A typical volunteer is not a 21 year old, male, seasonal fisherman. Last month, I received a call from a young man who wanted to get involved in his community before he left for Alaska. The following week he started reading with elementary students who needed a little extra help. This summer he is going to play sports with at risk youth for 4 hours a week. He told me enthusiastically, “I really dig it.”
Before my VISTA term I did not understand the importance of volunteering in a community. I did not know that the American Red Cross is composed of 96% volunteers. I did not realize that volunteers complete the majority of maintenance on the Olympic Discovery Trail. I did not know that Port Angeles volunteers feed over 150 citizens every Friday evening. I did not appreciate the relationships forged between volunteers and children in need. I did not understand the demand for volunteers in the nonprofit world. I did not fully understand the change that can be created by volunteers.
President Obama’s noted in his Inaugural Address, “we need a new era of responsibility—a recognition of the part of every American that we have duties to ourselves, our Nation, and the world. These are duties that we do not grudgingly accept, but rather seize gladly, firm in knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit than giving our all to a difficult task.” Volunteers really can shape a better tomorrow.
My question is, how can I recruit more atypical volunteers? How do I communicate that volunteering really can be fun? I know they would "dig it" if I could hook them up with the right opportunity.
Be Kind. Work Hard. Give Back. Get Things Done.
Taylor Schraudner
North Olympic Volunteer Center-Youth Coordinator
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