Volunteering

VOLUNTEERING

Resource Links
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President Bush's State of the Union Address - Excerpt

President George W. Bush said, "We will make a determined attack on need,
by promoting the compassionate acts of others. We will rally the armies of
compassion in our communities to fight a very different war against poverty and
hopelessness, a daily battle waged house to house and heart by heart."
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How to Become a Volunteer

If you've never volunteered before, ask yourself the following questions:

What am I interested in doing as a volunteer?

Do I want to do something I am good at?

What do I want to learn about? Do I want to learn a new skill?
Do I want to volunteer in something that is related to my job?

How much time can I dedicate to volunteering? Do I want to volunteer
on a daily, weekly, monthly, or episodic basis?

Do I have an area of expertise that would benefit an organization?

Would I volunteer in person, or be a volunteer online (cyber-volunteer)?
Can I volunteer from home or work? How can I get to the volunteer location?

Once you have answered these questions:

        1. Contact a Volunteer Center (call 1-800-VOLUNTEER or log on to
        www.1800Volunteer.org) or service organization to find a listing of volunteer
        opportunities and to learn about the volunteer organization.

        2. Call organizations that match you volunteer interest, abilities, and schedule
        an appointment to meet with the organization's volunteer manager to determine
        how you can get involved. Ask for a tour of the volunteer facility.

3. Ensure that you have a good match between the volunteer organization
and yourself before you begin to volunteer.

4. Complete any paperwork (application, background check, etc.) needed in
order to volunteer.

Now, you're a volunteer!
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Junior Achievement

Junior Achievement - Joins USDA Team At the heart of our democracy in the promise that anyone with talent and learning can create an unbounded future. On March 20, 2002, the USDA and Junior Achievement (JA) joined forces to help bring that promise to school children around the country. Founded in 1919 Junior Achievement has been teaching children the value of free enterprise and workplace preparedness skills for almost a century. Through JA's programs students learn the basics of business literacy while building their confidence in a more exciting and rewarding future. Junior Achievement depends on caring adults like you to invest their time, resources, and enthusiasm in the classroom. JA recruits dedicated business people, community members and parents to impart their life experiences and knowledge of the working world in a classroom setting. As a volunteer you are provided with training, materials and full support from the JA staff in order to conduct the program. With a manageable time commitment of 1 hour per week for 5 to 10 weeks and scheduling flexibility between the volunteer and teacher this is an experience that can influence young lives while enhancing your own feelings of community, education, and the free enterprise system. For more information on how you can become a Junior Achievement volunteer and enhance the life of local school children please visit one of the websites below or contact Amy Marcenaro Heckman at (202) 296-1200.

For volunteers in the Washington, DC area: http://www.ja.org/near/near_local_info.asp?AreaID=111301
For volunteers in other areas of the country: http://www.ja.org/near/near_map.asp
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Resource Links

Points of Light - http://www.pointsoflight.org/
Organization to engage more people more effectively in volunteer service to help
solve serious social problems

ServeNet - http://www.servenet.org/
    Premier website for service and volunteering. Through SERVEnet, users can indicate code,
    city, skills, interests, and availability and be matched with organizations needing help.
    Includes Virtual Volunteering

Housing and Urban Development - http://www.hud.gov/volunteering
Lists Federal and National Volunteer Programs

Office of Personnel Management's "Strengthening Our Commitment to Service"
A Report to the President on Measures Taken by Executive Departments
and Agencies dated October 1998 - http://www.opm.gov/oca/leave/html/volunter.htm

Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital- http://www.gscnc.org/gscnc/vol.htm ___________________________________________________________________________

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Last updated 5/20/08