New Year’s Resolution—personal volunteer goal
How do you use your SERVE UNITED time?
Out with the old and in with the new -– now with a busy year behind me, and a little free time to spare in the New Year, I’m thinking about how I can use my SERVE UNITED hours. SERVE UNITED is a volunteer program for United Way staff.
I'd love to hear about what cause is closest to your heart and where you have volunteered this year. Have you volunteered on an one-time project or in an on-going thing? Do you volunteer in a group, with family or with friends? Did you volunteer through a United Way volunteer opportunity or did you find one on your own. Looking for ideas, so use the comment box below to let me know how you SERVE UNITED.
Class Action Cause seeks change
I have founded http://classactioncause.com to create a community that will use the combined power of unity to bring about change.
We have some basic reasonable expectations for family life around the world. We are seeking to put corporate profits below the importance of children and families. Please visit to vote to STOP Adult ads in Public venues.
http://classactioncause.com/vote
We are looking for steering committee members and guest blog authors….
John - By ourselves we are limited, together we are formidable
How I "Serve United"
I have also been going down the list of New Year's resolutions, and I am renewing my commitment to volunteering in 2010.
I have been using my Serve United time as a Foster Care Reviewer for the Department of Children and Families (DCF). Once a month, I spend time at the Harbor Area Office in Chelsea to participate of a panel that reviews individual foster care placements. These reviews are mandated by law and are done to ensure that a child's placement is necessary and appropriate. The panel, with the support of social workers, support collaterals, family members, and oftentimes the children (if they are over 14), explore avenues that will bring greater stability and permanency to children in foster care.
DCF is always searching for individuals from the community to bring their unique perspective to the panels and provides thorough volunteer training. I highly recommend this for anyone with limited time looking for a flexible volunteer opportunity. http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eohhs2terminal&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Consumer&L2=Family+Services&L3=Foster+Care&sid=Eeohhs2&b=terminalcontent&f=dss_c_volunteer_case_review&csid=Eeohhs2
I am also a mentor through the PANAS Program, which focuses on creating powerful mentoring relationships for Latino youth. The Mass Mentoring Partnership launched the Mentors of Color campaign in an attempt to recruit 1000 mentors of color by 2012 and help address the critical shortage of mentors. In Massachusetts alone there are more than 3,000 youth on waitlists, and there is much we can do to help narrow and eliminate that gap. Mentoring is not as hard as it seems. You'd be surprised to find that a few hours of your time each month are enough to make a huge positive impact in a young person's life. I encourage everyone to consider becoming a mentor.
http://www.youcanmentor2.org/
Big Sister
Thanks Erin for the suggestion. I actual looked into Big Sister one time when i first got married. Then i had Jaclyn and life got so busy. Maybe i'll look into that again. Would love to hear more about your experience with your little sister.
Volunteering
HI Pam- what a great entry and reminder of how to use free time. I currently volunteer 1-2 times/month as a Big Sister in the community where I live. I've been doing it about two years and it was much easier to become a Big Sister than I expected. There was a screening process and then it took some time for the agency to find the right "match" for me but it was worth the wait! My Little just turned 13 and it's been very interesting to see how her personality and interests have changed over the last two years. I'd highly recommend this experience to anyone who has regular weekend or evening time to spare.
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