Resolving to volunteer in 2016!

If you are reviewing the laundry list of possible New Year’s resolutions, the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley has the 2016 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 148 nonprofit agencies which not only welcome volunteers, but need them to fulfil their missions and budgets. The 2015 national value of one volunteer hour is $23.07 based on the 2014 analysis done by the Independent Sector. In Iowa, the average is $21.75.

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.

The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley is happy to assist you in finding a perfect volunteer connection. Call 272-2087 or visit www.vccv.org to learn about potential opportunities.

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!

12 Ways to Pay It Forward During the Holiday Season

Donate toys. Donate a new, unopened toy to organizations such as Toys for Tots at KWWL TV. You can also take them to a local hospital or women’s shelter. Last year I brought a trunk full of toys to the hospital and they were so incredibly grateful to have items for the kids on Christmas morning.

Donate food. Give the gift of helping a family to have a hearty meal or two this holiday season by donating to the Northeast Iowa Food Bank for through a charitable organization. Also keep in mind that food banks still have a need in the new year when supplies are most likely to be depleted.

Pay off someone’s layaway. This can be done at the store or many times even over the phone. Simply call a retailer who does layaway and ask the customer service department how you can help pay off someone’s layaway to make their post-holiday season a lot less stressful.

Donate your time. Do not underestimate the value of your time. Serve meals at a soup kitchen. Help veterans and others get to their destination for the holidays. Help people with disabilities wrap gifts for their loved ones. Help your neighbors put up their lights. You can also start by calling a local organization or two to find out their needs during the holiday season.

Sponsor A Needy Family Contact EMBARC to help a refugee family become self-reliant. Project Connect connects adult refugee newcomers with native Iowan mentors with a focus on English tutoring and developing and achieving newcomer goals in the US.

Make a year-end charitable donation. Especially if you work for an organization that has a matching program. Let whatever amount that you can give get stretched further by your employer for an extra generous donation.

Purchase a gift that gives back. Think conscious consumerism and making purchases from brands that give back in some way, especially during the holiday season. You can choose from our gifts that give back holiday gift guide or select a gift of your choice. If you are not sure which companies are giving back, here is a list of Social Responsibility reports from well-known brands and retailers, so you can decide for yourself where to put your dollars.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Remembering to keep it environmentally-friendly during the holidays benefits the earth, your bills, and future generations. Though the holiday season seems to be a time of wild abundance, there is a definite place for simplicity amidst the chaos. It can still be festive too! One easy example is using your kids’ drawings and artwork to make adorable wrapping paper for gifts. Here are 100 more ideas.

Donate a tree. If you need a gift idea for the person who has everything, or if you want to honor someone special in your life now or someone who has passed, consider this one. Each dollar donated plants a tree in one of America’s national forests. For more information, go to: http://arborday.org. 

Give what you can. Even if it is just paying for someone’s coffee at the drive-thru, one little act of kindness can make a huge difference to someone else. That person whose coffee you just paid for might be having a terrible day. Or perhaps that person might just spread the kindness onto others. Before you know it, that one cup of coffee could start an ongoing chain. Isn’t it worth paying for that one cup of coffee to remind someone else that there is kindness in the world?

Remember those who are working on the holidays. Police officers, firefighters, emergency medical responders and the like are working shifts while you are enjoying Christmas dinner or watching your children open their presents. Perhaps you and your family can bring over some baked goods, books or even just a card to show your appreciation.

Spread cheer! Even if you cannot give monetarily. Even if you cannot give with your time. Give what you can. Give a smile. Give a ‘thank you’. Give with your patience. Give with your heart.

Happy holidays!

Thanks to jessica@eatsleepbe.com!

Volunteers participated locally as a part of Family Volunteer Day!

Family Volunteer Day is a day of service that demonstrates and celebrates the power of families who volunteer together, supporting their neighborhoods, communities and the world.


