3 Summer Events to Engage Volunteers

What does summer mean to you? For some, it means vacations and relaxing warm days. Why not bring some summer activities to your nonprofit? Show your team and volunteers some appreciation by hosting fun summer events everyone can enjoy.

Throughout the year, your team is busy planning fundraising events for your organization. Taking the time to plan social events for your team can show them your true appreciation. Try a few of these events in order to bring your team closer together and make them feel valued.

Ice Cream Social

The summer heat can be exhausting. Why not cool down with a little ice cream? Having an ice cream social can be simple. It can give your team a break from the hectic work day and a chance to bond over some cool treats. Be sure to include your volunteers when picking a time. You can use this event in many ways, such as:

·       Sundae building contest

·       Make it simple 

·       BYOT (Bring Your Own Topping)

Field Day

There is nothing like a little 90-degree heat to build team moral. Create a field day with group activities to encourage team building and engagement with your volunteers. Individuals enjoy doing fun activities for a good cause. Try to think outside the box when planning your event. Here are a few examples to use at your own field day:

·       Fill the bucket challenge

·       Build a boat 

·       Get outdoors 

·       DIY outdoor games

Theme Day

Who doesn’t like to dress up and visit another place and time? This could entail an entire day of themed activities or just a lunch break feast. Have everyone bring a dish and wear their favorite themed attire. Send out an email to all volunteers and include them in the festivities.

Giving your volunteers the chance to showcase their creativity encourages them to bond with the team. It can be a conversation starter and may even lead to a few laughs. Here are a few ideas to consider:

·       Hawaiian luau

·       Pool party

·       Country BBQ

·       Feast from around the world

Hosting social events can promote team spirit and excitement about your organization. This also encourages volunteers to share their experiences with those they care about the most. By hosting special summer events, it gives your team a much needed break from daily tasks as well as improving your recruitment efforts. Take some time this summer to enjoy the sun and show your team appreciation.

For assistance, contact the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley at (319) 272-2087, information@vccv.org, or visit www.vccv.org.

Thanks to Ashley Chorpenning

Summer Volunteering - Connecting with Community

Youth and Teens:

The summer is here and so are many volunteering opportunities for youth and teenagers out of school. Through volunteerism, teens have the power to positively impact their community! Youth may want to consider volunteering their time to a community organization. There are many different reasons for you to start volunteering:

• Volunteering provides professional experience for teenagers. It can provide an opportunity to see potential career paths and options.
• Summer volunteering looks good on resumes for future jobs. Employers like to see what you've done between jobs, after graduation and during your free time.
• Teenagers who volunteer in the summer can use this valuable experience and include it in their applications for college.
• Volunteering also promotes personal growth. It can help youth and teens grow as individuals. They can discover hidden talents they might not know they had.
• Summer volunteering provides a learning experience. Youth can learn more about community needs. It can help you learn about different organizations and different parts of our government.
• When people volunteer it can gets them out of their comfort zone. It brings people together from diverse backgrounds. Everyone builds fellowship and team working skills.
  
  

Families:

During the summer season families move away from the hectic pace of their everyday lives. Any vacation is a chance for families to reconnect. There are no soccer games, no piano recitals, and no working late, so families finally have precious time together.

Families can volunteer in their community. The Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley represents 153 nonprofits with over 140 active volunteer opportunities. Families can benefit significantly by sharing their time and compassion with a group in need. 

If families really want a meaningful break from their usual schedule, consider an option that might be outside of your comfort level by changing the way your children view the world. Consider a volunteer vacation.

With some planning, families have the potential to get a rare opportunity to be immersed in another culture, help a community build houses, or learn English. If volunteering in Guatemala is too much for your family, consider a learning vacation, where your family is involved in an archaeological dig in Colorado or numerous additional volunteer vacations.

Many organizations feature opportunities for children, but be sure to check minimum age.

Older Adults:

Older Iowans looking for volunteer opportunities have a range to select from. Whatever their interests and abilities, they can put their time, skills and experience to good use.

Volunteering can be a fulfilling and enjoyable activity for people of any age. For older adults in particular, volunteering can help keep their body and mind active after retirement, while providing an opportunity to get out of the house and socialize with others.

Retirement is the time to live out your passion; feed the homeless, get involved in the neighborhood, teach youth about art at a local art museum, or volunteer in other countries. Older adults should do what they’ve always wanted to do and didn’t have time to do before.

Volunteering can increase the quality of life for older adults. 98% of older adults who volunteer stay active and feel better physically and emotionally. Recent research shows that giving back results in increased activity, which often results in improved health. Service also gives volunteers a purpose, which many find to be important.

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 contact the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley at information@vccv.org or (319) 272-2087. Volunteer opportunities may also be accessed at www.vccv.org.

In the Spotlight - ASPIRE Therapeutic Riding Program

ASPIRE Therapeutic Riding Program provides benefits to individuals with disabilities through animal-assisted activities and outreach programs.

ASPIRE Therapeutic Riding Program (TRP) improves the quality of life of those we serve. Our primary clients are individuals with disabilities who benefit physically, emotionally, and cognitively through animal-assisted activities, primarily through interaction with horses. ASPIRE TRP provides a variety of programming to benefit qualified individuals through year round programs and outreach programs.

A variety of educational tools are employed, including programming such as clinics, specific therapy classes, conferences, offsite visits, and retreats. The program maintains accreditation and is respected among its peers, providing innovation and leadership in the field of animal-assisted therapy. ASPIRE TRP has a fully certified and trained staff, including a full-time Executive Director along with an onsite office, Operations Manager, Program Director and Equine Manager (who are certified instructors), Volunteer Coordinator / PR Specialist, Bam assistant and Bookkeeper. TRP receives referrals from occupational and physical therapists, as well as counseling and medical professionals.

ASPIRE TRP also has a fully functional facility with center-owned horses, and outdoor working arenas, stables and barns, equipment, and pastures. ASPIRE TRP’s recognized position in the community is built on relationships fostered by staff and Board members. ASPIRE TRP’s community support includes a large variety and number of volunteers, sponsors, and donors. Successful annual fundraisers and activities contribute to program support, community awareness, and participation.


Volunteer positions include: 

• Marketing & Public Relations Intern
• Sponsorship Director
• Grant Writer
• Office Assistant
• Horse Leaders    
• Director's Assistant
• Side Walkers
• Barn Assistant
• Board Members
• Committee Members
• Camp Hope Volunteers

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

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 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 represents 152 nonprofit agencies with approximately 140 volunteer opportunities. Call or visit the Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley at 319-272-2087, information@vccv.org or www.vccv.org for a complete listing of volunteer opportunities in the Cedar Valley.