Orange County United Way’s Post

If you're wondering how we've kept at it all these years, watch this clip! Edie knows what we know: There's no substitute for seeing the lightbulb go on in a young person's eyes! There's no substitute for running into a teacher you've worked with and getting good news about a student or program's progress. The Stanford Center on Longevity identified three reasons why people don't volunteer, even though 90% of us reportedly want to (it improves our physical health and cognitive function). In my experience, volunteering with schools responds to them all: 1) Volunteer schedules are too inflexible/ it takes too much time: Schools can offer volunteers all sorts of scheduling flexibility because they often operate with "rolling day" schedules, which means that your "Day 1 of 8" commitment to help out with Music or Careers or whatever your jam is, won't always fall on a Monday or Friday. You can absolutely schedule your life around your volunteer commitments at a school. Taking a benchmark birthday or anniversary trip? Just let the school know "In the second term of next year, I'll be gone for a week". They only need advance notice. 2) Most volunteer roles aren't interesting: Listen to Edie in this clip, she talks about how as she spent more time in the classroom, her volunteer roles evolved to include more one-on-one time with students. Knowing you helped a child master their times tables, a crisis of confidence in reading or preparing for a test is a game-changer. But of course, you have to demonstrate to teachers that you can get that job done before they'll give it to you. "Plum assignments" always go to top performers, don't they? But trust me, the minute teachers know "you're for real", they'll ask you to do more, because they need the help. 3) No one asked me: The shortage of teachers/ aids/ school staff and resources is not a secret. Many schools today do have a vetting process for volunteers (as they should), but if you are committed to helping a school deliver on it's mandate, they'll find a way for you to make a contribution. I've been volunteer-teaching primarily 10-14 year olds how to think before they buy for almost 9 years. I've learned how to structure content so that it easily fits into lesson plans, engages students, and doesn't create pre or post-workshop administration for teachers. I show up on time, conduct workshops, and leave. I make one follow-up request for feedback, in service of keeping workshops as engaging as possible. I've seen the Edies of this world in countless settings. We always give each other a knowing smile. That moment is always a great part of my day. #TeachKidsAboutMoney #GiveMoneySmartz #WorkingTogether #Volunteering

#FAQ Q: Can I be a SPIRIT NYS mentor? A: No We get asked this question a lot by people who are interested in volunteering. The short answer is usually no. The long answer is that our mentors are staff at our partner schools. When arrangements occur to offer our program at a school, one of the employees agrees to guide the students who enroll in SPIRIT NYS. This is usually a school social worker, coordinator, or counselor. The good news is that there are other ways to volunteer, such as organizing a supply drive and supporting fundraisers. Click the link below for more volunteering options, and message us to get involved! https://lnkd.in/grpXtxAA

"Many homeschoolers have a great amount of flexibility at home, which is one of the beauties of homeschooling, but that flexibility is not always found on a job.  Learning this can be helpful!” – Cindy LaJoy Quote taken from the SPED Homeschool article, Eight Benefits of Volunteering for Your Homeschool #quoteoftheday #homeschoolfreedom #spedhomeschool

Building inclusive nonprofit boards is crucial for diversity and impactful decision-making. Learn how to create a welcoming and inclusive environment by reading the insightful article by K. Bron Johnson: . #NonprofitLeadership #InclusionMatters #DiversityInBoards

It’s National Volunteer Week! Volunteering goes beyond completing tasks–it’s about building connections and spreading positivity. From tutoring to cleaning up parks, there’s a volunteer opportunity for every passion and schedule. 🤝 This week, we challenge you to take the first step: sign up for a community project or reach out to the nonprofit you admire. Small actions can lead to big impact!  Tag your favorite nonprofit below! #NationalVolunteerWeek

CHILDREN UNDERSTAND WHAT #GIVINGBACK MEANS: Volunteering is for all of us😉. ✅ Building Community Bonds: By actively participating in community service, kids develop a sense of belonging and connection to their community. ✅ Life Skills Development: Volunteering teaches invaluable life skills, such as teamwork, problem-solving, and communication👍🏼. ✅ Fostering Gratitude: When kids engage in volunteering activities, they gain a deeper appreciation for the privileges they have. ✅ Empowerment Through Service: Volunteering empowers children to become agents of change in their own right🙌🏾. ✅ The Mama-Tee Community Fridge Project has a lot of kid volunteers🙌🏻. You can support your local community and bring the whole family along for the experience. Giving back is good for the soul. #mamateefridge #communityfridge #helpingothers #socialimpact #corporatesocialresponsibility #sharingiscaring

📚 Empowering Education Through Volunteering: The Impact of Flashcard-Making 📚 I believe that small efforts can create significant change! One of our recent volunteering activities involved creating flashcards for students, and the impact has been nothing short of amazing. Why Flashcard-Making? Flashcards are more than just study aids; they are tools that enhance learning and retention ability by breaking down complex topics into bite-sized pieces, flashcards help students understand and remember key concepts more effectively. They are a definate support for under-resourced schools as many schools lack access to quality educational materials and with this one simple step volunteers are helping bridge that gap by creating valuable learning resources. Flashcards do make learning interactive and fun. This simple yet powerful activity demonstrates how volunteering can make a tangible difference in the lives of students. Together, let’s continue to make a difference, small or big - One flashcard at a time! 🌟 #Volunteering #EducationForAll #CommunityImpact #MakeADifference #Flashcards #InclusiveEducation #GivingBack

CJ CPAs: Success Early Habits - The Power of Volunteering 🌟 Volunteering is more than just giving back to the community—it’s a way to grow both personally and professionally. The satisfaction of helping others can provide a deep sense of fulfillment, while also opening doors to new connections and networking opportunities. Whether it's a local cause or an industry-related initiative, volunteering allows you to build relationships with like-minded people who share your values. 🤝💡 By dedicating time to volunteer, you’re not only making a difference but also developing skills and expanding your network—benefits that can help you both in life and in your career. #SuccessEarlyHabits #Volunteering #GiveBack #Networking #CJCPAs

In today's world, it's easy to get caught up in our busy lives, but this quote reminds us that we all need support at some point, and the best way to give back is through service. Whether it's mentoring, community projects, or simply lending a helping hand, volunteering connects us to the essence of humanity. #Volunteerism #CommunityImpact #GiveBack #KindnessMatters #CorporateSocialResponsibility

Read full article here: https://lnkd.in/dZUDXSRQ Preconceived expectations for one’s behavior drive how people interact with their communities. Messaging via pop culture is a common source for citizens to learn about one community engagement tool: compulsory volunteering. Compulsory volunteering, like court-ordered community service and school-based volunteering, provides an opportunity to learn and “give back” to one’s community. The authors ask, what is the value of compulsory volunteering according to pop culture messaging? Textual analysis is used to identify common themes among 48 episodes of U.S. television about community service and service-learning. Findings indicate that popular culture teaches society that compulsory volunteering is more often a chore to avoid than a way to give back. Volunteers on television perceive power as placed in the wrong hands, and plots center on regaining agency. This power displacement becomes problematic if viewers perceive the volunteer supervisor as an antagonist to defeat. Nonprofits should anticipate misunderstandings when onboarding coerced volunteers. #NonprofitAdvocacyLab #Nonprofit #Research #UF