VCCV Weekly Volunteer Opportunities ~

• The Grout Museum is holding a science camp and need volunteers to assist staff members with activities July 2, 3, and 5 from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Volunteers age 16 and over are needed from 1 hour, 1 day, or all 4 days.

• Cedar Valley Jaycees Firework Festival is holding their annual festival on Saturday July 6th at the National Cattle Congress. Volunteers are needed to help set up and tear down the firecracker launch site and track where visitors come from. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

• Aspire Therapeutic Riding Program is requesting volunteers to assist with Horsemanship 101 on July 10th, 11th & 12th from 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

• Country View is in need of Closet Organizers to remove clothes that are out of season, do not fit, are worn out or stained, or need mending and communicate any clothing shortages or needs to volunteer coordinator. Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome.

Call 272-2087 to volunteer!

generationOn Power of Youth Contest

 

 

Youth have the power, talent, and passion to make a difference in the world. To celebrate this potential, generationOn is proud to announce the Power of Youth Contest, which calls on young people from 13-18 years of age to share their story of volunteerism for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the Variety Power of Youth event in Los Angeles on July 27, 2013.

 

Variety's Power of Youth event brings together the top young talent in Hollywood, encouraging young people everywhere to get involved in philanthropic and humanitarian causes. Past supporters have included Miley Cyrus and Dakota Fanning, among others. 

 

There are three ways to get involved:

1. Enter to win. 
2. Share the link: http://bit.ly/POYcontest 
3. Vote for your favorite to win. 

Youth from 13 to 18 years of age are eligible to enter the contest by submitting a photo and a one-sentence description of their community service. Adults can participate by voting or by sharing the contest link with young people. Join us in celebrating the power of youth!

 

The young person with the most votes will be our lucky winner.  

 

Enter the Power of Youth Contest here!  

The challenge and opportunity of true connection

From Network for Good

In a recent commencement speech, novelist Jonathan Safran Foer lamented the risk of isolation in our wired culture. As technology becomes more ingrained in our daily lives, simple actions that have traditionally involved face-to-face communication have been transformed by apps and interfaces. As we’ve become more connected than ever, it’s become easy to avoid true connection.

 

 

For nonprofits, it’s ironic that just as we have the ability to reach so many more people in the world, it’s increasingly tempting to opt for generic messages and efficiency. Resist this urge! If we want to inspire action and support for our causes, we must continue to appeal to the emotions of our fellow man. Passion. Hope. Empathy.

 

 

So how do you ensure your digital outreach has a heartbeat? Keep these tips in mind:

• Tap into emotion by featuring a human face in your communications.
• Avoid jargon. Talk like a real person to connect with real people.
• Make it clear that your emails, social media channels and website have a living, breathing person behind them.
• Stir passion through story. Focus on an individual’s struggle and illustrate how your work has helped.
• Don’t neglect the interactive part of online interaction.

There are so many ways to get it wrong, yet as agents for social change, we have the best opportunity to get it right. Use the tools of technology to amplify the heart, soul and emotion of your cause, not avoid it. Your message and mission depend on it.

 



Even in divisive times, service and volunteering bring us together as One America

by Michelle Nunn, POLI

 

 

At Points of Light's Conference on Volunteering and Service in Washington, D.C., the crowd of 5,000 saw something you don't see every day. And it wasn't just right-leaning strategist Karl Rove dancing on stage with left-leaning strategist Donna Brazile. 

In the heart of our nation's capital, Democrats and Republicans, conservatives and liberals, corporate executives and grassroots organizers got together to agree on one thing: Despite our differences, we can make a difference together.

It's all part of the launch of One America, a nationwide, yearlong campaign Points of Light is leading, with founding support from JPMorgan Chase, to bring together rivals in politics, entertainment and sports with the goal of inspiring millions to unite in service to their communities.

Unlikely allies on stage included conservative talk show host Bill O'Reilly and liberal political strategist Donna Brazile, plus former adviser to President George W. Bush Karl Rove and former adviser to President Obama David Plouffe.  

Senior Adviser to the President Valerie Jarrett was on hand to announce that President and Mrs. Obama will host a special White House ceremony in July to honor the 5,000th Daily Point of Light Award -- a volunteer recognition program begun by President George H. W. Bush in 1993.

