Resolving to Volunteer in 2015

If you are reviewing the laundry list of possible New Year’s resolutions, the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley has the 2015 resolution for you! It has significant benefits and won’t cost you any money. This year, resolve to volunteer at least 50 hours to strengthen our Cedar Valley community.

The Cedar Valley area is known for its giving spirit, which is why finding a place to volunteer in the New Year is not an overwhelming task. Local groups, organizations, nonprofits and service clubs can use your skills and resources.

The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley represents 134 nonprofit agencies which not only welcome volunteers, but need them to fulfil their missions and budgets. The 2013 national value of one volunteer hour is $22.55 based on the 2013 analysis done by the Independent Sector. In Iowa, the average is $20.93.

Your resolution not only benefits the agency or nonprofit – it benefits you! Here are a few benefits:

• Learn or develop a new skill - Volunteering is the perfect vehicle to discover something you are really good at and develop a new skill.
• Be part of your community - What better way is there to connect with your community and give back? As a volunteer, you certainly return to society some of the benefits that society gives you. 
• Motivation and sense of achievement - Volunteering is about giving your time, energy and skills freely. 
• Boost your career options - If you are thinking of a career change, then volunteering is a perfect way to explore new fields.
• New interests and hobbies - Finding new interests and hobbies through volunteering can be fun, relaxing and energizing.
• New experiences - Volunteering is a wonderful way to get life experience.
• Meeting a diverse range of people - Volunteering brings together a diverse range of people from all backgrounds and walks of life. Volunteering also offers an incredible networking opportunity.
• Send a signal to your employer, teachers, friends and family - Volunteering reflects and supports a complete picture of you, and gives real examples of your commitment, dedication and interests. Show people what you are passionate about and maybe you will inspire them too!
• Health benefits – Studies have established a strong relationship between volunteering and health: those who volunteer have lower mortality rates, greater functional ability, and lower rates of depression later in life than those who do not volunteer.

Call (319) 272-2087, email information@vcccv.org, or visit www.vccv.org to learn about potential opportunities.

Happy Holidays

From your friends at the

Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley

“Tis the Season for VolunCHEERs!”
 

Wishing you peace in this season of joy.

May all good things come to you and those near to your heart.

Merry Christmas from the VCCV team,

Lauren, Jean, & Anne

12 Days of Christmas!

These are simple service projects that can be done throughout the holiday season, in any order you wish, to spread the joy of giving and volunteering!

1st Secret Elf - Leave a special poem, a small gift, plant, or holiday story for a homebound neighbor, or someone in need.	2nd Caring Cookies - Make your favorite cookies for someone special in your life - a teacher, neighbor, relative or friend.	3rd Bird Extravaganza - Decorate a tree for the birds. Cover pinecones with peanut butter and dip them in birdseed. String popcorn and cranberries. Hang cut up apples and oranges on the tree.
4th Holiday Kits - Put together everything a child would need to make a present for a loved one. Contact a family or domestic abuse homeless shelter to distribute the kits.	5th Table Decorations - Make a centerpiece or placemats for a local senior center or deliver some to Meals on Wheels.	6th Caring Calendar - Interview  an elderly neighbor or a relative and find out the important dates in their lives. Create a calendar with handmade pictures or photos and fill in special dates.
7th Hope Chest - Fill a shoebox with small gifts and a card for a homeless child or someone that will be spending the holidays in the hospital.	8th Kitty and Puppy Love - Bring cat and dog food, clean old towels and clean blankets to your local rescue shelter.	9th Soup to Share - Make a container of homemade soup and give to someone who is stressed or depressed so they know someone cares.
10th Deck the Halls - Decorate  a shelter, senior center or homeless shelter. Find out which holiday they celebrate and decorate accordingly.	11th Fudge Delivery - Remember your garbage man, postal carrier, paper delivery person, etc. with some homemade fudge and a card.	12th Caring Family Meal - This can be for your own family, a relative, a neighbor or all of the above. Serve with love.

Contact the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley via email or 319-272-2087 for addition volunteer ideas!

Be a Joy Maker in Cedar Valley!

