Archive for the ‘Volunteering’ Category

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Spring Has Sprung, It’s Time to Volunteer!

Tuesday, March 20th, 2012

The birds are chirping, bees are buzzing, flowers are blooming, and the pollen is everywhere. Today is the first day of spring! Goodbye cold weather and hello sunny days. Spring is a great time to have a new beginning by getting out and volunteering in your community.

Do you want to volunteer in your community this spring, but you are lost when it comes to finding things to do? No need to be confused any longer with this list of spring themed volunteering ideas!

  1. Make the flowers bloom: Clean up your community park for the spring. Plant flowers, repair playgrounds, or pick up trash. Whatever you can do to beautify your park to make it more enjoyable will make a difference!
  2. Walk a dog: Volunteer to be a dog walker or check out your local shelter to see if they need dog walkers. You can enjoy the beautiful weather, while hanging out with a furry friend.
  3. Get your feet wet: Join generationOn for their project of the month “Get your feet wet.” Track your water footprint for World Water Day to see how you can better conserve.
  4. Got lemonade? Set up a lemonade stand for good in your community. Pick a nonprofit or cause that you feel passionate about and raise money for them by selling lemonade to your neighbors!
  5. Build a house: Love being outside? Join a Habitat for Humanity build for the spring!
  6. Grow your own: Want to get more involved with your community members? Plant a community garden and buy local. Your neighbors can contribute all of their favorite plants to the garden. What a great way to live sustainably!
  7. Plant a tree: Arbor Day is just around the corner reduce your carbon footprint and plant a tree. Check out the Arbor Day Foundation to get started!
  8. Paint your school: Who doesn’t love a little color? Donate your artistic abilities to your local school and paint a mural.
  9. Spring break for good: Is your school’s spring break coming up? Choose an alternative spring break this year and make a difference. Check your school website for options. United Way also has many options for alternative spring breaks.
  10. Explore the zoo: Volunteer to be a mentor to a child and bring them to the zoo.
  11. Spring cleaning: Do you have a lot stuff lying around that you have no idea what to do with. Clean out your house and donate your goods.
  12. Egg hunt: Volunteer to host a egg hunt for the kids in your community.

Spring is a great time to volunteer because not only is the weather awesome, but you have so many volunteer options! Start your new beginning this season with these volunteer ideas or one of your own.

 

Are you volunteering or do you have another idea to add to the list? We would love to hear it, share your comments below.

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It’s AmeriCorps Week, but what is AmeriCorps?

Monday, March 12th, 2012

Hooray, hooray! Happy AmeriCorps Week everyone! Let’s kick off the week by explaining what exactly AmeriCorps is, in case you still do not know.

AmeriCorps is a United States federal government organization set up under former President Bill Clinton, and it was later expanded under President George W. Bush. AmeriCorps is a division of the Corporation for National and Community Service whose focus ranges from service in education to the environment. Each year AmeriCorps offers more than 75,000 opportunities for adults of all ages and backgrounds to serve their communities in a variety of ways.

Why is AmeriCorps the coolest?

Your term of service through AmeriCorps will have multiple benefits. By serving in an AmeriCorps program, members become eligible to for the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. This award can be used toward the payment of student loans or graduate school tuition. Many programs offer an allowance that will cover the basic costs of living.

A term of service will also be beneficial when searching for professional work. Those who make a commitment to service have better networking options, and become more competitive in the job force, than those who do not. Members also have the opportunity to develop skills that they may not have had the chance to use otherwise.

What options do you have?

AmeriCorps is split into three different programs that have different focuses.

  • AmeriCorps State and National: Refers to a broad range of service areas in your local community. The main focus is intensive service in community programs. Members have the opportunity to serve in a variety of agencies including faith-based, community organizations, higher education, and public agencies. Their goals are to raise awareness in the fields of education, environment, public safety, and health. They engage in direct service such as after-school tutoring, volunteer recruitment, and capacity building.

Does AmeriCorps State and National Work?

  • AmeriCorps VISTA: VISTA was originally created under Lyndon Johnson as a way to fight poverty. Former president Bill Clinton brought it under the AmeriCorps program during his presidency. There are currently over 5,000 VISTAs serving throughout the country in various organizations. They work to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, and strengthen community groups.

Does AmeriCorps VISTA Work?

