Editor’s Note: This month’s post honors volunteers who give their time and expertise to nonprofit organizations throughout the year. In April of each year, we give them a special “shout-out” during Volunteer Appreciation Month.
Volunteering is an open door inviting everyone in. Through that door can be new relationships, new experiences, or the pleasure of passing on a skill you mastered long ago. Regardless of your interests and skills, there is an organization that would be thrilled to have you as a volunteer.
Not-for-profit organizations and charities live by the philosophy that “many hands make light work.” Most of these organizations have only a few paid staff but a lot to accomplish. That is where volunteers come in. There are, of course, some large and well-funded organizations, but my preference is to donate my time to small organizations with big dreams. It’s easy to find organizations who need extra hands - libraries, schools, hospitals, blood drives, firehouses, museums, concert halls, churches and the list goes on.
Loving the variety of experience and people, I currently volunteer for four organizations in addition to blogging several times a year for the Penn’s Village Community Blog (www.pennsvillage.org). These organizations are: Art Plus Gallery, an artists’ co-op in West Reading, PA (www.Artplusgallerypa.org), Colonial Theatre (www.thecolonialtheatre.com), Mainline Animal Rescue (www.mlar.org), and the Volunteer English Program (VEP) (www.volunteerenglish.org), all in my new hometown of Phoenixville, PA. Each is a different experience and people with a variety of interests. As a senior, I love having conversations about living and learning rather than doctor visits and the weather. Volunteering also provides an easy way to meet new people, which can be difficult as one ages.
To give you a peek inside the door at the Gallery, volunteers pour wine on art walk nights, set up and take down tents and display racks for festivals, staff the scholarship donation tent and a variety of other tasks. In return, artist friends (volunteers) are given several opportunities during the year to display their art. The Gallery gets help and I get not only an opportunity to display my work but also great conversations with other artists. Similarly, Colonial Theatre, an historic building and non-profit, has volunteers to usher concert goers to their seats and help with clean up after. It’s fun to attend concerts you might not otherwise attend as volunteers can sit in once the guests are seated.
A peek inside the kennel is a whole different world. Volunteers, depending on their interests, walk dogs, socialize kittens, play with cats, do some laundry (dogs and cats make A LOT of dirty laundry) and wash food bowls. Where the Gallery is a bit dress up, the kennel is dress down. Just as if it were your own dog, dogs need to be walked regardless of weather. Safety is important, so volunteers are trained before being allowed to interact with animals.
As I’m just getting started with VEP, I can share that my role is to tutor for English as an additional language. There is a long waiting list of people who have requested tutoring, so I’m happy to help out.
The upside of volunteering is relationships, learning, purpose and so much more. Of course, not all experiences are wonderful as not all charities and nonprofits are well run. If you find that to be the case, it’s fine to leave and find an organization that better suits you. Good organizations will value all that you bring. Being part of the “many hands” can leave you getting so much more than you give.
Clare Novack travels far and near. She started her travel website and blogs in 2018, seeking to share the world’s beauty and delightful experiences.Ms. Novak is an international consultant in Human Resources, Gender Equality and Leadership. She has published business books and articles and speaks on those topics for international Conferences. When at home in Pennsylvania, she travels locally to discover interesting places. She is a frequent blog contributor.
Keeping life fresh,
Clare has recently published Homely Hero, a children’s book she wrote and illustrated. Homely Hero: Novak, Clare, Novak, Clare: 9798420839737: Amazon.com: Books.
Penn’s Village helps older adults stay active, age in place in their own homes, and engage, connect, and thrive with others in our Village community. If you enjoy what you are reading, you can help ensure our continued viability and visibility by sharing this with others.