I am a member of the Central MN Noon Optimist Club. Today, I asked for time to have a conversation about volunteering. I did this selfishly because I thought it might be a good way to get to know each other better. I figured we all share a common value of wanting to help others.
I asked a few key questions and the conversation and connections started tor roll.
We talked about volunteering we did as children/teens, who we remembered and how it influenced us. A new member spoke about being asked to help residents in wheelchairs get back to their rooms after her church choir sang. She said it was really scarey but she dealt with that fear. A few members shared they never volunteered as a child – it was just not part of the culture of their family but fortunately they now volunteer helping with raffles to raise money for youth programs and coach t-ball for their son’s team. It is all good – whatever we do …
According to several studies, adults who began volunteering as youth are twice as likely to volunteer as those who did not volunteer when they were younger. Family volunteering has a lifelong influence. Learning deepens when we physically act on what we are learning.
We talked about if we had ever been helped by a volunteer? Interesting question because sometimes we see ourselves as the one helping others – it can be tough to receive help. It is a reminder we are not truly in control of so many factors in our lives. We need to open ourselves up to being helped – it opens the doors for others to learn and gain that sense of awe when they are able to be the giver.
We developed a laundry list of things that we rely on everyday that would cease to exist if volunteers disappeared: churches, service organizations, democracy, volunteers in schools, hospitals, humane shelters, community theatre, the list goes on ….
Two more topics popped up …
We talked about volunteering we do now or have done recently and why we continue?
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One woman shared how she was at a national conference and attendees all participated in refurbishing homes and creating a playground. Another said that a few years ago his wife volunteered him to be a co-leader of a canoe trip with 13 and 14 year olds in the Boundary Waters. He has done it now for many years and learned his love of canoeing and deepened his concern for children through that intense experience.
Then we talked about our passions for the future … One person, who recently retired from years as a child care provider, said that she eventually wants to return to working with young children.
We got to know each other a little better by talking about what we do with our time – more precious than anything else we have to offer this world.
If you know of someone who is trying to figure out how they can volunteer, encourage them to visit United Way of Central Minnesota’s website: www.unitedwayhelps.org. Explore the searchable database of volunteer opportunities or call United Way’s Community Volunteer Coordinator.