  • AmeriCorps NCCC: NCCC is a full-time program for adults ranging from the ages of 18 to 24. NCCC stands for National Civilian Community Corps. Their goal is to strengthen communities, while building leaders out of team service. NCCC members focus on aiding national crises.

Does AmeriCorps NCCC Work?

AmeriCorps Week is March 10-18, it is the perfect time to recognize and celebrate the dedication to service that AmeriCorps members make every year. There are many great ways to get involved in celebrating AmeriCorps and service this week! The theme for this week is AmeriCorps Works. Although, these are just a few examples of how it works, you can see that AmeriCorps truly accomplishes its goals and provides a great deal of service to our communities.

Now that you know more about AmeriCorps, how will you show that it works?

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Improve Business with Corporate Volunteering

Friday, March 9th, 2012

Time-crunched employees are increasingly looking to their jobs to provide opportunities for the good deeds that they don’t have the hours for outside of work, and companies are responding. Corporate social responsibility programs are no longer an afterthought in corporate planning, but garner big payoffs.

Volunteering offers participants the opportunity to strengthen their skills, broaden their networks, break out of a career rut, and find new meaning in their job. These benefits return to employers in the form of increased engagement and retention. A strong employee volunteer program can also increase company loyalty, develop ties to the community, and spur innovation.

The vast majority of college graduates want to amplify their commitment to good causes through their employer. Generation Ys employees who frequently participate in their company’s volunteer activities are more likely to be very proud to work for their company, feel very loyal, and are very satisfied with the progression of their careers. In fact, for many recent college graduates, a robust corporate social responsibility (CSR) mandate makes a crucial difference in where they choose to work, with 77% of respondents in a recent study (PDF) indicating that “a company’s commitment to social issues is important when I decide where to work.” This sentiment crosses generations, with the majority of people polled acknowledging the importance of contributing to their community or the wider world through work.

Corporate volunteer programs can range from one-day community service activities to mini-sabbaticals that send top performers to developing countries to lend their expertise to nonprofit organizations and proven entrepreneurs. Moody’s Afternoon of Service is a good example of a once-a-year opportunity for people who want to dip their toes into volunteering. The program takes place during the workday; employees sign up for a variety of team-based activities, including sorting library books at a public school in a poor neighborhood, planting flower bulbs in a city park, lending a hand at an organization that gathers clothing for and coaches disadvantaged women going out on job interviews, and preparing lunch at a community soup kitchen.

Such volunteer assignments can do more than inject excitement into a humdrum job; they can ignite a career. Despite the growing prevalence of corporate volunteer programs, placements are super-competitive — Intel, for example, says that only 5% of applicants win spots in its Education Service Corps. It’s also high-profile, with blogs and videos of participants’ experiences distributed throughout the company and on the internet. Who knows what kind of connections could result?

Corporate volunteer programs benefit employers, employees, and service recipients alike! By providing a practical bonus for both participants and employers, they’re not just a “nice to have” perk but a retention tool, leadership development opportunity, and strategic business initiative.

Have you participated in a corporate volunteer program? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!

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Volunteer for International Women’s Day

Thursday, March 8th, 2012

Happy International Women’s Day! Today countries around the world celebrate the contributions of women to the strength of history and their nations. American women have played a unique role throughout the history of the country by providing the majority of the volunteer labor force. They were particularly important in the establishment of early charitable, philanthropic, and cultural institutions.

Juliette Gordon Low Low started the first Girl Scout troop in 1912. Low brought girls of all backgrounds into the out-of-doors, giving them the opportunity to develop self-reliance and resourcefulness. She encouraged girls to prepare not only for traditional homemaking, but also for possible future roles as professional women—in the arts, sciences and business—and for active citizenship outside the home. Girl Scouting welcomed girls with disabilities at a time when they were excluded from many other activities.

Lillian Wald Often called the “mother of public health nursing”, Wald the Visiting Nurse Service of New York in 1893 on New York’s Lower East Side, when it was the world’s most densely populated slum. Wald blazed a trail for a multicultural workforce, and pioneered American social work to establish the Henry Street Settlement House, which was nonsectarian and would charge fees only to those who could pay.

Despite the contributions of these women, and countless others, women still face hardships in our country and across the world. This International Women’s Day, take some time to do good for women.

