Archive for the ‘Mobilize’ Category

8 Benefits of Volunteerism

Thursday, January 19th, 2012

New Year’s Resolutions are often made with the best of intentions and promptly dropped. Statistics show that about two weeks into the year one-third of those who make resolutions are close to quitting. By March, 85 percent will have thrown in the towel!

What better way to keep that resolution to volunteer than to reassess exactly how volunteering will benefit you? You may be surprised at some of the various benefits of volunteerism! Tour members volunteer with clean-up efforts

  •  Meet new people Volunteering brings together a diverse range of people from all backgrounds and walks of life. It puts you in contact with folks with similar interests that you may not have encountered otherwise! Volunteer projects are a great way to make new friends or simply meet people with different life experiences than your own. You can not only develop lifelong personal and professional relationships, you can also hear about job openings, gather insider employment information and develop great references.
  • Network and gain connections In these uncertain economic times, the opportunity to network is nothing to scoff at. Volunteer projects offer that chance, and often in an arena related to your current skills. Networking is an exciting benefit of volunteering and you can never tell who you will meet or what new information you will learn and what impact this could have on your life.Earned Income Tax Credit Volunteer
  • Looks good on your resume & college application Volunteering demonstrates workplace, management, and leadership skills that can be documented in a resume. Work experience is work experience, with or without a paycheck. If you are developing new skills or thinking of pursuing a new career, volunteer work can give you valuable, practical experience. Career counselors and headhunters encourage job seekers to document pertinent volunteer experiences. Volunteer work support skills, character and balance in life. 90% of executives in a national survey of Fortune 500 companies believed volunteering built teamwork and provided valuable professional development opportunities.
  • Learn new skills Volunteering is the perfect vehicle to discover something you are really good at and develop a new skill. It is never too late to learn new skills and there is no reason why you should stop adding to your knowledge just because you are in employment or have finished education. Planning and implementing a major fundraising event can develop goal setting, planning and budgeting skills. Supervising and training other volunteers helps to develop supervisory and training skills. Volunteering is the perfect way to discover something that you’re good at while contributing to the benefit of your community.
  • Gain confidence and a sense of achievement Volunteers are motivated in their work because they are able to work for a cause or passion that they truly believe in. When one is able to work for a cause close to their heart, they feel a sense of achievement at seeing the effect that their good work has on others. Volunteering around a personal interest or hobby can be fun, relaxing and energizing. That energy and sense of fulfillment can carry over to other aspects of your life and sometimes helps to relieve work tensions and foster new perspectives for old situations.2 guys volunteer planting
  • Better your health Those who participate in volunteer activities report higher levels of life satisfaction, sense of control over life, and feeling physical and emotionally healthier. A report featured in The International Journal of Person Centered Medicine found that people who give back to others lead more happy and healthy lives than those who do not volunteer. “People in general are happier and healthier, and may even live a little longer, when they’re contributing” to their community or an organization they are passionate about, said study author Stephen G. Post, PhD. A majority of study participants said their volunteer activities enrich their sense of purpose in life and lower stress levels. The survey also showed that those who give back are less likely to feel hopeless and lonely than people who do not volunteer.
  • Feel good by doing good! Volunteering is about giving your time, energy and skills freely. As a volunteer you have made a decision to help on your own accord, free from pressure to act from others.  Volunteers predominantly express a sense of achievement and motivation, and this is ultimately generated from your desire and enthusiasm to help. It may be true that no one person can solve all the world’s problems, but what you can do is make that little corner of the world where you live just that little bit better!
  • Establish yourself in your community We sometimes take for granted the community that we live in. It is easy to become disconnected with the issues that face your community as a whole. Why not bridge that expanding gap through volunteering? Volunteering is ultimately about helping others and having an impact on people’s wellbeing. What better way is there to connect with your community and give a little back? As a volunteer, you certainly return to society some of the benefits that society gives you.
  • Find new hobbies and interests Finding new interests and hobbies through volunteering can be fun, relaxing and energizing. Sometimes a volunteer experience can lead you to something you never even thought about or help you discover a hobby or interest you were unaware of. You can strengthen your personal and professional mission and vision by exploring opportunities and expanding your horizons. Perhaps you’ll discover a previously unknown passion for education or making blankets for homeless shelters!

