From Ranks of Jobless, a Flood of Volunteers
It's an interesting article, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.
Basically, it's telling us something that we already know: recently we're seeing a significant increase in the number of people seeking volunteer opportunities.
Some were inspired by President Obama, some can no longer afford to donate money and have chosen to donate time, others have lost their jobs and want to gain new skills (or hone existing skills) while they give something back to the community.
So that's great news, right? On the surface, yes, it is (hey, I'm always in favor of more people volunteering).
But at the same time, many nonprofits have lost at least some of their funding while being asked to address the increased community issues that go hand-in-hand with an economic downturn. This means that they have less funding available to pay Volunteer Managers, or that some Volunteer Managers are being asked to take on other positions within nonprofits. Some part-time Volunteer Managers are being given fewer hours, and some were volunteers to start with.
At a time when more people than ever are interested in volunteering, the nonprofits that need them the most aren't in a position to manage them effectively. More and more volunteers are being turned away by overwhelmed nonprofits focused exclusively on meeting their core mission, and who can blame them? It's a common response to stress - shut down all superfluous actions in order to focus on that which is most important.
Believe me when I say that managing volunteers can be hard (yet rewarding) work - the best Volunteer Managers are able to offer experiences that benefit both the volunteer and the agency. It takes planning, and understanding what the volunteer wants to gain from the experience. It takes trust that, in putting the time and effort into making an opportunity happen, the volunteer will show up. It takes time to manage and supervise volunteers, and to be available when they have a question or need a hand.
Don't get me wrong - local agencies greatly value the insights, enthusiasm, and dedication of their volunteers. I am just trying to explain that quality volunteer opportunities typically don't happen by themselves.
Some questions for you to consider:
- How can we help our local nonprofit and governmental agencies during these challenging times?
- How can we keep them from feeling overwhelmed?
- How can we offer them volunteer support without inadvertently creating even more work for them?
Thanks, as always, for all that you do to make a difference in Howard County!
Register with the Volunteer Center Serving Howard County today to find volunteer opportunities related to your skills and interests!
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