 

At the close of the session, rival marching bands from D.C.'s Eastern and Duke Ellington high schools led thousands of delegates to a cavernous room where they assembled 100,000 mac-and-cheese kits for those in need in the nation's capital.

At the historic Sewall-Belmont House & Museum on Capitol Hill, 200 volunteer leaders assembled 600 school supply kits for area children. During the service project, sponsored by Altria, volunteers were joined by several members of Congress, including Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI).

Summing up the spirit of One America, Peter Scher, executive vice president and head of corporate social responsibility at Chase, recalled the words of Abraham Lincoln: "A house divided against itself cannot stand." In today's world, Scher said, "We know that what really matters to our nation's future is not what divides us, but what brings us together. And what brings us together here today is what brings us together in neighborhoods across the country - service."

So which unlikely allies would you like to see unite in service? Tom and Jerry? Larry

Bird and Magic Johnson? Kanye West and Taylor Swift? Visit www.one-america.org and let us know. We'll collect the best pairings and let you vote on which ones we'll ask to come together to serve.

We may live in divisive times, but service unites.

 

VCCV Weekly Volunteer Opportunities ~

• The Cedar Falls Blue Zones Project is holding a Walking Moai Event on Monday, June 24 at Overman Park from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Volunteers age 16 and older are welcome.

• The Grout Museum is holding a science camp and need volunteers to assist staff members with activities June 25 - 28 from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Volunteers age 16 and over are needed from 1 hour, 1 day, or all 4 days.

• The Cedar Valley Jaycees Firework Festival is holding their annual festival on Saturday July 6th at the National Cattle Congress. Volunteers are needed to help set up and tear down the firecracker launch site and track where visitors come from. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

• Cedar Falls Tourism and Visitors Bureau needs a Hospitality Specialist to welcome guests at the Cedar Falls Visitor Center. Volunteers will assist visitors with directions and what there is to do in our community. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

Call 272-2087 to volunteer!

Can Volunteering Help You With Your Job Search?

By Wendy Spencer
CEO, Corporation of National and Community Service

Can volunteering be the difference-maker in your next interview? New, ground-breaking research at the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) provides evidence of a relationship between volunteering and finding employment.

Our new study, “Volunteering as a Pathway to Employment,” found that those who were out of work and got involved with volunteering opportunities increased their likelihood of finding employment by 27 percent.

We are excited about these findings because it highlights an encouraging situation for both job seekers and the volunteer sector. 

 

Consider Leanne’s story. She is a military spouse who began volunteering to get involved with her new community when her family relocated to Florida from California. Her work with the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society as a financial counselor and managing volunteers created a passion that never faded as she moved from coast to coast with her family, and eventually led to a full-time position managing volunteers with her local American Red Cross. 

 

Leveling the Playing Field

 

Volunteering makes a positive impression, and that can make a big difference in a competitive job market. It can be especially helpful for people with limited skills or connections, and help level the playing field. 

 

 

For example, volunteers without a high school diploma improved their chances of finding employment by 51 percent, and those in rural areas increased their chances of finding work by 55 percent.

 

In fact, volunteering improved the likelihood of success for job seekers across all demographic categories – such as age, race, and gender – geographic areas, and job market conditions, and the findings held across the 10-year period analyzed in our study. That is amazing! 

 

Creating Opportunity

 

CNCS supports this pathway to employment through our efforts that promote service and volunteerism that impacts communities around the nation. Our grantees and signature programs such as AmeriCorps recruits and manages 4.7 million American volunteers each year for efforts that strengthen our nation’s nonprofits and other community organizations, and multiplies their impact. 

 

Out-of-work job seekers should consider the option of volunteering to build skills and establish connections that can lead to work. Nonprofits can build their capacity by targeting these job seekers to form relationships that can benefit both parties. And policymakers can encourage the use of volunteering as a strategy to reduce the employment rolls and create greater economic opportunity.
 

Many of us know someone who is looking for work. My challenge to all of us is to seek out these friends to see if they will consider volunteering as a way to stay connected while they search for a job.

Class of 2013: Be the Best Leader You Can Be

John Donahoe, CEO at eBay, spoke at graduation at Stanford’s Graduate Business School Class of 2013. His message is spot on regarding leadership.