What are the benefits you’ve experienced through volunteering? Have you succeeded in keeping your resolutions? Let us know in the comments below!

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January 16: A Day On, Not Off

Tuesday, January 10th, 2012

So with all this talk about Martin Luther King Day being next Monday (January 16) you may be asking yourself “What exactly should I focus my service project on?” That is a perfectly reasonable question with all of the service options available during this time.

There is no specific cause that should be honored on this national day of service. King envisioned a community where members helped their fellow man out with their successes and their struggles.

His vision is inspiring to all who want to make a difference in their community. King’s love for a strong community should guide your service decisions during this time. The following are a few service areas that were important to King and can be honored during MLK Day.

  • Poverty: “The curse of poverty has no justification in our age. It is socially as cruel and blind as the practice of cannibalism at the dawn of civilization, when men ate each other because they had not yet learned to take food from the soil or to consume the abundant animal life around them. The time has come for us to civilize ourselves by the total, direct and immediate abolition of poverty.” Poverty is a horrible reality within all communities with 46.2 million people in the United States living in poverty. You can do something about this:
    • Donate food to a your local food bank or soup kitchen
    • Hold a clothing drive for your local shelter
  • Education: “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” Only 39% of the United States population completes college within four years. The education system within the United States has received harsh criticism over the last few years. There are many things you can do to help:
    • Organize a school supply drive
    • Tutor
    • Volunteer to clean up your local school
    • Mentor a child
  • Community: An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” Dr. King highly emphasized the importance of community bonds and service to the community. The current volunteering rate in the United States is 26.3 percent. It is important that individuals not only give back to the community in which they live, but also learn about their surroundings.
    • Learn about your community’s history
    • Identify cultural and religious groups in your community that may be neglected and discuss how their needs can be met.
    • Host a Sunday Supper
  • Youth: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Dr. believed in the importance of building up the nation’s youth because they are the future. Our mistakes will only be replicated by them if we do not teach them otherwise. 21 percent of all American children live at or below the set poverty level.
    • Organize a toy drive
    • Volunteer at a women’s or family shelter
  • Military/ Veterans: “A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.” It is important that our communities across the nation honor the work that our military voluntarily performs to ensure our safety.
    • Assemble care packages for military members overseas
    • Write letters
    • Help a military family in need by babysitting or cooking a meal

The above facts are just a few reasons why we should make Martin Luther King Day a “day on, not a day off.” Not only does this day of service honor the memory of Dr. King, but it also strengthens our nation’s communities.

How will you make Dr. King’s dream a reality January 16?

Organizing an MLK Day Event

Monday, January 9th, 2012

“Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Next Monday January 16 is the Martin Luther King Day of National Service. What will you do to keep King’s dream alive in your community?

Dr. King imagined a community full of neighbors who were willing to help each other no matter the circumstances. He believed in the power of brothers and sisters rather than strangers who just live by each other.

Anyone can serve, no matter his or her age or physical ability. How? All it takes is some planning and decision making on your part to make this event, “a day on not a day off.” Follow these five steps to make your service planning a breeze, so that you can keep the memory of Dr. King alive, not only on this day, but also in the future!

  1. Organize:
  • Form a group of friends, neighbors, teammates, etc. to participate in the project.
  • Decide how many times your group needs to meet during the duration of the project.
  • Choose a responsible adult to head the project if your team is primarily composed of younger members.
  • Try to recruit community partners to help with the planning and project.

2. Select or create your project:

  • State your goals and desired outcomes.
  • Discuss your ideas and choose what project will work for you
  • Develop a way to connect your project to the meaning of Martin Luther King Day.

