National Volunteer Appreciation Week April 21-27, 2013

April 21-27, 2013 is National Volunteer Appreciation Week. The theme of this year’s event is “Celebrate Service”.

Hope House relies very heavily on volunteers to provide all of our services. We would not be able to operate at our current capacity if it wasn’t for our volunteers. We are extremely grateful to all of them who work so hard on our behalf.

It is such a wonderful feeling to donate time and energy to a cause that you firmly believe in, knowing that you are making a difference in this world. Our volunteers help us in every aspect of our programming. We have volunteers who work directly with clients and some who prefer the behind the scenes approach and work in our administrative and fundraising functions. We couldn’t do it without any of them.

Take Chris Hope for example. Chris has been volunteering for Hope House for over 10 years and he has done it all. He is most known for creating the bedtime story program at our shelters. