Considering taking the plunge into volunteering? Take a peek online and you’ll find a pool of over 3 million possibilities. We’ve collected tips from seasoned volunteers and those who depend on them about how to navigate the choices.
FIND YOUR PASSION
Family ties to the military fueled the volunteer spirit for Sharon Nicastro, a local instructor for volunteer services and volunteer partner of the Regional Director for Services to the Armed Forces.
“Look for reputable organizations that support a cause that you feel strongly about,” she says. The American Red Cross Volunteer Connection (redcross.org) is a good place to start.
Rocky River resident Kathy Berkshire, whose business card proclaims “Professional Volunteer,” agrees.
“You need to think what you are passionate about, most importantly — something that has touched you,” says Berkshire, who lists the Rocky River Chamber of Commerce, Lakewood Rotary, the Ohio State University Alumni Association and Hospice of the Western Reserve on her resume.
“The more I did in the community, the more I found organizations I was passionate about,” she adds.
After you’ve found an organization you believe in, you still may have to find your niche. But that’s not a problem, says Alice Schwallie, manager of volunteer programs at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.
“We rely on volunteers throughout the museum in every department across the board,” she says. There, opportunities include everything from clerical work to interacting with guests and doing research. “We work with each volunteer to determine what he or she wants to do. About 85 percent of the time when they come in, they target a certain area.”
Akron native and board member of West Shore CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Dennis Kucler adds, “Our charitable, cultural, civic and entertainment organizations cannot afford to exist in today’s world without the commitment and energies of volunteers.”
...
