Volunteering: A New Tradition. Helen R. Cooley, MS, CPRP, CHES

Transcription

1 Volunteering: A New Tradition Helen R. Cooley, MS, CPRP, CHES

2 Volunteering: A New Tradition We will discuss the ins and outs of volunteering, what to consider in choosing to volunteer, how to get started and the rewards from being a volunteer.

3 Some Facts about Volunteering In 2013, one in four adults (25.4 percent) volunteered through an organization, demonstrating that volunteering remains an important activity for millions of Americans Altogether, 62.6 million Americans volunteered nearly 7.7 billion hours last year. The estimated value of this volunteer service is nearly $173 billion. More than 138 million Americans (62.5 percent) also engaged in "informal volunteering" in their communities, which includes helping neighbors with such tasks as watching each other's children, helping with shopping, or house sitting.

4 More Facts about Volunteering Volunteers are almost twice as likely to donate to charity as non-volunteers. Nearly eight in 10 (79.2 percent) volunteers donated to charity, compared to four in 10 (40.4 percent) of non-volunteers. Overall, half of all citizens (50.7 percent) donated at least $25 to charity in The top volunteer activities included fundraising or selling items to raise money (25.4 percent); collecting, preparing, distributing, or serving food (24.2 percent); providing transportation and general labor support (19.6 percent); tutoring and teaching youth (18 percent); mentoring youth (17.3 percent); and lending professional and management expertise (15 percent).

5 Volunteering in New Mexico 25.8% of residents volunteer, ranking them 33rd among the 50 states and Washington, DC. 367,350 volunteers 49.7 million hours of service $1.1 billion of service contributed 36.4 volunteer hours per capita 50.9% of residents engage in "informal volunteering" (for example, doing favors for neighbors) 43.3% frequently talk with neighbors

6 Steps to Volunteering Consider why you want to volunteer. Do you want to help the world or your community? Do you want to build your own skills, make new friends and learn? Do you want to share your gifts with others or give something back? Choose an organization that is meaningful to you. If you feel strongly about literacy for instance, volunteer at your local library or find out if there is an organization of volunteer tutors in your area. There are organizations doing all sorts of work, and it is especially important with volunteer work that you choose something that you value. Organizations exist for all sorts of purposes, so if dishing up food at a soup kitchen doesn't sound like your cup of tea, consider ushering at your local theater, building homes, or volunteering at a hospital or animal shelter.

7 Steps to Volunteering Look for an organization or activity in your area or community. Seek out an organization and tasks within it that suit your skills and interests. Of course, you can develop new skills and learn many things by volunteering, but your volunteer work can still be compatible with your interests. If you're an outgoing "people person", you might not have much fun in the back office stuffing envelopes or filing papers. Do you love to work with people? With animals? With children? With numbers? Are you handy? Organizations need all sorts of skills. If you're not sure what sort of work you like or dislike, a volunteer organization may be a great opportunity to dabble a bit and try different things.

8 Steps to Volunteering Start small. If you already have a busy schedule, volunteer your time for an hour or two per week or perhaps one day per month. (Just about anybody can free up that much time easily. Try turning off the TV!) You might be surprised how much you can accomplish in even a little bit of time. Then, if you find you enjoy the work and have more time to pursue it, gradually take on more. Get to know others in the organization and how the group supports volunteers. Attend a training or orientation session, if one is available; if not, talk to local group leaders and other volunteers in the community about their experiences. You'll learn what to expect of an organization and your work with it, and you'll pick up some good tips to make your work there more productive and more meaningful.

9 Steps to Volunteering Explain your own background and preferences to those in charge. They can help to match you with meaningful, suitable tasks, but only if they know a bit about who you are. Ask, don't demand. The people in charge of organizing, whether or not they are also volunteers, have certain needs to meet and may be quite busy. Especially if you're just starting out, consider helping with an immediate need even if it is not the ideal match for your abilities. Work doesn't always neatly match the people available to do it. You will still be helping the organization and you might learn a new skill or discover something about yourself.

10 Steps to Volunteering Get started. Ask plenty of questions and do your research, but until you sign up and get your feet wet, you won't know if volunteering for a particular organization is really right for you. Get training. If your organization has a formal orientation or training, attend it. If not, or if you still don't know where to begin, ask to work with an experienced volunteer or group. Then, ask lots of questions and give it a shot.

