What If I Don’t Do Any Volunteer Work Now?Where Can
I Find A Group?
The
information below is provided solely for the convenience of students. UHLC does
not endorse any particular groups or causes. Students are responsible for contacting
organizations, arranging their volunteer experience, and maintaining the relationship.
However, before you contact an organization, consider the following as helpful
guidelines:
- What
do you enjoy doing? For instance, if you love children, perhaps an organization
that provides services to children is a good fit. However if you are uncomfortable
around children, then this is probably not the best choice. If your placement
is uncomfortable, your discomfort translates to those around you and instead
of looking forward to your time to the community, it becomes a chore.
- Have
you or those you know, been affected by issues addressed by the organization?
For example, someone who has lost a child to leukemia may become involved
in The Cancer Society. Similarly, those who have found themselves homeless
through some unfortunate sequence of events, frequently decide to work in
homeless services because they know what is like to be in that situation.
- How
much time do you have to contribute? It is very important to be honest with
yourself here. Keep the following in mind:
- Volunteer
and community based organizations are frequently run by un-paid or over-stretched
employees. They will be taking up their volunteer time to incorporate
you into their organization
- If
your schedule is such that you can only commit time in single shot efforts,
then pick activities and support efforts that are consistent with your
availability.
- Many
groups have one time fund raising or special effort programs. These may
be best fits for law students whose schedules don’t permit longer-term
commitments. One-shot activities may range from manning a table during
a promotion effort to distribution of food during a holiday season. A
variety of opportunities abound.
- If
an organization spends time to train you for a particular support effort,
and you walk away shortly after beginning, then their volunteer efforts
to train you are lost. If it is a position of responsibility or requires
training, you probably need to make at least a one-year commitment.
- Before
entering into a volunteer position requiring a longer commitment, consider
doing a series of single-shot or short-term commitment activities to see
if your goals and personality are compatible with the organization and
its other volunteers. Remember, organizations are like people, each has
its own personality and its own quirks.
- Think
about areas where you already have passion. Your initial efforts will
be like a drop in a pond, which joins other drops, and later becomes a
rushing stream. This may become a lifetime interest.
Coming
soon you will find links to some umbrella organizations that get you started.
Finally
THANK YOU for stepping forward and contributing to your community! |
