By Traci McBride
Everything in life comes with its own inventory of pros and cons, especially how you decide to spend your time and efforts in volunteerism. Creating your own list of positives and negatives is good advice before starting any long- or short-term commitments.
Strike up a conversation with someone who volunteers on a regular basis and ask about their experience. It can give you a good perspective and direction on organizations that match your belief system and interests. Your time is priceless; giving it with joy is selfless and satisfying.
Let’s Start with the Cons of Volunteering
Time commitment
Costs of travel/food
Unappreciative recipients of your efforts
Personality conflicts
Personal energy expenditure
Potential of choosing the wrong organization
Emotional drain when engaging with those in difficult life situations
And Now the Pros…
Staying active & engaged extends to graceful aging
Influencing another human being can be life-saving
Practicing or elevating your skill set
Mastering time management
Experiencing an organization from the inside
Socializing while creating new friendships with like-minded people
Increasing self-esteem & confidence
Creating the ripple effect in your community & in other people
Inspiring friends and family to get involved
Rewarding effect of aligning with a non-profit that touches you on a personal level
Spearheading ideas inside the organization
Source: CharityNavigator.org
Traci McBride of TeeMcBee.com has passionately been a volunteer with Dress for Success – Cleveland since 2008.
Our Volunteer Salute
Meet NEO’s Givers
What better way to kick off the season of giving than recognizing some of our region’s most impressive volunteers? No other age group gives as much of its time, talent and energy as Boomers. We want to introduce you to a few outstanding givers recognized by our readers and provided by Greater Cleveland Volunteers (greaterclevelandvolunteers.org).
Meet: Gail Tichy
Where: Cleveland Metroparks
A retired federal worker, Tichy inherited a love of gardening from her grandmother. For more than four years, she’s been a gardening volunteer, first at South Chagrin and now mostly at North Chagrin Reservation. She also volunteers for Hospice of the Western Reserve, teaches classes to children at the Cleveland Botanical Garden and works with scientists at the David E. Leech laboratory on many of their studies regarding climate change, plant phenology, carbon effects on plants, and tree diseases.
In Her Own Words:
“I love working with all the naturalists, but especially Jeff Riebe and Stefanie Verish. They are so knowledgeable and inspiring about our native plants. And I’ve met so many people (I’m known as the Tuesday girl) who stop by and talk to me about their gardens and how they love what we are doing at the park. And it’s that acknowledgment of ‘Thank you for what you do … it’s just beautiful’ …that keeps me coming back each week.”
Meet: Judy Solonche
Where: Hospice of the Western Reserve
Solonche spent 20 years helping kids of all ages as a special education teacher for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. At the same time, she held a private tutoring job that lasted about five years into retirement. She has always helped and connected with people. But just how and why did Solonche find herself volunteering at two partner agencies of Greater Cleveland Volunteers?
Looking to keep active, Solonche went to a Greater Cleveland Volunteers informational meeting that offered up opportunities from 100+ nonprofit organizations. She met the CEO of Hospice of the Western Reserve who asked what she wanted to do next. “I want to do something as great as what I did before,” she said.
She found fulfillment by providing vigils through Hospice of the Western Reserve. When a family is exhausted and needs relief in caring for their loved one, Hospice calls Solonche.
Solonche’s passion for volunteering started with heartbreak. When she was 18, she and a friend were in a devastating accident that took her friend’s life.
In Her Own Words:
“Everything I learned (from that experience) never left. I understand what it is like to be so close to death. I could be with anyone after that. I wait for people to connect with what I believe. The tragedy allowed me to put myself into hospice work – like I understood everything. I am not happy unless I am giving.”
Meet: Linda Dohanyos
Where: Avon Oaks Caring Community
Dohanyos’ husband was a resident at Avon Oaks for nine months. A month after his death in December 2010, she returned and asked to be a volunteer. The staff considers her part of the community’s family. She assists with Bingo, crafts, shopping trips and outings to Indians and Browns games.
