Everyday, people come to me and ask how they can help. Many
have only a vague notion of what volunteer opportunities exist in the world,
and I try to introduce those people to the idea that they can choose their
service (and then, through our resources at the Volunteer Center, give them plenty
of options to choose from, like the ones you can find here).
However, other people come to me with big ideas already in mind. They see a need and want to fill it. All they need from the Volunteer Center is a little direction and support on the road they already want to take. Here's a brief look at a few of these people:
Toni wanted to encourage reading. She gave away books at our
"Let's Read, Let's Move" event in Lacey. She was flooded with
children who were drawn to her like magnets, who wanted to tell her that they
were three years old – three! – and that this was their favorite book... no,
this one... no, this one... no, the next one. Their parents may have tried to
dictate their taste in books, but they had their own ideas and their own
voices. Of course, all the books, donated by the South Sound Reading
Foundation, were worthwhile reads. Toni drove the children’s curiosity into
decision-making: "I want this one! I want to read it to now!" She
plans to continue giving away books at events throughout the summer.
Erin is a zumba teacher. She led a huge gaggle of kids in dancing at the same "Let's Read, Let's Move" event. Zumba is a dance-exercise designed to make activity fun, mixing popular, latin, and african music with exuberant moves and attitudes. There are switches and turns, jumps and kicks. When the choreography changes directions, Erin leaps in the air to signify it. The kids looked at her with such admiration, it was clear they thought she was a rockstar.
Cassandra inspires action. She designed a dating event for
single people who were interested in being social and in social change. They
could get to know each other knowing that had at least one thing in common.
Plus, several of the single folks signed up as new volunteers. It seems obvious
now, but no one else had thought of such an event before Cassandra; isn’t it
true that the good ideas are the ones that feel like they've always existed?
Jessica, Brandy, and Melissa are going to turn lives around. Where some people look at at-risk youth and offer want they need, these three are looking at ways to offer them what they deserve. They're batting around a huge idea: to develop a leadership program for at-risk youth that points them toward careers and success, not just survival. The youth will be mentored by leaders in the community, and driven towards making their own impact when they are ready.
That's a long term project for them, and in the meantime Jessica,
Brandy, and Melissa have another project. The Olympia Action Network (of which
Jessica, Brandy and Melissa are members) and the Volunteer Center are co-hosting
the second annual Table for Olympia on September 11th, in honor of the National
Day of Service and Remembrance. Community table events have a long history
throughout the world, and were first brought Olympia last year by Mattias
Eichler of Einmalein's. If you weren't there last year, you should definitely
check out this community event. (And check out these great photos.) It's going to be the place to be. Jessica,
Brandy, and Melissa are planning now, but they already know the event will have
celebrity-judged four-square tournaments, a beer and wine garden, live music,
and more. We're an amazing area, with amazing people, and the Table for Olympia
is a wonderful celebration of that. Everyone is invited to the Table.
Whether you have an idea in mind or not, you can be a volunteer leader and the Volunteer Center can help. For more information or ideas, please contact me at emma@volunteer.ws or 360-741-2608.
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