The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley celebrated the power of families on Saturday, December 5 from 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at 220 E. Fourth Street, Waterloo. Families had the opportunity to put together literacy kits for our community’s most recent residents, made warm fleece scarves for residents of shelters, crafted seasonal decorations for nursing homes, made cat toys for the Cedar Bend Humane Society, constructed bird feeders, and made place mats for meals on wheels recipients. The families were very engaged and discussed the value of days for families to volunteer together.


“As the need for service continues to grow, we work to bring families together to give back and make an impact on our local communities,” said Lauren Finke, the Executive Director of the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley. “On December 5 and throughout the year, we are seeing families using the power of service to make a real difference in our local communities.”


Family Volunteer Day is strategically held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving to “kick-off” the holiday season by giving and service. Unfortunately, due to extensive snowfall, the event was rescheduled for December 5. Family Volunteer Day is presented by generationOn and sponsored by Disney Friends for Change.


To secure additional volunteer opportunities, call the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley at 319-272-2087. The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley offers numerous local volunteer opportunities from 145 nonprofit agencies. Volunteer opportunities may also be accessed at www.vccv.org.

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Spread the Joy ~ Volunteer!

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:

The Salvation Army will hold its Red Bucket Campaign through December 24 and need bell ringers at various locations throughout the Cedar Valley. Dates and shifts are available.

Do you enjoy Christmas? Would you be interested in playing Father Christmas for two Victorian themed events? The Grout Museum is in need of someone to portray Father Christmas on Wednesday, December 2nd from 11:00 to 11:30 a.m. at the Grout Museum - 503 South Street, Waterloo and on Saturday, December 5th from 11:30 a.m. to 12 noon at the Snowden House - 306 Washington Street, Waterloo.

The Grout Museum needs volunteers to assist with Wild Kratts Kids Club at the Bluedorn Science Imaginarium December 5 from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. with children Kindergarten - 2nd Grade. Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome.

Join in the holiday festivities and assist with a Victorian Christmas tea at the Snowden House on December 5 from 9:00 a.m. until 1 p.m. Assist registered attendees in decorating an ornament, creating a Christmas card, and making Christmas crackers. Assist the children when they meet Father Christmas and help serve a themed British low tea.

The Cedar Valley Jaycees are looking for volunteers who would like to help with their annual Gift of Giving event on Saturday, December 5 from 6:00 – 9:00 a.m. Volunteers age 18 and over will help children shop for family members.

Volunteers will be stationed at a table in Crossroads Mall (Dec 10 and 11) and College Square (Dec 12-24) during the mall hours of operation. These volunteers will wrap patrons' gifts in exchange for free will donations for the Northeast Iowa Food Bank. Numerous shifts are available for volunteers age 13 and over.

Each year the Joint Volunteers of the Arc hold their annual Holiday Cookie Walk, which benefits adults with disabilities served by both North Star and Exceptional Persons. This year it is on Saturday, December 12. Bakers are needed! Cookies and candy may be delivered Friday December 11.

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 12 from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

Assist the Family & Children's Council wrap gifts on December 17 and 18. Shifts run from 10:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Crossroads Mall. Volunteers age 16 and over are welcome.

On December 17, the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Cedar Valley is having its annual “Fun with Frosty” event from 4:00 until 7:00 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.

On December 18 and 19, Waterloo West, Waterloo East and Waterloo Columbus High Schools, will host the “Battle of Waterloo”, a two-day, thirty-two team dual wrestling tournament. The tournament will be held at Young Arena. The Battle of Waterloo committee is seeking volunteers to assist with the tournament. Volunteer opportunities include: bracket posting and coping, ticket takers & visitor trackers, program sellers, runners, hospitality, gate / entry workers, team Check-in, and, volunteer check-in. Volunteers shifts are on Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Saturday, 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

The Grout Museum District needs volunteers to assist staff with activities in regard to Discovery Days: For the Troops: The USO in Vietnam on December 26 and 28 - 31 from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Volunteers age 18 and over are welcome.

Contact the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley for more information at (319) 272-2087, email, or visit www.vccv.org.