In Her Own Words:
“The enjoyment I get from volunteering at Avon Oaks is from being around all the many people, residents and staff. I love to talk to and laugh with my many friends here. The Child Care Center is an added bonus. I love to play with and cuddle the babies.
Meet: Martha “Martie” Allen
Where: Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry
After retiring from a 40-year nursing career, Allen’s friends and coworker encouraged her to continue to help others. She turned to Greater Cleveland Volunteers and enrolled with the Adult Guardianship Services through Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry. The volunteers represent individuals who need assistance with medical care and who need help making decisions on their own.
In Her Own Words: What does she enjoy the most about volunteering? “I enjoy being able to put my career skills in action for those who need the assistance.”
Meet: Shirley Hemminger
Where: McGregor, St. Augustine Manor, Malachi House and special events throughout Cuyahoga County
After retiring 2½ years ago as a registered nurse at University Hospitals and as a faculty member at Kent State University’s school of nursing, Hemminger knew she wanted to remain active. She has steady volunteer assignments with several nonprofit agencies, generally giving 20-25 hours a week at McGregor, St. Augustine Manor and Malachi House. What she really embraces is helping at special events in Cuyahoga County.
Many nonprofit agencies seek assistance for a one- or two-day project. The tasks can range from preparing for an event (decorating, setting tables) to serving food, taking tickets, helping with fundraising components at the event, or assisting with mailings.
In Her Own Words:
Helping at special events can be both fun and challenging. “Even though I may get exhausted at some of the events, I feel good. Meeting so many special volunteers and people at the various agencies has been a gift. I have an incredible new awareness and appreciation of the work that goes on at behind-the-scenes agencies all over Cuyahoga County. I have met some of the wealthiest and some of the poorest residents of Cleveland. I have met some of the oldest and the youngest. I have met some of the most powerful and the most vulnerable through my special event activities. I am so grateful and happy that I have been able to get involved like this and maybe even help to bring a smile and a little comfort to those who I have come in contact with.”
Meet: Joan Ibbett
Where: Hospice of the Western Reserve
As both an employee and volunteer at Hospice of the Western Reserve, Ibbett believes in its mission of caring.
Ibbett visits patients who are living at home, in nursing homes, or at one of Hospice of the Western Reserve’s three inpatient units. Her volunteer tasks vary from companionship, respite, vigil “By-Your-Side” support when the end of life is very near, to personal care, feeding assistance and sometimes transportation.
Seeing the impact volunteers have in nonprofit agencies, she became involved with Greater Cleveland Volunteers as a committee member in 2012. Soon after, she joined their board and has enjoyed witnessing what they do to recruit, train, encourage and engage volunteers with meaningful efforts.
In Her Own Words:
“When I was a pediatric oncology nurse in a hospital and home care, l always felt drawn to the kids who were dying. It’s not easy, but I requested to take care of them. I saw that volunteering to help with both pediatric and adult hospice and palliative care patients was a perfect fit for me. I had seen how different the kids are when they were at home (happier, more at ease) as opposed to being in the hospital and wanted to help people of all ages who would like to stay at home for their end-of-life journey.”
Meet: Mars Patterson
Where: Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity
Handy or not handy, Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity may have some work for you. Just ask Mars Patterson. Although he had been a project leader for the engineering department at Allied Construction during his working years, hands-on labor was not his regular activity.
After retiring, Patterson became active at the United Church of Christ in Middleburg Heights, which was very involved with Habitat for Humanity (a nonprofit organization that relies on public donations to sustain their vision to help families build and improve places to call home). He enrolled with Greater Cleveland Volunteers. After volunteering at one site, he was hooked and became a construction assistant. He gets plenty of guidance from the crew supervisor.
A Habitat crew is normally composed of 12 people of varying levels of expertise that stay together throughout the job. In the years Patterson has been volunteering, Habitat has switched from building home. He volunteers twice a week in six-hour shifts.
Meet: Mary Jane Molnar
Where: Hungarian Cultural Club of Northeast Ohio, Lake County Democratic Women’s Caucus
This energetic person not only finds time to volunteer, but she also is the gift shop manager for the Hungarian Museum in the Galleria in downtown Cleveland. She’s also a past officer of the women’s caucus.