 

Leadership is a topic I have spent much of my life exploring, trying to be the best leader I can be… while also trying to be the best person I can be. And for me, the challenges of being a good leader and leading a full life are deeply intertwined.

 

This past Saturday, I had the honor of addressing Stanford’s Graduate Business School Class of 2013. As a 1986 graduate of the GSB, it was a real privilege to share four leadership principles I’ve learned over the past 25 years. These timeless principles have helped me navigate my work and my life. I now want to share these principles with you.

Principle No. 1: Link your work with a sense of purpose.

 

It doesn’t matter what industry you choose, what company you join, or what your particular role may be. What does matter is connecting your day-to-day energies to something that is deeply meaningful to you.

That’s what brought me to eBay. At first, I didn’t think eBay was right for me. But then I met eBay’s founder, Pierre Omidyar. And I asked Pierre how he defined success for eBay. He didn’t talk about growth rates, revenues or stock price. Pierre said: “John, it’s not about the numbers; it’s about how much impact we can have in people’s lives around the world.” I knew then that I had found my next opportunity to deeply link my work with a sense of purpose.

Discover what really motivates and inspires you, and make sure you can link this to your work. This will make you a more authentic and effective leader, and it will give you the perseverance required to succeed over time.

Principle No. 2: Never stop learning.

No one will care about your career as much as you do. And only you can be responsible for your learning. It can’t be delegated. One common trait I have observed in the most successful leaders is that they take their own growth and development very seriously. Great leaders are never too proud to learn.

When I was a student, I believed my bosses would impart everything I needed to know to be successful. In the workforce, I quickly learned that the perfect Yoda-like mentor didn’t exist and no one person had all the wisdom I was searching for.

Instead of learning a lot from one person, I now learn a little from a lot of people. Every interaction teaches me something and in this way, everyone is my teacher.

And here’s a secret: The more successful you are, the more you need to learn and grow. Your commitment to learning has to be continuous and unrelenting.

Principle No. 3: The most valuable learning often comes during difficult times.

Tough times teach character -- and character is the most important quality a leader can have.

Let me share a personal example from my own career: In the early 1990s, Bain nearly went bankrupt. The whole world had written us off, our outlook was grim, and there was a brief time where we couldn’t even make payroll.

Yet this turned out to be a defining moment in the firm’s history – and in my career. A few leaders came together to make a shared commitment to overcome adversity and build a great company. This was a true character-building moment, both for the organization and for me as a young leader. Over the past seven years, I have had a similar experience leading the turnaround at eBay.

In difficult periods, you really get a sense of who you are, what you’re made of, and what’s really important to you. It is during the difficult periods that you learn the importance of teamwork and commitment, as well as how to persevere and have faith.

Principle No. 4: Build your full life, not just your work life.

Many of you are concerned about work-life balance, and how your employers are going to address it. I would turn the question back to you: How will you create your own balance?

My wife and I have tried to balance dual careers for the past 30 years. We are partners and true equals. There have been periods where I have followed her career, and times where she has sacrificed for mine. At the same time we worked very hard at building a healthy family life, and today we are blessed with four wonderful children. This has meant many trade-offs and lots of second-guessing.

There has been no single moment where we achieved the perfect work-life balance – and that’s okay. We have realized that pursuing a full life and pursuing balance is a journey and not a destination. The fact that we are willing to keep at it is what counts.

I will also tell you that some of my most valuable leadership training has come from my experience being a husband, a father and a friend. The skills you learn in your personal life – listening, empathy, and humility -- are invaluable for success at work.

So embrace the challenge of building your full life, not just your work. Real life gives you the stuff to be a real leader.

In summary, I hope these four timeless principles give you some guideposts to staying true to who you are. I want to conclude by sharing some words from John Gardner, who has written extensively on the topic of personal renewal. Over the past 20 years, I have kept a laminated copy of this quote in my wallet and I use it as a source of inspiration:

Meaning is not something that you stumble across, like the answer to a riddle or the prize in a treasure hunt. Meaning is something you build into your life. You build it out of your own past, out of your affections and loyalties, out of the experience of humankind as it is passed on to you, out of your own talent and understanding, out of the things you believe in, out of the things and people you love, out of the values for which you are willing to sacrifice something. The ingredients are all there. You are the only one who can put them together into that unique pattern that will be your life. Let it be a life that has dignity and meaning for you.

