What Is Involved in Community Volunteer Work?
Volunteer work is a great way to improve the community and help out your fellow citizen. There are a myriad of opportunities for volunteer work, some in formal organizations, with others in small ad-hoc fellowships. If you do not find any organization that you are willing to belong to, you may even consider starting your own.
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Types
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There are thousands of types of volunteer work. One example is Americorps, which is a government-sponsored volunteer program, similar to the Peace Corps but within the United States. There are a variety of organizations within Americorps, all working to improve their surrounding communities. Some work to clean up watersheds, while others work to help refugees obtain adequate housing. Another example is Habitat for Humanity, which is always in need of good people to help build and rebuild homes for those who are not financially able to. There are also thousands of smaller charities, many right in your neighborhood or community, that are always looking for help. Each of these smaller organizations have their own unique area of expertise. For example, soup kitchens need volunteers in preparing meals for the needy, or many neighborhood charities have community outreach programs (such as crisis counseling or free clinics) that also need help.
Time Considerations
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Each human service organization has its own time considerations for volunteers. Some organizations, like a soup kitchen or a free clinic, might ask you to volunteer two or three hours per week, while others may ask you for four or more hours per day. In the Habitat for Humanity's RV Care-a-Vanner program, if you like to travel a lot by RV, you would live near a jobsite and work about six to eight hours per day. Before committing yourself to an organization, find out what their time requirements are by talking to their volunteer coordinator or liaison.
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Self-Assesment and Common Goals
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Self-assessment is an important part of volunteer work. You have to determine what your niche is. If helping with blood drives and disaster relief is your calling, then the American Red Cross may be worth looking into. If helping provide food for the needy is your calling, then perhaps you could join a a local food pantry. If cleaning up the environment is your interest, then a local or national environmental group could use your help. Overall, you have to find an organization where you would feel at home, and whose goals and interests line up with yours. Most organizations have a questionnaire for you to fill out before accepting you as a volunteer, and will try to match up your personality profile with jobs that fit you.
Misconceptions
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In most organizations, the job roles of volunteers are clearly defined. Volunteers are, in essence, unpaid employees. The organization is grateful that you joined, but you simply can't walk in and do what you want to do. Your specific job is assigned, and you go to work. Most organizations have liability issues to deal with, and can only assign volunteers to perform certain types of work. Job roles may not be glamorous; you have to be prepared to clean the bathrooms occasionally or do other mundane work.
Start Your Own Organization
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If you've looked around for an organization but none fulfills your aspirations, consider starting your own grass roots organization. It doesn't have to be anything formal, just talk to some friends, and unite them for a common goal. This can be as simple as cleaning litter along a back country road or talking to a vacant lot owner about starting a community vegetable garden. As your organization grows, you will want to seek guidance from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on how to go about formalizing a Section 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization.
Rewards
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Volunteering is a rewarding experience. People will thank you for your good work. The sense of satisfaction you get after making your community a better place to live is well worth the effort. The real reward is helping your fellow citizens lead a happier life.
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References
- Photo Credit smiling office workers image by Sergii Shalimov from Fotolia.com
