This column has become a self-fulfilling instrument as well as a way to connect those desiring to volunteer with viable opportunities within the community. The phone doesn’t stop ringing with those organizations needing volunteers contacting us and making us aware of the needs in our community. Love it!
Visiting many of these organizations provides eye-opening information – needs and opportunities that are right next door – provision of training, matching skills with passion, and clear demonstration of effective service.
So many times those who want to volunteer are hesitant, for numerous reasons including: Do I have the skill? Do I have the passion? Do I have the commitment? Very understandable. I might add to this list of reservations concerns about: Length of time? Distance from home? What if I have to miss a shift? What if it turns out that it isn’t a match to my passion, interest or time schedule? Again, very understandable.
Volunteering becomes a habit with rich rewards. The gratitude from those being served, the self-fulfillment the volunteer gets as they develop an ever-growing serving attitude, the knowledge that every opportunity has made a positive difference in our world – these add up to a greater sense of purpose in life, and the knowledge that one person can make a great difference.
Volunteering provides such personal satisfaction. More so, I think, than in a paid position. Dare you expose your heart and conviction to helping others?
“When I first considered volunteering I worried about how much time it would take, and whether I had the passion to take on a challenge. What a surprise. It does so much for me, my sense of self worth, and my increased ability to manage my time effectively. I love it!” (Youth volunteer).
Remember – send in suggested volunteer opportunities to the Kirkland Reporter, attn: Bill LaMarche, to editor@kirklandreporter.com
Check out these volunteer opportunities:
www.bridgemin.org – Bridge Disability Ministries secures wheelchairs, reconditions them and provides them to those in need – increasing and even providing for “mobility.” They provide spiritual care and guardianship services – and to do so need volunteers in administrative assistance, sprucing and cleaning up used wheelchairs, equipment pickup and delivery, repair and testing, etc. Training and orientation is provided.
www.evergreenhealthcare.org – Evergreen Hospital and Evergreen Hospice and Palliative Care need volunteers in “behind the scenes office support, fund raising, the gift shop, and patient care units and within the Hospice itself. There are superb training, preparation and orientation for these positions.
www.onepositiveplace.org – The Boys and Girls Club needs help in after school games and gym programs, teen nights, their education center, administrative assistance, coaching, advising students in citizenship, democracy, planning events, facility maintenance, and special skill areas such as music, dance, cooking and other areas.
Bill LaMarche is a 36-year Kirkland resident, retired, and active community, national and international volunteer. Bill’s prior career focused upon coaching and mentoring profit and non-profit executives and company/organizational participants in professional development, leadership, organizational alignment and performance management – including planning for volunteer service as part of existing company/organizational culture.
