Outreach is an integral part of my job. It is an activity I love engaging in. I get to talk with people about something I value - volunteering. During the past couple of weeks, I have attended three community events where I was able to talk with people about whether they volunteer and what they do. If they have not been volunteering but are interested, I help them get started. Two of the events were for older adults, retirees. One was for college students. Vastly different audiences but they offered similar observations.
Here are some of my observations.
- People who are currently volunteering are more often than not volunteering for more than one organization. They are feeling the benefits of volunteering. They are ROCK STARS!
- People want to share stories about the volunteer work they are doing, why they are doing it and what they get out of it. They are passionate about their volunteer experience. They smile broadly while they are sharing. You get the sense volunteering makes them happy.
- People love the idea of volunteering. I met many people who say they are thinking about volunteering but have not taken that first step yet. They cite time constraints as the main reason they are not volunteering at this time. Sometimes it is difficult to convince someone the value in making the time to volunteer. One-time events are a great way to "try on" volunteering without making a long-term commitment. Give it a try.
- Many people who are thinking about volunteering, have an idea which organization they want to work with, but most do not. They find a site like VolunteerMT.org valuable for helping them see options.
Maybe I will see you around town at some outreach event, but if not I am glad you are checking VolunteerMT.org for opportunities. You are on your way to finding a rewarding volunteer experience.
