IVolunteer! Special Advertising Section
April 4, 2018
23
2018
Celebrating Volunteer Appreciation Week
Empower Yourself! N
ational volunteer Week is April 15-21, 2018 and all over the nation, service projects will be performed and volunteers recognized for their commitment to service. Our community thrives thanks to many volunteers who support nonprofit and governmental activities, and as many of us know from personal experience, giving of oneself to another empowers the giver and recipient. Oak Park and River Forest are very giving communities in terms of volunteering with 85% of people giving their time compared to a national average of 25%, based on a 2015 study of charitable giving in Oak Park and River Forest (http:// www.liveandgivesurvey.com/ ). However, despite the availability of local volunteers, a 2016 assessment by the Oak Park- River Forest Community Foundation that
examined volunteer engagement needs for local nonprofits cited the need for additional support to recruit and coordinate volunteers. Working with an incredible group of local nonprofits, the Community Foundation developed the first Volunteer Meet and Match event in 2016. This annual event connects people seeking opportunities to volunteer with community organizations that need help. Last year’s event was a great success! 44 nonprofits discussed their mission, work and needs with more than 320 potential volunteers. The Coordinating Committee works hard before the event to ensure a good match for volunteers and nonprofits, and the number of volunteers recruited per organization last year ranged greatly, up to 20 volunteers per organization.
Match event takes place on April 18, 4-8 pm at the West Cook YMCA. 46 nonprofits that serve Oak Park, River Forest and surrounding communities are registered for the event and looking for volunteers. The event has been developed once again by the Community Foundation and a great Coordinating Committee consisting of individuals from West Cook YMCA, Housing Forward, Hunger Walkathon CROP Walk, Oak Park Public Library, Pro Bono Network, Symphony of Oak Park and River Forest and Ten Thousand Villages and Triton College. We are looking forward to another successful event this year! Are you looking for an opportunity to volunteer? Join us on April 18 4-8 pm at the West Cook YMCA for this year’s Volunteer Meet and Match event!
Elizabeth Chadri Program Director Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation
This year’s Volunteer Meet and
Kate Rieke, Volunteer Coordinator, Animal Care League
A
nimal Care League recruited 5 new volunteers and offered them opportunities that fit with their skills, e.g. one works at the Second Chance shop, one works in the front office assisting with a myriad of administrative duties, and one has become their photographer for several community events. The individuals who were recruited have 2 critical characteristics of good volunteers: Consistency and Reliability. All the new recruits have attended one of their monthly new
volunteer orientation sessions. Having volunteers staff their table at the 2017 Meet & Match event gave interested persons the opportunity to hear from a volunteer what might be expected and why they volunteer and this contributed towards successful recruitment last year. According to Kate Rieke, Volunteer Coordinator, the 2017 M & M was by far the most successful recruitment fair the Animal Care League have participated in! Looking forward to this year’s event.
Kate Rieke Volunteer Coordinator Animal Care League