Volunteering is part of who you are. It is part of how you are made up. It represents your values and demonstrates through your actions what is important to you.
Volunteering is a way to communicate, to share with others those things you find important – those things worthy of broader community support.
It shouldn’t be “why should I volunteer,” rather “why not?”
OK, so much for the guilt trip.
It has been my pleasure to meet and interact with many volunteers. You would think they would all be flush with resources, key talents, influencers and so forth. In fact, some of them are.
But most of the really effective volunteers I know and work with are just everyday people. Many have very little they can offer in terms of financial support and many others have restricted time availability.
What they all have in common is the desire to make a contribution to the community. They have the desire and the motivation to give back, to give thanks for even being able to contribute. Many of these individuals just needed nudging to get started.
So, if you are concerned that you don’t have anything to give, don’t have the time and don’t want to be committed – please think again. Volunteers are needed in every facet of our community. It’s a chance for you to count and to gain fulfillment like never before.
Check out the following opportunities. Take a chance. Make a call. Investigate. Have a ball while making a difference. Don’t be surprised by how important volunteering will become, how easy it is, and how the changes and improvement you have thought about become a reality. Good luck.
• Eastside Community Aid Thrift Shop: Visit www.ecathriftshop.org or contact Jody Orbits, president,at (425) 825-1877.
The Eastside Community Aid Thrift Shop is located in the Totem Lake West business mall. It is a nonprofit organization that provides financial and material support to Eastside nonprofit organizations. They do so by providing funds generated from sales through the volunteer-staffed thrift shop. (All items sold at the thrift shop are donated).
The thrift shop has just passed the $1 million level of support to local nonprofits, including LifeWire eastside domestic violence program, Helping Hands for the Disabled, Hopelink food bank, Operation School Bell, The Humane Society, Evergreen Hospice, Eastside medic response units, Compassionate Friends, Eastside Baby Corner, Woodinville Adult Day Care Center, Youth Eastside Services, Lake Washington Adult Day Health Program, Northshore Senior Center, Sibling House, Kirkland Interfaith Transition in Housing, Home2Home, Kirkland Interfaith Network, King County Search and Rescue, Eastside fire departments, Kindering Care, Salvation Army Campership and others. Volunteer needs include checkers, sorters, pricing, stockers and more.
• Sibling House: Visit www.siblinghouse.org or call (425) 828-2789.
Sibling House is a network of homes where siblings in foster care can stay together in a loving environment while separated from their parents. Programs include The Enrichment Program, The Mentoring and Outreach Program and The Outdoor Experience Program.
Sibling House Executive Director and co-founders Michael and Lynn Gaskill have a combined 44 years as licensed foster care providers. Sibling House is governed by a board of directors and operates under the bylaws and articles of incorporation.
Volunteer needs include grant writing, strategic and tactical planning, donation sorting, working with foster parenting homes and more.
Remember – send in suggested volunteer opportunities to the Kirkland Reporter, attention Bill LaMarche.
Bill LaMarche is a 37- year Kirkland resident, retired, and active community, national and international volunteer. Bill’s prior career focused upon coaching and mentoring profit and nonprofit 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. Send in suggested volunteer opportunities to the Kirkland Reporter, attn: Bill LaMarche, at letters@kirklandreporter.com.