3. Plan your service event:

  • Timeline: Set timelines to ensure your project is completed in time.
  • Select event location: How much space do you need? Is there a business or community center willing to donate space for the project?
  • Obtain permission: Discuss whom you need to get permission from to obtain a space.
  • Assign jobs: Who will be the leader? Who will pay tribute to Dr. King’s legacy during the day? Who will participate in what project?
  • Get the word out: Get the word out publically through fliers, community publications, etc. Decide who will be in charge of getting the word out and who needs to be contacted.
  • Organize materials: Discuss what supplies will be needed. Who will donate these supplies?
  • Create a budget: How much money will you need? How will you raise the money? Who can you ask for donations? Put someone in charge of coming up with the budget.
  • Engage community partners: Make sure to keep the public informed.
  • Register your MLK Day project.

4. Run your service project:

  • Make sure all aspects of the event are covered the day of
  • Manage your project group to make sure everyone is doing their part
  • Hang any posters, banners, etc.
  • Conduct a sign in for volunteers when they arrive
  • Recognize all volunteers, sponsors, and donors.
  • Make sure you discuss Dr. King’s legacy and relate it to the service project.
  • Take pictures of the project.

5. Follow up and reflect:

  • Reflect about your experience with the group. Discuss what went well and what could be approved upon.
  • Thank volunteers on the day of the event. Send handwritten thank you notes as well.

Sounds a little easier to get involved in service this MLK Day? Good, now you can get out there and volunteer! It is important to keep the legacy of Dr. King involved all year, and this day of service is the perfect way to start the process!

Are you planning a service project for MLK day? Tell us about it we’d love to hear!


Dr. King’s Challenge: What Are You Doing for Others?

Friday, January 6th, 2012

Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a civil rights leader whose actions sparked a national movement. The 13 years he dedicated to civil rights activities ignited concern and conscience within our country’s citizens. His courage and selfless devotion were undeniable, and for this his legacy continues to inspire Points of Light and volunteers around the world.

Just four days after the assassination of the civil rights icon, legislation was proposed to make his birthday an official holiday. It took nearly 20 years and countless politicians to gather enough public support to receive Congressional support, and the day was first officially observed in 1986.

Martin Luther King, Jr. SpeechDuring his lifetime Dr. King worked tirelessly toward a dream of equality. He believed in a nation of freedom and justice for all, and encouraged all citizens to live up to the purpose and potential of America. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is a way to transform Dr. King’s life and teachings into community service that helps solve problems. MLK Day programs meet tangible needs, such as revitalizing schools and feeding the homeless; but also build a sense of community and mutual responsibility by spurring conversation. On this day, Americans of every age and background celebrate Dr. King through volunteering and unite to strengthen communities, empower individuals, and bridge barriers.

There are many ways to celebrate MLK Day in your community, whether you’re leading a local nonprofit, organizing an event with your family or an elementary school student looking to make a difference.

Inspired by the legacy of Dr. King, America’s Sunday Supper invites people from diverse backgrounds to come together and share a meal, discuss issues that affect their community and highlight the power each one of us has to make a difference. These family and community suppers unite individuals for dinner and dialogue in the restaurants, coffee shops, community centers, faith-based organizations, and homes across the country. Leading up to MLK Day, individuals will participate in a community-by-community, nationwide conversation about our country’s most pressing social issues related to hunger, homelessness, and poverty.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

When individuals reach across differences in economic, ethnic, racial, and religious identities, meaningful and mutually beneficial relationships with neighbors can occur. A sense of community is gained by neighbors working together on projects, resulting in stronger civic engagement and bringing us all closer to Dr. King’s legacy.

How will you honor Dr. King with your service this upcoming MLK Day? Let us know in the comments below!

Come One, Come All Host a Sunday Supper!

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

January 16 is the official day of celebration for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King envisioned a world where people considered their community members to be their brothers and sisters. His idea of “brotherhood” meant that communities would not allow their members to experience hunger, poverty, or homelessness.

Does today’s world follow Doctor King’s vision? With constant facts and figures for levels of hunger, homelessness, and poverty on the rise it is hard to believe that Dr. King’s vision really has come true. Most people do not understand that these issues truly do exist in every community in more ways than one might think.