Volunteer at a women’s shelter Women’s shelters are often under-served and underfunded, while domestic abuse is the leading cause of injury among women 15 to 44 years old in the United States. One woman is beaten by her husband or partner every 15 seconds in the United States, and 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. Consider spending some of your volunteer time at a women’s shelter.

Invest in women with microfinancing Consider making your next donation a loan, through a microfinancing organization, like Kiva or WAM (Women Advancing Microfinancing). Women are a significant untapped resource for creating opportunity that can change lives. And yet millions across the world struggle to access the resources they need and deserve to jumpstart change.

Organize a feminine hygiene product drive Domestic violence shelters and homeless shelters often face  a shortage of feminine hygiene products. The lack of these products prevents women from attending work and school. Find out which organization in your community could most benefit from your donation and start a collection. To take this project world wide, check out Pads4Girls, which provides reusable pads for girls in developing nations so they can continue to attend school.

Find an International Women’s Day event near you! What will you be doing to celebrate women today? Let us know in the comments below!

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It’s Time to Feed the Hungry in March

Tuesday, March 6th, 2012

In 2010, it was reported that a record 17.2 million American households were food insecure. This was the highest number ever reported in United States history. Although the American economy is slowly starting to pick up, food insecurity is still a major concern in the daily lives of Americans.

The media is constantly reporting about the problems of childhood obesity, food insecurity, and malnutrition. With all these negative topics, it is easy to feel overwhelmed to the point that it feels like there is nothing that can be done.

March is the perfect month to become proactive about this issue. Why? March is National Nutrition Month!

  1. The obvious, but always helpful: Volunteer at your community food bank or soup kitchen. These organizations are always appreciative of some extra hands.
  2. Volunteer with organizations focused on hunger: Nonprofits such as Feeding America, FoodCorps, Meals on Wheels, and many others are great sources to not only find volunteering opportunities, but also to get facts on hunger and who it affects.
  3. Hold a canned food drive: Food banks always need donations, especially after the holidays when their shelves run low. There are many ways that you can spice up your canned food drive. It is a great way to get your whole community involved to tackle hunger.
  4. Tackle hunger as a team: Organizations such as generationOn have excellent resources to tackle hunger with your family, neighbors, or friends. Make fighting hunger fun by turning it into a competitive game.
  5. Educate your community about nutrition: Obesity is a serious issue, especially in communities where food diversity is scarce. Talk to your local school about teaching students about the benefits of good food choices. Suggest healthier lunch options, if they are not already available.
  6. Join the local food movement: Encourage your friends and family to buy local. Your body will be thankful that you are feeding it well! Your local farmers will be happy that you are supporting them too.
  7. Got leftovers? If you have a decent amount of leftovers after dinner, give them to someone who truly needs them, instead of taking them home to the dog.
  8. Raise money for organizations that feed the community: Hold a fundraiser at your child’s school, your church, workplace, or neighborhood. You can donate the proceeds to your community’s soup kitchen, food bank, or your favorite hunger cause.
  9. Spend a day in the life of the hungry: Volunteer to fast for a day, see what it is like to be hungry.
  10. Lobby to get better food options: Does your local school not provide nutritious lunches to school children? Have you noticed that your community only has fast food options for its residents? Make a change! Educate your community members on the harmful effects of bad nutrition and make a plan to make a change.

 

By incorporating just one of these tips into your volunteering schedule, you can really make a difference in the American hunger statistic!

Are you volunteering to end hunger? We’d love to hear about it in the comment section below!

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Just Go Out and Volunteer!

Friday, March 2nd, 2012

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Share a Smile!

Thursday, March 1st, 2012

Happy Share a Smile Day! Would it make you crack a smile to learn that March 1 is also National Pig Day and Peanut Butter Lover’s Day? There are so many things to smile about; why not take the opportunity to use a few of those smiles for good?

Share your smile! Some people may not be used to receiving smiles from strangers. That can be easily changed! March 1 is a great excuse to give others a reason to smile. Call an old friend or write a good old-fashioned letter to let friends and family know you’re thinking about them. Check out our post on how to thank volunteers to spread the smiles.

Commit random acts of kindness Open a door for a person with their hands full. Leave a nice comment on your favorite organization’s or volunteer’s Facebook page. Help someone with a chore. Offer a couple hours of free babysititng to stressed parents. When in doubt, follow Elmo’s lead to volunteer random acts of kindness.

