Volunteerism is the Heart of Giving Back
Susanne Norgard, Executive Director, writes in the Ukiah Daily Journal about people and organizations improving lives in our community.
Photo from CERT program
Volunteers have been in the spotlight this past year. It was just over a year ago that more than 10,000 volunteers registered to help during the firestorms in southern
I heard Karen Baker speak at a recent meeting of the League of California Community Foundations in
After hearing Karen, I wanted to learn a little more about volunteer coordination in
Susanne Norgard, Executive Director, writes in the Ukiah Daily Journal about people and organizations improving lives in our community.
Photo from CERT program
Volunteers have been in the spotlight this past year. It was just over a year ago that more than 10,000 volunteers registered to help during the firestorms in southern
I heard Karen Baker speak at a recent meeting of the League of California Community Foundations in
After hearing Karen, I wanted to learn a little more about volunteer coordination in
Tami’s current position is an expansion of her duties as the director of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). Six years ago, when a group of people decided the county needed a “Volunteer Network” where young people and working people could find out about volunteer opportunities, it made sense to link the two programs together. The list of volunteer opportunities is too long to list here, but Tami ticked off some of the options: cooking at Plowshares, working at Headstart or pre-schools, delivering meals, or working in classrooms, hospitals or libraries. Tami said one of her favorites is “Friendly Visitors,” volunteers who make phone calls and visit isolated seniors. All in all, Tami tracks 1,268 volunteers in Lake and
Disaster preparedness is a hot topic in today’s volunteer landscape. Mendocino County’s Volunteer Network started with a small group of CERTs (Community Emergency Response Teams) and now has over 100 trained volunteers in the program. Tami notes they have come a long way. “We went from being looked at as people who were in the way, to essential and effective partners during a disaster. During the fires this summer, CERTs answered phones, staffed shelters, and operated a volunteer clearing house that connected people who had services to offer to the places they were needed. For example, they linked volunteers with horse trailers to areas where animals needed to be transported, and other essential services like that.” Experiences this summer showed that the hours spent on CERT training were well worth the effort. If you want to find a volunteer opportunity that is right for you, you can visit the websites www.1800volunteer.org or www.californiavolunteers.org. Or you may call Tami at 462-2596 x110. The Community Foundation exists to help people to “give back” in ways that matter to them and in ways that strengthen local communities. For more information, visit www.communityfound.org.
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