Generation On is sponsoring the Joy Maker Challenge this holiday season. The goal is to get 100,000 youth volunteers K-12 to participate in helping their communities from November 10 – December 19. For each action taken by a child or teen, Hasbro will donate a toy or game to Toys for Tots. 

The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley is concentrating efforts at the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley and at the after-school program at Happy Times Preschool. Youth have made blankets for the homeless, books on safety for younger children, picture frames for nursing homes, and treat bags for the homeless. We have approximately 50 youth participating. 

 Give involved.

Give Back.

Be a Joy Maker!

Holiday Volunteer Opportunities

The holidays are a terrific time of year to share your many talents while helping others. The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley has listed a number of great ways to get involved. Here are a few to consider:

Bring joy to all this season by volunteering to ring the holiday Salvation Army bells outside of many Cedar Valley shopping locations while raising money to support those in need. Opportunities exist Monday through Saturday, November 22 – December 24 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Volunteers will help with the free-will donation collection and counting the funds at the end of the concert at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center in Cedar Falls on December 1 from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. This opportunity benefits the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

Volunteers are needed to help build food boxes for the holiday season at the Salvation Army on December 1 from 5:00 until 6:30 p.m. Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome.

Volunteers are needed to prepare the Salvation Army Holiday Toy Shop by unloading, sorting, and stocking shelves on December 2 through December 8 from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

The Grout Museum District needs volunteers to assist staff with activities in regard to the printing press and an industry assembly line on December 3 and 17 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome.

The Cedar Valley Jaycees are looking for volunteers who would like to help with their annual Gift of Giving event on Saturday, December 6 from 6:00 – 9:00 a.m. Volunteers age 18 and over will help children shop for family members.

The Salvation Army has teamed up with Waterloo and Cedar Falls Wal-Mart for a fill the truck event. The event will take place December 6 between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Volunteers will hand out wish lists to Wal-Mart customers as they enter the store asking to help us “Fill the Truck with Toys and Coats for Local Kids.” Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome.

The Grout Museum needs volunteers to assist with Wild Kratts Kids Club at the Bluedorn Science Imaginarium December 6 from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. with children Kindergarten - 2nd Grade. Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome.

Volunteers will assist the Salvation Army staff in distributing holiday food boxes to individuals and families in need for the holiday season during various shifts throughout the day on December 8 from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

The Grout Museum needs volunteers with activities for children ages 3rd - 5th grade spend the morning exploring the concepts behind one of the world's most popular game, Minecraft! They will explore all aspects of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) on December 13 from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

Assist clients as they pick up items from the Salvation Army Toy Shop by acting as a co-shopper, stocking shelves, and hauling out items during shifts available throughout the day on December 9 and 10 from 9:00 a.m. - noon, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., and 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

The Northeast Iowa Food Bank is looking for volunteers who will gift wrap to help the Food Bank collect free-will donations during the holidays at College Square Mall and Crossroads Mall from December 15 – 24 from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Volunteers age 12 and over are welcome.

On December 19, the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley is having its annual “Fun with Frosty” event from 4:00 until 6:30 p.m. Volunteers are needed for set up and tear down and will be stationed at different areas throughout the Club. This event is a great way to interact with children in the community and making a positive difference in their lives! Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome.

Waterloo Community Schools needs numerous volunteers to help at the Battle of Waterloo Wrestling Tournament by selling merchandise, providing hospitality, running errands, controlling various entrance points, and assisting with bracket postings on December 19 through 20, from 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. at Young Arena. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome. 

Help serve cookies and coffee the NewAldaya Lifescapes Resident Holiday Party on December 23 from 1:30 until 3:00 p.m. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome. 

Lowell Elementary School needs individuals to adopt a family for the holidays using provided wish lists. Gifts need to be wrapped and delivered to Lowell by December 23. Volunteers age 14 and over are welcome.

Christmas Eve Dinner help is needed at NewAldaya Lifescapes to serve from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. and receive a FREE Christmas Eve Dinner! Great opportunity for families and youth to help out too!

Looking to celebrate the New Year? Have a hard time staying up late? Celebrate with us at NewAldaya Lifescapes on December 31 from 1:30 until 3 p.m. in the afternoon! Help us serve drinks, assist residents in the food line, and make new friends too! Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome. 

Contact the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley via email or 319-272-2087 to get involved!