11 Steps to Volunteering Try not to give up. Volunteer organizations, too, sometimes have less-pleasant tasks, difficult fellow workers, busy times, slow times, or bad management. If you find your work unpleasant, you have choices: Work through it, anyway. Don't forget to look for ways to ease the task or prepare better next time. Get help. If you're overwhelmed, confused, or stuck, ask if there is anyone else that could step up and give you a hand. Fix the problem. If there's something in your way, it's probably in everybody else's way, too.

12 Steps to volunteering Try not to give up. Take a break or back off. Ask to do something else. Look to another organization or branch. Start your own organization or volunteer freelance.

13 Steps to Volunteering Have fun! You will accomplish more if you love what you do, and chances are good that your enthusiasm will infect others.

14 Volunteering: Where do I fit in? What are formal and informal ways we volunteer? Help in the Soup Kitchen monthly Help in the kitchen at a school two times each month Make quilts for the community cupboard (emergency) Bring a neighbor home from the hospital after a medical procedure Prepare food for neighbors and friends who are not well Ask people how is your family? Participate in canned food drive Donate used items to Savers, Good Will, Salvation Army Selling raffle tickets to raise money for fundraising

15 Where do you fit in? Share some ways that you volunteer informally and formally in our communities?

16 Areas to volunteer Advocacy and Human Rights Animals Arts & Culture Board Advocacy

17 Why Volunteering is Important There are many answers to the question, why volunteering is important. Even though it s not something you will get paid for, the benefits are actually greater than the money itself. Improve my community To give back To help others in need Things are done more effectively You get connected to other people Giving hope Volunteering emboldens the human spirit What benefits listed above would you like to have in your life?

18 Why people volunteer I asked several groups of people Do you volunteer? And Why? Someone asked me I want to give something to my community I have family with an illness and I want to help others who have that illness There is a need for volunteers I have free time Because I don t have to reinvent the wheel, there is already an organization to do fill the void. Why do you volunteer?

19 Why People Volunteer (continued) I get energized by being with young people (A neighbor who helps with meals for college students) I want to share my faith (a friend who teaches catechism) I love helping children learn to read (a mother of child with dyslexia) It is a memorial to my parents who passed from cancer (organizes friends to make quilts and afghans for the chemotherapy lab) I make new friends (Aunt of children with Muscular Dystrophy) It gives me a reason to get up in the morning (her husband is retired) Gathering prom dresses to give to girls who may not have one otherwise helps my children see recycling beautiful dresses is fun and they get to help girls choose dresses and try the dresses on.

20 How To Find the Right Place to Volunteer Try several places to volunteer. Not every volunteer opening is a good fit What are you passionate about? What makes you happy? Is transportation convenient? How many hours do I want to volunteer and how many hours do they want from a volunteer? What hours of the day are best for me? Do I want something I can do from home or do I need to get out more?

21 What to expect when Volunteering? They don t know you. First day in the kitchen of the charter school You don t know the rules or the way things function This is a time to ask questions What to wear? Ask before starting When to arrive? Ask before starting Is there a check-in procedure?

22 Our Responsibilities to begin Volunteering What questions do you (the organization or leader)have? What questions do I have. Is there an information sheet? What will be expected of me?

23 Let s Get Down to Business What has worked in the past for you? Why? What hasn t worked for you? Why? What interests you? Is it your time to volunteer? What are reason it is and reason it isn t?

24 Benefits of Volunteering for Consumers of Mental Health Volunteer work is an excellent way to learn and develop new skills and abilities. Becoming a volunteer may be one of the most important decisions you will ever make in your recovery. The skills and abilities gained will well equipped you for the world of paid employment. The respect and affection of co-workers in the office has helped immeasurably in ending a sense of isolation.

25 Benefits of Volunteering for Consumers of Mental Health(cont.) The self-confidence gained through interacting with diverse people in the workplace will strengthen a sense of self and faith in the ability to cope with others. The routine of work and relaxation that accompany going into an office every day has a feeling a part of society again. Being needed at work and missed when unable to be there gives an important sense of meaning and purpose to life. Taken from a NAMI article

26 Benefits of Volunteering Volunteering increases self confidence Volunteering combats depression Volunteering helps you stay physically healthy Volunteering has a happiness effect

27 Q and A Any thoughts or questions you may have? Complete the evaluation sheet, please. Thank you for being here!