Name one thing that makes you smile… And share it with others. Simply reflecting on and sharing the good things in our lives can brighten the lives of others!

Make your community smile Consider spending some time cleaning up graffiti, or scouring your home for used books to donate to the library. These contributions are sure to make your community smile for longer than a day!

How do you plan to celebrate Share a Smile Day today? Let us know in the comments below!

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Volunteer, It Is What All The Cool Kids Are Doing!

Tuesday, February 28th, 2012

There are so many posts about ideas to volunteer with kids, older generations, and as a family, but what about teenage volunteer ideas? Well, it is good that you are reading this post today! At HandsOn Network we know that it is to get discouraged from volunteering, if there are a limited amount of resources to help you make a service decision.

Adolescents can make a huge difference in their community and can benefit from service work, as well. No only will you learn the importance of giving back, but service work is also very helpful when looking for jobs or applying to college.

Are you interested in adding community service to your to-do list? Check out our list of tips and ideas to get your project started!

  1. Love summer camp, but you are too old to still be a camper? Become a counselor in training! It is great way to still go to camp and volunteer at the same time. Camp counselors make a positive impact in the camper’s lives every summer; don’t you remember your favorite counselor?
  2. Interested in the medicine field? Check out your local hospital for volunteer opportunities. Many hospitals will hire young volunteers to interact with patients such as reading books to patients or sitting with families in the waiting room. You may even be able to help the nurses in the nursery, etc. It is a great way to get some hands-on experience in the medical profession!
  3. Give back to those who have given so much: Help out at your local nursing home. Whether you are playing games, cleaning, cooking, or planning events you are sure to have a good time! You will not only give back, but you may also learn some valuable lessons working with senior citizens.
  4. Woof woof! Help out at your local animal shelter or veterinarian clinic. Interested in veterinary science? This is the perfect opportunity to get experience, while helping animals in your community. You will have so much fun; it will not even feel like volunteering!
  5. Help your old elementary school: Want to reconnect with your old teachers? Hold a book or school supplies drive at your old elementary school. This is a great way to get experience in the education field, by working with school children.
  6. Volunteer at your local nursery: Does your church, town hall, or place of work have a nursery? Check to see if they need any extra hands to help with the children. You can volunteer to read stories to the kids or even help clean up.
  7. Volunteer to be green: Have a green thumb? Gather your neighborhood and start a community garden. Have every person plant their favorite flowers, vegetables, or fruits. It will be a great asset to your community, and will also help the environment!
  8. Love to read? Libraries are always looking for eager volunteers. Check with your town’s library to find out their various needs and how could help them through volunteering. This is a great service project to put on your resume!
  9. Good cook? Make food for your local shelter or soup kitchen. Short on time? Start a food drive at your school. Donate your collected items to your neighborhood’s shelter.
  10. Artistic? Make coloring books for homeless children. There are many websites with coloring pages ready to be printed. Put together a few books and donate them to a children’s or family shelter.

Volunteering is the perfect excuse to utilize the skills that you may not be able to use every day. What better way to learn about yourself and the career path you would like to take than volunteering your skills?

Have a hunger for more projects like these? Check out generationOn to find more projects for teenagers!

How has volunteering helped you? We would love to hear your story in them comments section below!

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Celebrate Fat Tuesday by Volunteering!

Tuesday, February 21st, 2012

Get your king cake and your mask ready because today is Fat Tuesday! Even though this day is usually remembered as a day full of celebrations and preparing for Lent fasting, we can add another element to the mixture. Let’s make it a day to volunteer as well!

Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras is typically a celebration marked with rich foods that will prepare participants for the fast they will experience during the religious Lenten season. Traditional foods are consumed in celebration of the carnival such as fried pastries, breads, and eggs. Celebrations vary from state to state and country to country, but the overall message remains the same. It is a message of good will and celebration for the riches that we have been given.

