Volunteer |
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Give an hour. Give a Saturday. Give your best. We all have special talents. Things we can do to help. And when we reach out a hand to one, we influence the condition of all. Whether it’s reading to children, leading financial literacy classes for hard-working families, or delivering meals to homebound seniors, there are hundreds of volunteer options available every day.
Give the gift of you. Volunteer.
For information on volunteering with United Way of Midland contact Alison King (aking@uwmidland.org)
Benefits of Volunteering
Whether it is important to you to solve a community problem, advance a worthy cause or to develop as a person, volunteering offers many benefits in appreciation for the gift of your time and expertise. Volunteering can help you:
- Make important networking contacts
- Learn or develop skills
- Teach your skills to others
- Enhance your résumé
- Gain work experience
- Build self-esteem and self-confidence
- Improve your health
- Meet new people
- Feel needed and valued
- Express gratitude for help you may have received in the past from an organization
- Communicate to others that you are ambitious, enthusiastic and care about the community
- Make a difference in someone’s life
Tips for Volunteering
Be selective
Think about what matters to you, and be selective about where you spend your time. Choosing opportunities that make you feel good while helping others builds stronger communities, and enriches your own life at the same time.
Choose carefully
United Way works with volunteers and local nonprofits to develop the best opportunities for youth, busy working adults and seniors to serve. When you work with your local United Way, you can feel confident about the quality of the opportunity you choose and about the organization you donate your time to support.
Research causes that are important to you
Whether it's helping children achieve their potential, helping families become financially stable or improving people’s health, find out what cause is closest to your heart and make a difference.
Consider the skills you have to offer
Would you like to teach a child to read? Or would you rather work serve meals to the homebound? Find something you enjoy doing and enhance your skills through volunteering.
Learn something new
Volunteering can also teach you valuable new skills that you can use in other parts of your life. For example, learning how to handle crisis calls may help you communicate better.
Don't over-commit your schedule
Stick to a volunteering schedule that makes sense for you and leaves you time to enjoy the activity.
Consider volunteering as a group
Group volunteering is a wonderful way to bond with your family or co-workers. Not only will you create lasting memories, but you will help someone in need. See also: Volunteering as a Family.
Feel good about yourself
People who volunteer often say that they get more out of the experience than they give. Giving of your time and energy makes you feel good about yourself and raises your self-esteem. Working with other volunteers builds friendships.
Advance the common good
Sometimes we look at the way the world is and think, "This isn't the way things are supposed to be." By volunteering, you can help make a positive change in the world. Each of us wants to live in a community where families are healthy and strong, where children are given the help they need to succeed in school, where people with disabilities and the elderly are able to live as independently as possible, and where people live in safe, supportive neighborhoods.
By volunteering, you help make your community a better place to live, and you become part of the solution.
Volunteer as a Family... Have some fun... and do some good!
Today, families are finding new ways to spend time together—and volunteering is one way to do just that. There are many benefits for families that volunteer. Research has shown that volunteering as a family:
- Helps families learn about social issues
- Provides positive role models and passes on family values to children
- Provides new learning experiences and development of new skills for both children and adults
- Provides quality time for the family to spend together
- Increases interpersonal communication and the problem-solving abilities of family members
Planning
There are a variety of issues for your family to consider before making the commitment to volunteer together.
- Your family may want to start slowly. Consider a one-time or short-term volunteer activity before making a long-term commitment.
- Consider doing your volunteer activity with other family groups (PTAs, religious organizations, neighbors or workplace groups).
- Consider everyone’s busy schedule when volunteering as a family. You may decide to volunteer individually at different times.
- If volunteering with children, ask about any issues related to their needs or safety concerns.
During and after the volunteer project
- Take responsibility for supervising your children. Their experience and that of anyone working with you will be more positive if everyone is focused on the work to be done.
- Talk openly about your experiences on the drive home, during meals or whenever your family has time together. Both adults and children will benefit from the opportunity to discuss everyone’s reactions to the volunteer activities.
- Let your volunteer coordinator know if your family has any special concerns or problems, and discuss how you can work together for a satisfactory solution. Share your positive experiences, too!
- Keep a journal with photos and stories of your family’s volunteer activities. Share the journal with relatives, co-workers and friends.
- Have fun! It is not only allowed, but it should be a requirement!
Be proud of what your family has accomplished. Your family’s self-esteem will continue to climb as you move on to future projects.
