This month, we welcome Guest Contributor Claire Walton. We could not think of someone better to write an article about National Volunteer Month as Claire is a dedicated volunteer which includes her serving on our Communications Workgroup. Claire also was previously the Volunteer Coordinator at Anchor House.
“Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve.” – The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
April is National Volunteer Month also known as Volunteer Appreciation Month. When I think of volunteers and volunteerism, this quote frequently comes to mind.
To be a great volunteer, to have an impact, to make the world a better place in any of a variety of ways does not necessarily require disposable income, or lots of extra free time, or even a lengthy list of unique skills. Of course, these things can be wonderful and helpful to any organization, but at the heart of the matter is a willingness to serve, the conscious decision to do something. The best volunteers – the kind I have had the pleasure to meet and work with through Anchor House – are doers – and that is what makes them great. And I invite you to join them!
For six years, I was Anchor House’s Volunteer and Intern Coordinator. Working with undergraduate and graduate students spending a semester or year-long internship at Anchor House as part of their studies was a rewarding way to participate in the formation of the next generation of social and human services professionals. Working with individual and group volunteers, witnessing firsthand the tremendous and positive impact their caring, concern, and doing had on the well-being of so many children and young people took the job to a whole other level. It fixed in my mind and heart an unabashed respect for those who invest “time, talent, and/or treasure” in the lives of others.
As I flip through the picture album in my mind, I smile as I see the “dynamic duo” of Tom and Simon (pictured, below) showing up at the Shelter on Wednesday nights as they have done for literally decades, ready to take “the kids” to movies or the mall or some other favorite venue. Leading candidates for induction into any worldwide Volunteer Hall of Fame, these gentlemen have provided countless young people, many grappling with trauma, abuse, and neglect, with priceless opportunities to have fun, relax, and simply be kids for a while. Kids know the real deal when they encounter it, and across the years, Tom and Simon have consistently passed the test: with no disrespect to Anchor House’s dedicated staff, on more than one occasion I heard residents comment, “They don’t come here because they are paid to – they come because they want to.” What a powerful testimony to the power of caring!
Other pictures elicit smiles, too. There’s the robotics expert who shared his passion and supported a love of learning…the artist who helped youth discover their creativity…the talented baker who not only helped residents experience the accomplishment of baking their own bread but also incorporated lessons in fractions in the measuring of ingredients. There’s the corporate group that designed and built a labyrinth behind the shelter to provide youth with a unique place for mindfulness and reflection…the church group that organized the clothing and food pantries and planted flowers to help Anchor House maintain a welcoming, attractive home where young people regularly experience hope, healing, and the respect they deserve…the sorority alumnae who decorated for holidays throughout the year and cooked delicious meals to delight the kids when they returned from school…the Anchor House and Anchor House Foundation Boards, the Ride Committee, and all those who regularly use their vacation time or time away from their families, friends, and pets to Ride or Walk and raise funds and awareness to help “the kids.”
There are so many more individual and group volunteers I wish I could recognize here. Volunteering can be long-term or short-term. It can be out in front or behind the scenes. At its best, volunteering enriches the lives of both those served and those who do the serving. I can attest to this phenomenon in my own life. I continue to remain active with Anchor House as a volunteer in the area of Communications. The opportunity to help the nonprofit advance its mission and remain a vibrant, impactful resource and vital community presence is something I cherish.
Did you know that the value of a volunteer hour in NJ is $33.82 (www.independentsector.org) I used to love seeing the amazed looks on the faces of volunteers who came to buff floors or wash the Anchorage’s expansive windows when I told them how much money they had just saved the agency – funds that could be used to purchase food, school supplies, or even a birthday cake for a young person observing their 16th birthday in care. Volunteering benefits volunteers as well. Stress reduction, a sense of connection, improved mental health, skills development, the experience of purposefulness and more have all been associated with volunteerism.
To volunteers past, present, and future – Happy Volunteer Appreciation Month, and thank you!
Ready for an opportunity to be great, to do something, or perhaps you are curious to explore the possibilities with Anchor House? No strings attached! Visit our volunteer page to learn more.