Clients sought for UNI courses in workplace communication

UNI courses focusing on workplace communication are in need of individual and organizational clients who wish to have print and digital publications created, e.g., newsletters, brochures, flyers, proposals, report documents, websites and exhibition storyboards.

Students in this class learn about the traits and skills typical of technical writing, such as defining a concept, describing a product/idea, instructing, and "translating" specialized information for the sake of non-specialized audiences. In that sense, the course is relevant to a wide variety of client document projects.

There are two time frames when teams of students will be working on their communication projects:

1) the first project begins mid-September and closes mid-October (or
approximately 30 hours of work total per student), and
2) the second project begins mid-October and closes mid-December (or
approximately 50 hours of work total per student).

Contact Adrienne Lamberti for more information.

VCCV Weekly Volunteer Opportunities ~

• Waterloo Leisure Services needs volunteers to assist at the Kiwanis/Katoski Golf Tournament on June 18 from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Gates Golf Course. Volunteers age 18 and over will provide tournament support.

• Spend a weekend in the outdoors with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois on June 21 at 5:00 p.m. through June 22 at 6:00 ...p.m. Volunteers age 18 and over will assist with at Camp Tahigwa in Dorchester, Iowa.

• Green Iowa Americorps will be clearing part of the trail system at Hickory Hills Park and rerouting and/or rehabilitating another portion. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome on June 22 from 8:00 a.m. until 4 p.m.

• Cedar Falls Historical Society needs Facilities and Grounds Volunteers to assist with light cleaning, dusting, weeding, planting, watering, and more. Help maintain our facilities and keep them beautiful and welcoming for visitors. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

Call 272-2087 to volunteer!

Treat Dad to a Round of Golf at the Phelps FunSpace in College Square Mall!

Dads Can Enjoy Free Admission to the FunSpace and Youth Pavilion on June 16!

 

Treat Dad to a round of golf at the new Phelps FunSpace in College Square Mall, now featuring the Mini Masters: A Nine-Hole Course in Art golf exhibit! Dads receive free admission, when accompanied by at least one child, to the FunSpace and original Phelps Youth Pavilion at the Waterloo Center for the Arts on Sunday, June 16 from 1-5pm. As always, Members get in for free; Nonmembers are $3/person on Sundays, which includes same-day admission to both the FunSpace and the Youth Pavilion. Also, be sure to check out the Father’s Day Sale going on now through June 16 at the Waterloo Center for the Arts’ Gift Store, open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Sunday, 1 - 4 p.m.

 

The Phelps Youth Pavilion is located inside the Waterloo Center for the Arts at 225 Commercial Street in downtown Waterloo. The Phelps FunSpace is located in College Square Mall, Cedar Falls. The Center works in partnership with the community to build a stronger appreciation for the arts and to provide cultural experiences for people of all ages. For more information, call (319) 291-4490 or visit www.waterloocenterforthearts.org.

Operation Threshold is Accepting Iowa Disaster Program Applications

Operation Threshold is now accepting applications for the Iowa Disaster Individual Assistance Grant Program.  As a result of the May 2013 flooding, Governor Branstad declared a State of Disaster Emergency for Black Hawk, Buchanan, and Grundy counties.  Therefore, households in those counties may be eligible for the Iowa Disaster Individual Grant Program.  

 

Persons whose belongings were damage by the flood waters may be eligible for assistance replacing some items and/or assistance with temporary housing.  Homeowners whose home was damaged by the flooding may also be eligible for assistance with structural repairs.  Proof of flood damage or damage inspections may be required.

 

In order to be eligible, households must be earning at or below 200% of the Federal poverty level or involved in a DHS or some Operation Threshold programs. Time is limited, and households must apply by July 16, 2013.

 

The application is currently available on the DHS website.  Or, for more information, please contact the following:

 

Black Hawk County: Call Operation Threshold at (319) 291-2065

VCCV Weekly Volunteer Opportunities

• The Cedar Falls Tourism and Visitors Bureau needs individuals to count laps, and provide support for the 2013 IEEE-PELS Super Splash at George Wyth Park, June 12 – June 16, from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome.

• Spend a day in the outdoors with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois on June 15 from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Volunteers age 18 and over will chose which activities they will assist with at Camp Tahigwa in Dorchester, Iowa.