Fat Tuesday is the perfect time to add volunteering to the celebration agenda! You can give thanks for the things that you have, by serving those who may be less fortunate than you. Here’s how:

  1. Is your town hosting a Mardi Gras parade? Help out by serving food, riding floats, or just getting out and meeting your neighbors!
  2. Serve food to parade goers. Who doesn’t love good ol’ New Orleans food, Jambalaya anyone?
  3. Make Mardi Gras masks with kids at your local daycare, shelter, or hospital. It’s easy! All you need is yellow, green, or purple construction paper, glitter, feathers, and an imagination. These masks will be a fun project for all ages!
  4. Teach youngsters about the history of New Orleans, Louisiana. Tell youth about New Orleans and why Mardi Gras is such a big celebration there. It is also important to teach kids about the progress that has been made since Hurricane Katrina.
  5. Serve your favorite fried foods to a soup kitchen. Share the Mardi Gras love with those who may not be able to celebrate it. Donate Mardi Gras themed foods to your local soup kitchen so that they may have a celebration too!
  6. Coordinate a Mardi Gras themed party at your local retirement home, shelter, school, or soup kitchen. Guests can wear Fat Tuesday themed outfits, play games, and eat some great Louisiana inspired food. Don’t forget that king cake!
  7. Make Mardi Gras themed bracelets with kids in local hospital care. String yellow, green, and purple beads together to make a bracelet in memory of Hurricane Katrina.
  8. Host a Mardi Gras themed pot-luck dinner with your friends, family, or neighbors. Have each guest donate money to your favorite cause. You can be merry and make a difference!
  9. Sign up to be a part of Meals on Wheels. Donate food and share that Fat Tuesday cheer with those who need it most.
  10. Do you have a musical talent? Volunteer your musical skills at a local retirement home for a Mardi Gras themed party.

There are so many ways that you can volunteer Fat Tuesday style! Today is a great day to not only enjoy all the festivities, but also a way to celebrate your community and its members by serving.

Are you volunteering today? What are you doing to spread the good in your community?

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Let’s Volunteer with Our Pets Today!

Monday, February 20th, 2012

Woof! February 20 is not only a day to celebrate our presidents, but also a day to give thanks to our pets because it is Pet Appreciation Day! I’m sure many of us can agree that our pets are truly man’s best friends, so why not show our love for them today?

Animals can put even the sourest person into a great mood, just by their presence. Whether your animal friend is a dog, a cat, or a hamster this is the perfect day to bring your pet out and share some good cheer with those who really need it. Why not show your appreciation for your pet’s love by taking them out to volunteer? Not only will you get to show your appreciation for your pet, but others will show their appreciation for everything your pet does for them as well!

“How can I get my furry friend involved in volunteering?” It is easy check out our suggestions below and share the animal love today!

  1. Pet therapy programs: Bring your furry friend to a nursing home, hospital, or classroom to share cheer and keep a lonely person company. The American Heart Association recently found that stress levels could be reduced for patients in long term care when accompanied by an animal. Animals provide comfort to someone who may be experiencing a stressful time. Organizations such as the Delta Society provide training for dogs that want to volunteer!
  2. Local pet shelters: Show your local homeless pets some love today! Volunteer at your local Humane Society or animal shelter. You will not only make these animals happy, but playing with the animals will be sure to put you in a good mood.
  3. Cleanup: Gather a team of volunteer pet lovers to clean up your neighborhood dog park. You can really show your dog just how you love him or her by providing a clean play area. By volunteering with other pet lovers, you may be able to make more friends for your furry ball of joy!
  4. Donate food: Check your local animal shelter to see what supplies they may need. Donate food, toys, etc. for your local shelter. Your donation will be greatly appreciated!
  5. Make a birdhouse: Today is not only a day to show appreciation for your four legged friends, but also your neighborhood pals. Make a birdhouse to hang outside your window. You won’t believe all the beautiful birds you will see!
  6. Check-up time: Make an appointment at your vet’s office, if your animal is due for a check up. It is always good to make sure your pet is in tiptop shape and up-to-date on his or her shots. If your cat or dog is not spayed or neutered, make sure to make an appointment.
  7.  Adopt: In the market for an animal to love? Visit the Humane Society or local animal shelter. You will find a needy animal that wants nothing more than to love you and be loved back. Adoption is a great way to show your animal love!

Volunteering for animals or with your own animal can be a very rewarding and entertaining experience. Check out generationOn for great volunteering ideas to do with both your kids and your animals! Check out the Humane Society or ASPCA to find a local shelter near you and to learn more about pet adoption!

How are you volunteering for animals today? Please share with us below! We’d love to hear about it.

 

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