Matthews—cooked and served meals at a homeless cafeteria in Atlanta, GA.
- Leanne Battle—organized toiletries for the YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter in Richmond, VA.
- Bridget MacMillan and Elizabeth Cavendish—organized a group of LexisNexis employees who distributed Christmas gift baskets at a shelter in Chicago, IL.
- In Fort Wayne, IN, Cindy Spohr—volunteered at a local society for the prevention of cruelty to animals by walking dogs and giving them an opportunity for exercise.
- Gayle Lynn-Nelson, Danielle Francis & Carol Barra—created birthday gift baskets for under privileged children in the New York area.
What is noteworthy is that the tasks we performed were simple. They are typical of the work that needs to be done in order for the organizations to provide their services. It doesn’t happen without the volunteers. The organizations merely required our hands and our hearts (and comfortable shoes). Afterwards when we shared our experiences, every one of us expressed great satisfaction and joy in being able to help. We are already planning to repeat this idea in 2008!
Inspired yet? I hope so! Need further incentive? A couple of recent publications about volunteerism may offer you some direction:
- Fall in Love with Your Community, www.communityworkbook.com, by Patricia O’Connor
- The New Volunteerism, by Barbara Feinstein & Catherine Cavanaugh
- Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World, by Bill Clinton
Volunteering benefits everyone. The lives of individuals, families and communities that receive the services are often changed forever. In these challenging economic times, the need for volunteers is only going to increase. As you support your favorite charities financially, please consider giving your time, too. Give it a try and get that “first day of vacation with 13 more to go” or “the credit card is finally paid off” kind of good feeling, too.