Meet: Rich Burand
Where: Cleveland Botanical Garden
Helping people is in Burand’s nature. After a 26-year career in nursing at Mt. Sinai Medical Center, he decided to hang up his scrubs and take a new direction.
Always looking for new experiences, in 2016 Burand started volunteering at the botanical garden’s Sunday morning custodial shift. He now teaches “Is It Alive?” and “Plant Parts” classes geared to kindergarteners. He is also part of the “Creature Feature” program, presenting animals such as Ernie the chameleon and a tenrec, an unusual hedgehog-like mammal from Madagascar. In addition, Burand feeds the animals and releases butterflies every Friday. Becoming an animal interpreter was never a life goal for Burand, but this is where his journey has taken him.
In His Own Words:
For others considering volunteering, “You don’t know what you’re missing. What I get paid, you can’t put in dollars and cents. You don’t know what you’re going to experience today. Be open.”
He thinks former teachers are prime candidates to be volunteers. “There is nothing better than getting hugs from students. You never know where the pay is coming from, but it’s always genuine.”
Meet: Clara Parker and Audrey Kaplan
Where: AARP Foundation Experience Corps literacy program
Parker retired as a supervisor with the Internal Revenue Service, then had a second career with Cleveland Metroparks. When it came time to find a volunteer fit, she went to the AARP Foundation Experience Corps program that welcomes those age 55+ to share their enjoyment of reading and life-skills to tutor and encourage kindergarten to third-grade students.
After completing her training, she was assigned a school. She knows that often, a student is not ready to learn that day but this does not set her back. Parker starts with a few questions, makes eye contact and says, “What do you want to do?” The students talk for a bit, then she introduces the lesson and off they go.
Even if she feels tired, Parker forces herself to get to the classroom because it is important for the children. They look for and need consistency with an adult.
In Parker’s Own Words:
Why do you tutor? “The children need someone to talk to.”
Kaplan recently became an Experience Corp Team Leader for Euclid City Schools, in the city where she lives. There, she oversees four tutors who each help four children, focusing on leadership, giving the tutors the guidance they need to deliver the curriculum. Her insurance background helps her to be extremely prepared and organized. Kaplan also facilitates a monthly team meeting where she keeps her tutors up to date on anything new with the Experience Corp program. A round-table discussion also occurs, where all are free to share their ideas of what approaches work with the children.
In Kaplan’s Own Words:
As an avid reader herself, reading is of the utmost importance to Kaplan, and she believes the same should be encouraged for kids.“You must read, no matter what you do in life.” As for volunteering, “It gives me great pride and satisfaction. I do believe we make a difference …after all, it’s all about the children.”
Meet: Sandy Wile and Eugene Gordan.
Where: Great Lakes Science Center
Both in their 90s, Wile started at the center in 1996; Gordan began shortly after. They volunteer every Wednesday and Friday.
Meet: Sue Huber
Where: Lake Metroparks
Huber was inspired by the volunteers at a Lake Metroparks program where she had taken her preschool students. She knew that when she had more time, it was where she would spend her volunteer hours. Today, she helps in numerous ways throughout the park system, learning new skills and passing those skills to visitors.
Meet: Steve Kushnick
Where: Nature Center at Shaker Lakes
Kushnick is the 2019 Nature Center Volunteer of the Year. He not only volunteers at the Welcome Desk, answering questions about trails and native habitats but also helps in the Education Department with crafts and special projects. The retired psychologist is known as the Center’s “go-to” volunteer and “the fun one.”
Meet: Michele Kaminsky
Where: President-elect, National Council of Jewish Women/Cleveland, owner of Mika’s wig shop.
When alopecia caused Kaminsky’s hair to fall out, she realized the need for a wig shop to serve both the orthodox Jewish community and others who choose to wear wigs because of the effects of their illnesses.
Kaminsky takes over in July as president of the NCJW/CLE, which is also celebrating its 125th year.
