Amber Smith

In celebration of National Volunteer Month, this is the first of two posts by guest blogger Amber Smith of ME³, a volunteer-matching organization in Wake County, NC. Catch Part 2 tomorrow!

One need only skim the NCGives blog to know that volunteers are doing some great things in our local community. Nationwide, volunteering is at a 30-year high, according to a 2006 report by the Corporation for National & Community Service.  The spirit of public service is in the air, and amidst some major social changes occurring around the country, Americans seem to be thinking more and more about ways they can step up and lend their time, treasure, and talent to the crowd. 

As an engaged volunteer, you’ve been a critical part of this movement. You’ve worked the earth at the Pisgah View Community Peace Garden, shown up at the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina every other Saturday, mentored at-risk youth with the DREAMS Center, or cheered on cyclists at the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure. Perhaps as an avid volunteer, you’ve realized that you're in a position to do even more to benefit a community cause or organization—that you can be a conduit to encourage and facilitate others’ involvement, too. So, for all of you Agents of Volunteerism out there, here are some tips to help you help your friends become even more engaged: 

First, understand what makes them tick. Individuals are far more likely to get and stay involved in volunteer activities they enjoy and feel a connection to, so understanding your friend’s preferences can go a long way in engaging them in a meaningful volunteer experience that will encourage them to come back for more!  Consider your friend’s hobbies, likes, and dislikes, and ponder some parallels in the volunteer world. Does your co-worker have a pet golden retriever? It may be that the Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue is a good starting point. Is your best friend a talented painter? Perhaps advocating access to art with Artspace would be a good match. Taking these things into consideration will not only increase the odds of helping facilitate a successful “match”, but will show your friend that you have their interests at heart. 

Second, know their roadblocks to participation. There are some fantastic reasons to volunteer, from the obvious (benefitting a great cause), to the social (meeting new people), to the personal (building your resume, and yes, even improved physical health). However, some people face unexpected obstacles to getting involved. Knowing what these roadblocks are can help you help your friends overcome them: 

• Roadblock #1: They don't know how. Many individuals express a desire to help out, but some are stumped by how to go about it. If someone isn’t already “in the know” about volunteering, figuring out where to look for opportunities for involvement may not be intuitive. That’s where you come in. Considering what volunteer resources you are aware of online or in your community, or thinking back on how you first got engaged in volunteer activities is sure to yield a plethora of engagement options that you can relay to your friends and associates. Serving as their guide to figuring out what opportunities best fit their interests will allay their uncertainty and motivate them to discover an inner passion for volunteerism.
• Roadblock #2: “Volunteer Fear." In 2007, a fascinating research paper from the University of Pennsylvania discussed the correlation between social anxiety and volunteering, showing a link between higher levels of social anxiety and non-involvement.  The good news? Once people start volunteering, this brand of social anxiety subsides, and volunteers are free to enjoy their do-gooding fearlessly. As a voice for volunteerism, what this means for you is that finding ways to make a volunteer experience seem less intimidating can get your friend’s foot in the door. One idea is to offer to accompany your friend to volunteer, or make an effort to personally introduce them to a staff member you may know at an organization.

...Read the rest of Amber's tips in tomorrow's Part 2 of "Caught the volunteerism bug? Pass it on!"
 

Amber Smith is the President of ME³ (Motivate, Educate, Empower, and Engage), a nonprofit organization that promotes volunteerism and community involvement in Wake County, NC and beyond. As an active volunteer, Amber co-founded ME³ in 2005 to help close the gap between those individuals who wanted to help out in the community but didn't know how to start, and those community organizations that needed volunteer support. Amber also works with NC State's Institute for Nonprofits as the Nonprofit Studies Minor coordinator while she works to complete a Masters in Public Administration with a Nonprofit Management focus.