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!