That is why we invite you to gather as a community to host a Sunday Supper. “What is this great Sunday Supper?” you may be asking yourself. From now until January 16, HandsOn Network and Points of Light are urging communities to invite their fellow neighbors to a discussion about issues that may affect them. Communities can register their Sunday Supper so that they may win a $25 gift certificate from restaurant.com. The idea being that hosting a supper may win you a supper; it is a way of recognizing the good your community is doing. You can also choose to host a community movie during your Sunday Supper.

What are some things you can talk about at your supper? Easy! The issues that were key to both Doctor King and your community members such as:

  • MLK Day is a “Day on, not a day off.” How are you going to make MLK Day “a day on?”
  • Dr. King once said, “We must work unceasingly to uplift this nation that we love to a higher destiny, to a higher plateau of compassion, to a more noble expression of humaneness.” How can you lift up your community?
  • What is one local organization for which you would like to volunteer? Why?
  • How can you encourage more people in your community, workplace or neighborhood to volunteer?
  • What is your local community doing to reach out to the less fortunate in your community? How do you think you could do more?
  • Does your community serve veterans? How are you helping them assimilate back into their daily lives once they return from their deployment?
  • What is one thing you would like to change in your community? What are tangible steps you could take to make that change happen?
  • What skills, resources or talents do you have that you could use to change your community?
  • Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “With freedom comes responsibility.” Is this statement true? If so, what responsibilities do we have as citizens?
  • What are the elements or characteristics of a healthy community? Does your community exhibit these characteristics? If not, what can you do to encourage these elements?

Great! Now that you have got some questions to ask your fellow attendees at the supper, it’s time to get started! Learn more about hosting a Sunday Supper with our MLK Day Toolkit.

Let’s keep Dr. King’s legacy alive and make his vision become reality. Join thousands and volunteer to make your community a place of neighbors rather than strangers!

Let’s Go #GoodSpotting this Holiday Season!

Monday, November 28th, 2011

Today’s post originally appeared on The Case Foundation. Jean Case is the CEO and founder of The Case Foundation, an organization dedicated to applying new technologies and innovative approaches to increase giving; catalyzing civic and business participation; and promoting innovation, collaboration and leadership in the nonprofit sector.

This week the holiday season really kicks into high gear. While we’re gathering with friends and family around the Thanksgiving feast, we’ll soon be thinking about Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, watching holiday decorations go up in our neighborhoods, and listening to classic seasonal tunes on the radio.

But if you take a closer look, you’ll see that the true spirit of the holidays is right in front of you: your neighbor shoveling his neighbor’s driveway, your daughter’s school hosting a canned food drive, or a friend running in a local 5K to raise money for charity. These are all acts of good. We’re sure you’ve done some good things lately, too.

And that’s why starting today, we’d like to invite you to go #GoodSpotting with us. To celebrate all of the good going on around us, we’re creating a huge, global image gallery of people, organizations and businesses doing good this holiday on our Facebook page – because we believe that #GoodSpotting is everywhere, and something everyone can do.

Here’s how you can get involved: snap a picture on your phone or camera and upload it to the Case Foundation Facebook page, or through another online photo-sharing service (Instagram, TwitPic, yFrog), and share on Twitter with the hashtag #GoodSpotting. If you need some inspiration, head on over to the gallery and check out some of the great photos we’ve got already.

And as an extra reward for getting involved in sharing the good this holiday season, you can enter our #Goodspotting sweepstakes for a chance to win up to $500 in holiday spending cash for yourself, and up to a $5,000 donation to the nonprofit of your choice.

To kick off the#GoodSpotting adventures, and to thank all of our partners and supporters that we’ve spotted doing quite a bit of good this year, we’d like to share a short holiday greeting with you – and hope that you’ll see how easy it is to do good and spot good. Happy holidays from all of us at the Case Foundation!