• Waterloo Leisure Services needs volunteers to assist at the Kiwanis/Katoski Golf Tournament on June 18 from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Gates Golf Course. Volunteers age 18 and over will provide tournament support.

• The Catholic Worker House needs assistance each Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday to help serve a Community meal for 30 to 40 people. Help is needed in meal preparation, serving and clean-up. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

Call 272-2087 to volunteer!

What the latest online trends mean for your cause

Mary Meeker presented the 2013 Internet Trends report during the All Things Digital D11 conference. Meeker’s report is consistently a treasure trove of data, trends and opportunities within the digital world. This type of insight is incredibly useful for nonprofit fundraisers as we navigate how to effectively engage and inspire supporters in a rapidly changing online landscape.

The entire report is worth a look, but here are a few especially important points for nonprofits:

Mobile usage continues to explode.
If you’re wondering whether mobile is important for your cause, consider this: there are now 1.5B smartphone subscribers. Plus, mobile traffic is projected to maintain its current rate of growth if not accelerate. To drive this point home, Meeker also reveals that smartphone users, on average, reach for their devices around 150 times per day. Wow!

Takeaway: It’s critical for your cause to be mobile friendly. Make it easy for constituents and supporters to find, interact and give to you via smartphones.

Rich content is ramping up.
Digital photos, video and audio are becoming easier to create, refine and share. To effectively compete for attention in crowded inboxes, social streams or browsing sessions, stand out with original content that embodies your message.

Takeaway: Incorporate multimedia formats in your online outreach to illustrate your impact, attract new donors and retain existing supporters.

Sharing and connecting diversify.
Social media platforms are still on the rise with sites like Pinterest, Instagram and Tumblr showing significant growth. Though Facebook was the only platform in the report to see a drop in usage from 2011 to 2012, it still sees the lion’s share of usage.

Takeaway: Leverage social media to provide supporters another way to forge relationships with your cause and empower them to share your message with their networks.

We live in an age of unprecedented “findability”.
With such easy access to massive amounts of information online, it’s nearly impossible not to have full transparency—whether that’s coming from your organization or those talking about you.

Takeaway: Understand what is being said about your cause online. What do readers find when they search for you? It is critical to take the lead in being open about your organization to build trust and loyalty.

Other fascinating tidbits include emerging devices and formats that could prove to be powerful tools for nonprofit storytelling, fundraising events and reporting impact.

• Tablets are showing more rapid growth than smartphones; they may also become the predominant type of large-screen computing devices.
• Short-form and temporary content sharing (think Vine and Snapchat) are also seeing rapid adoption rates.
• Wearable technology and other connected devices—such as Google glass, smart watches and activity trackers—are poised to transform how we interact with all of the information available to us online.

You can view the full presentation via the KPCB website.

KPCB Internet Trends 2013 from Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers

Nominate a Special Volunteer to be a Cabot Community Celebrity

Earlier this week, Americans paused on Memorial Day to honor the men and women who have given their lives in service to our country. And every day, thousands of volunteers honor that sacrifice in a special way by serving others and dedicating their time, energy and effort to making our communities better.  

One of those volunteers is Richard Denney, a former Army combat engineer who is himself a veteran of two deployments. Richard has dedicated his life to serving his fellow veterans. As a member of the Lone Star Veterans Association (LVSA), he joined its emergency response team to provide first aid and disaster relief services, and served as Director of the LVSA's Veteran Career Transition Program, helping other veterans transition to successful careers after leaving the military.

Richard says, "Being able to provide my fellow veterans with the opportunity to bring stability to their family by getting the right career is the most rewarding volunteer work that I've ever done."  

Do you know a special volunteer like Richard Denney in your community?  

Points of Light is proud to join with the Cabot Community Celebrity Awards again this year to recognize the achievements and contributions of volunteers who serve every day in communities across the nation.   

Nominate a special volunteer in your community to be a Cabot Community Celebrity and he or she could be among the honorees setting sail January 11, 2014 for an all-inclusive, six day/seven night cruise aboard the Celebrity Summit, with stops in Puerto Rico, Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas.

It's more than just a way to say thank you, it's an opportunity for some extraordinary volunteers to learn and be inspired by one another.      

Cabot, a farm cooperative owned by 1,200 farm-families throughout New England and New York, launched the Community Celebrity Awards in 2009 as a way to applaud the volunteers whose time and talent make our communities a better place.

