Volunteers

Volunteers

Volunteers are the most important resource community organizations have. The ability of people to work willingly together donating their time and energy is a meaningful experience for themselves as well as for the organization. It's a true win/win situation!

Volunteers bring:

  • Objectivity

  • New energy, ideas and a fresh perspective

  • Specialized skills and knowledge

  • Constructive criticism and feedback

  • Lessen the overall workload

  • Immediate access to the community

 

Volunteering is an opportunity to:

  • Work for a cause and give back to the community

  • Help others

  • Develop new friendships

  • Share life lessons

  • Teach new skills

  • Complete internships

  • Participate in direct service to clients

 

Volunteer opportunities:

  • Landscaping

  • Gardening

  • Assist WillBridge Street Outreach Team

  • Help collect and organize donations

  • Annual Homeless Foot Washing

  • Adopt – A- Resident at Christmas

  • Bible Study upon request

  • Recycle Program


Benefits Volunteers Bring to the Organization:

  • credibility – volunteers have fewer vested interests, making them a valuable public relations asset

  • objectivity – especially in the delivery of services

  • refreshed energy

  • specialized skills and knowledge

  • public opinion on important issues

  • new ideas to enrich the existing program

  • flexibility to focus intently on a particular task or issue

  • constructive criticism and feedback

  • fresh perspectives – "new blood" can keep an organization alive

  • ability to lessen the overall workload

  • capacity to expand services

  • immediate access to the community

Why Do People Volunteer?

  • to help others and contribute to the community

  • to use skills in a new setting

  • to find new friends and new relationships

  • to develop a sense of accomplishment and self-worth

  • to learn new skills

  • to meet requirements of a course or program

  • to challenge themselves

  • to work for a cause

  • to gain recognition for their abilities

  • to help improve the quality of community life

What is Motivation?

There is no great trick to motivation… It's simply finding out what people like to do — and can do well — and then letting them do it.

Motivation is like:

  • a watch – it takes a few minutes to wind but then it can run by itself

  • a shot of adrenaline – it picks you up when your energy is low and gets you over the hurdles

People are motivated when they understand and value the payoffs.

In return, the volunteer receives:

  • recognition

  • interesting jobs

  • responsibility

  • achievements

You can't force people to do something that they're not interested in.

Motivating Environments

A volunteer needs:

  • to know what to do

  • to know how to do it

  • to be able to do it

  • to agree to the task

"Rights" of a volunteer

You have the Right:

  • to be treated as a co-worker, not just free help

  • to a suitable assignment with consideration for personal preference, temperament, education and skills

  • to a well-planned program of training and supervision

  • to a continuing education on the job and the follow-up to initial training… training for a greater responsibility

  • to sound guidance and direction

  • to promotion and a variety of experience through advancement to assignments with more responsibility

  • to be heard, to have a part in planning, to feel free to make suggestions, and to have respect shown for an honest opinion

  • to recognition in the form of promotion and rewards, and through day-to-day experience of appreciation

"Responsibilities" of a Volunteer

  • to be sincere in the offer of service and believe in the value (worth) of the job to be done

  • to be loyal to the organization and the staff with whom they work

  • to maintain the dignity and integrity of the organization with the public

  • to understand the job he or she undertakes

  • to carry out duties promptly and reliably to the best of their ability

  • to be willing to learn and participate in orientation and training programs, and to continue to learn on the job

  • to accept the guidance and decisions of the co-ordinators of volunteers

  • to maintain a smooth-working relationship with others and stay within the bounds of the volunteer placement description

  • to contribute to supervision by self-evaluation and willingness to ask

The organization is responsible for making sure volunteers are treated well. In return, the organization benefits by getting a great volunteer!