5 Tips for Communicating Your Mission

Friday, October 28th, 2011

nonprofit communicationsYou know that publicity is important for spreading your organizations message to the world, but how exactly do you do it? The most important step in your communication plan should be start early, before the demands from your organization start pulling you in too many different directions. Here is a to-do-list that can make contacting the media about your projects less daunting:

Review your program and its goals. Go over your program’s focus points and problem areas to ensure that everyone is clear about the central mission of the organization. Be proactive and answer any questions that may not have been answered already.

nonprofit audienceIdentify your audience and set your organization’s priorities. Brainstorm a list of people that can help you accomplish your organization’s goals. Spend most of your time with the people who can help spread your organization’s message and diversify your audience more.

Develop what you want to say. This step is very important because this is how you will get people to actually participate. These points should be developed for the audience you intend to reach. Your points can be adapted into different formats including fliers, brochures, press releases, and speeches. These points should be simple and logical, answering the following four questions:

  • What issue is your community is facing?
  • What needs to happen for change?
  • Why does your organization work for this issue?
  • What can your organization accomplish through its unique mission?

Plan and develop communication tools. Develop a few basic tools to keep yourself from getting overwhelmed. Focus your efforts on a few simple tasks at a time such as designing a brochure that can be used in more than one way. Understand your communication template to effectively use it and tailor it to the intended audience.

Work with the mass media. Take a breath… you do not need to be an expert to complete your final step. Begin your work by writing a plan about your course of action. This plan should include strategies for getting media attention, a to-do list, and deadlines. This plan will keep your project focused on the intended mission. This plan can be used as a reference to help your team stay on task.

Although getting media attention can be a daunting task, by staying organized the job can seem more manageable. The most important thing to remember is that your organization has an important mission to fulfill and with the help of media outlets that mission can be accomplished more quickly and efficiently.

9 Tips for Managing Unaffiliated Disaster Response Volunteers

Tuesday, June 7th, 2011

The efficient and proper management of unaffiliated, often spontaneous volunteers in times of emergency is crucial to being able to respond to the disaster. Here are some tips for managing the power and talent of those who want to support disaster recovery efforts.

Understand that volunteers are a community. Volunteering is a valuable part of h healthy community. Volunteers come from all segments of society and often provide essential services. Everyone has the potential to contribute their strength and resources in the aftermath of a disaster.

Volunteers can be involved in more than just immediate recovery efforts. There are valuable and appropriate roles for unaffiliated spontaneous volunteers in mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery – as well as in other aras of community need. The response phase provieds an opportunity to direct volunteers toward longer-term affiliation and community involvement.

Management systems. Volunteers are a valuable resource when they are trained, assigned, and supervised within established emergency management systems. Similar to donations management, an essential element of every emergency management plan is the clear designation of responsibility for the on-site coordination of unaffiliated volunteers.

Shared responsibility. The mobilization, management, and support of volunteers is primarily a responsibility of local government and nonprofit agencies with support from the state level. Specialized planning, information sharing, and a management structure are necessary to coordinate efforts and maximize the benefits of volunteer involvement.

Volunteer expectations. Volunteers are successful participants in emergency management systems when they are flexible, self-sufficient, aware of risks, and willing to be coordinated by local emergency management experts.

The impact on volunteers. The priority of volunteer activity is assistance to others. When this spontaneous activity is well managed, it also positively affects the volunteers themselves and thus contributes to the healing process of both individuals and the larger community.

Build on existing capacity. All communities include individuals and organizations that know how to mobilize and involve volunteers effectively. Emergency management experts and VOAD partners are encouraged to identify and utilize all existing capacity for integrating unaffiliated volunteers.

Managing information. Clear, consistent, and timely communication is essential to successful management of unaffiliated volunteers. A variety of opportunities and messages should be utilized in order to educate the public, minimize confusion, and clarify expectations.

Say thank you. Don’t forget to take the time to thank the volunteers who are showing up to help with disaster recovery. Many of them will likely be the same people who were affected by the disaster. Taking the time to say thank you and show that you care about them can help them to recover from their ordeal.