This year's Community Celebrities will be selected throughout 2013. Nominate your own Community Celebrity here before June 14 and join us in saying "thank you" to the volunteers like Richard Denney who make our communities better every day of the year.  

Older Iowans are Lifetime Volunteers

It is well demonstrated that senior volunteers are actively involved in the Cedar Valley as we celebrate 8 over 80. The involvement of these individuals has strengthened our community and allowed others to witness a life full of service.

Volunteerism throughout the state of Iowa is well documented. The Corporation for National and Community Service indicates that volunteers age 55 and over are involved. 39% of Iowans age 55+ volunteer while averaging 54 hours of volunteer time annually. 

Older Iowans who have not volunteered and have uncertainties should consider the following:

·        Find a passion. Retirement is the time to live out your passion; feed the homeless, get involved in the neighborhood, or teach youth about art at a local art museum. Do what you’ve always wanted to do and didn’t have time to do before.

·        Look for a need. A 2009 survey, conducted by the Corporation for National and Community Service, found that 80% of nonprofit organizations surveyed reported some level of fiscal stress. To find out where you can be most helpful, contact the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley.

·        Avoid perfectionism. It’s easy to seek perfection in a volunteer role. Perfectionism can ruin the project for you and others around you.

·        Strive for joy. If nothing else, a volunteer job should be something fun. Volunteer work can be dirty and difficult but it should still be something you enjoy.

·        Deflect criticism. While you might not be taking the volunteer job too seriously, others may. Try to brush off criticism. Don’t allow it to ruin your ability to find a way to give.

·        Steer clear of conflict. Try to avoid conflict in volunteer life. Sometimes you need to give up ground on an idea to keep the peace.

·        Don’t overdo. Older adults can become so committed to a cause it becomes a job. While that kind of dedication is commendable, remember that retirement work should be a labor of love.

·        Avoid negativity. Ignore negativity and gravitate toward people and projects that share your interests.

·        Get help. If you’re an older Iowan or have a loved one who wants to volunteer contact the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley.

The following are benefits of volunteering for those 55 and older in the United States. “Older volunteers are finding ways to use their lifetime of skills and experience to make an impact on issues they care about,” said Dr. Erwin Tan, director of Senior Corps, provider of the statistics listed below.

·        Make a Difference - 99% of older volunteers want to make a difference. Whether it’s passing out lunches to the homeless or building a home for a family in need, nearly all senior volunteers want to make a difference.

·        Improved Physical Health - 98% stay active and feel better physically. Recent research shows that giving back results in increased activity, which often results in improved health.

·        Stronger Emotional Outlook - 98% feel better emotionally. The idea of putting others’ needs before one’s own pays off.

·        Renewed Spiritual Purpose - 98% gain a sense of purpose. Along with a need to make a difference, older volunteers overwhelmingly want to gain a sense of purpose.

·        Shared Wisdom - 90% want to share their talents, skills and experience. Many older adults have spent a lifetime in careers or perfecting domestic and creative skills that they are pleased to share with others.

·        Revived Perspective and Mental Acuity - 84% want to occupy their free time. Volunteering helps supports “executive function” or brain activity in key areas of the brain.

·        Effective Pain Relief - 75% with chronic conditions say volunteering helps them manage these conditions. Giving back may serve as a stress reliever and distraction for seniors suffering from various conditions such as arthritis, diabetes and high blood pressure.

·        Revitalized Social Networks - 74% are able to overcome feeling isolated. There’s no time when the risk of isolation is as great as the senior years.

·        Improved Mental Outlook - 70% are able to overcome feeling depressed. Depression is among the biggest challenges faced by older adults who have lost spouses or whose families have moved away or are too busy for them.

·        Long-Lasting Legacies - 53% say that they learned the importance of volunteering from their parents’ community service and 84% say they have encouraged their children to give back to their communities.

Seven in 10 U.S. older volunteers say they plan on volunteering “forever” or they have no end in sight to their community service activities.

The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley works to promote and support effective volunteerism and to serve as the resource and coordination center for volunteers and community partnerships.

To secure volunteer opportunities call the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley at 272-2087. Volunteer opportunities may also be accessed at www.vccv.org or Volunteer Solutions.