National Volunteer Week
A message from Dan Prater
Today across America, men and women by the tens of thousands will get up and go to work. They will deliver meals; serve food, sweep floors, sort clothes and answer phones. They will work in offices and warehouses; they will work inside and outside. You’ll find them in vastly-populated cities and in small rural communities.
These folks are not working for a paycheck. They are volunteers, giving their time, talents and resources to make the world a better place.
The concept of meeting needs through volunteerism has been active in the U.S. since the early days of barn raisings and quilting bees. Women led volunteer efforts through nursing the sick, antislavery, prison reform, and education.
What type of person makes a good volunteer? Just about everybody. Years ago, most volunteers were retirees who wanted to fill their time with meaningful activity. (By the way, research has shown that people who volunteer are happier and live longer.) Today you will find men and women, boys and girls, retirees, working professionals, stay-at-home moms, and students who serve others through volunteerism. According to a nationwide survey, the type of person most likely to donate time is one who has higher education, is a parent, and is between 35-55 years old.
What motivates a man or a woman to sacrifice precious time to help someone in need? The most common answers are “I want to make a difference,” and “I want to give back.” Other answers might include “a desire to make our community a better place,” or “the hope of building a better world for future generations.”
Volunteerism is about touching one life at a time. A good example of this is a local CASA volunteer who served as an advocate for a child who had been brutally abused and neglected. This little boy had been locked in a closet for years and was eventually dumped on Park Central Square. Once in the foster care system, he was moved 14 times in one year. Each time he was moved, the CASA volunteer was there to help him and provide support and encouragement. She became the only person on earth the boy trusted. Through her wonderful advocacy, she was instrumental in securing a permanent home for him.
Five years later, she still maintains contact with the boy. He is thriving in his adoptive home and credits his CASA volunteer for “making me who I am today.”
In Springfield and surrounding communities, there are hundreds of opportunities to volunteer. If you have a passion for children, you might consider one of these organizations: Boys & Girls Club, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, CASA, the Boys Scouts & the Girl Scouts, or the Ronald McDonald House. If your area of interest is education: Ozarks Literacy Council, or your local school. Women or victims of violence: The Family Violence Center, the Victim Center. To address poverty or homelessness: Habitat for Humanity, Convoy of Hope, Ozarks Food Harvest, The Kitchen, The Salvation Army, or The Victory Mission.
The keys to being a successful volunteer are simple: Do something you have a passion for, and do it with your whole heart.
This week is National Volunteer Week. In that spirit, I remind you what President Teddy Roosevelt said: Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
What can you do with what you have? Speaking as one who volunteers, I can tell you that what you receive will far surpass what you give when you help someone in need.