Lenny Lend-A-Hand Asks YOU to Volunteer!

Thursday, April 14th, 2011

Today’s blog post comes from Lenny Lend-A-Hand, HandsOn Twin Cities Mascot & Community Volunteer

Hellloo- Dolly! Lenny-Lend-A-Hand here representing HandsOn Twin Cities from the great state of Minnesota (I FINALLY was able to hang up my winter jacket, WOOT!).

Now that spring has sprung and spirits have been rejuvenated, it’s perfect timing to get out in the community and volunteer for National Volunteer Week.  HandsOn Twin Cities has been busy organizing over 60 projects, mobilizing over 1,000 volunteers in the metro area.

With the highest number of volunteers per capita, I’m proud to celebrate the great community members who make a difference here in the Twin Cities. Without our great volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to accomplish as much good as we do. Just one week isn’t nearly enough to squeeze in all of the thank yous we owe to our volunteers.

Since Earth Day is right around the corner, the majority of our projects are environmentally focused. There will be lots of rakes, gardening gloves, and mulch to go around! Staff will also be working with volunteers packaging food for local food shelves, as well as making hygiene kits and nutrition packs for families in need.

Personally, I’m looking forward to putting an artistic spin on community education by painting storm drains with the message “PLEASE DON’T POLLUTE! Drains to the Mississippi River!”  With the longest river in the nation rushing right between our Twin Cities, it’s our civic duty to engage, inform, and remind patrons to do their part in improving local water resources. (Plus with clean water, I’ll be even more excited to take a summertime dip in the good ole Mississippi!)

Speaking of civic duty, our nation’s President has called on the American people to not only appreciate their volunteers during National Volunteer Week (April 10th-16th 2011) but to engage in service as well.

“During National Volunteer Week, we celebrate the profound impact of volunteers and encourage all Americans to discover their own power to make a difference.  Every one of us has a role to play in making our communities and our country stronger. I call upon all Americans to observe this week by volunteering in service projects across our country and pledging to make service a part of their daily lives.”

– President Barak Obama April 7th, 2011

I couldn’t have said it better myself! So come on nation of do-gooders- go that extra mile, support your favorite cause, and Lend-A-Hand this week! Together we ALL can make a difference!

Cheers to Volunteers!

Lenny Lend-A-Hand is HandsOn Twin Cities Mascot & Community Volunteer. He can be found at volunteer projects around the Twin Cities. You can read about the work he’s doing at his blog.

LikeMinded: Connecting You to Ideas for Local Change

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011

Today’s post comes from Arthur Coddington, Director of Online Programs, Craigslist Foundation

As we celebrate National Volunteer Week, it’s amazing to think of all the ways we can serve our community. Volunteering is one essential opportunity in a gigantic menu of possible ways to make a difference. We can take on public service positions, or operate community-friendly businesses, or be an active voice in community decision making – or simply be a good neighbor. Whatever we choose, we should feel good knowing we’re actively involved in making the world around us better.

At Craigslist Foundation, we’ve been thinking about all these different flavors of service, specifically whether people are finding out about all the great local projects happening across the country.

The result is LikeMinded, a project we’re launching today to help stories of great community projects get told. LikeMinded aims to help these stories travel far and wide so we can inspire one another into action.

The premise is this: if you do something for your community, and if I share a similar concern in my community, I should hear about what you’ve done. I should be able to build off your work instead of starting from scratch.

We would love to hear your stories. If you’ve done something cool for your community, share it on LikeMinded so others can know about it.

Seeing problems in your neighborhood and not sure where to start? Chances are, someone has had a similar experience and created a solution. We’d love to connect you to that solution.

A great way to get started on LikeMinded is through one of our short video tours or by checking out some of the great HandsOn stories shared already.

Give it a try and let us know how LikeMinded can best serve you.

You can also get our latest updates on and .

Arthur Coddington leads LikeMinded at Craigslist Foundation. He is currently in service as an advisor to photography org Open Show and is also current world champion in a sport called Freestyle Frisbee.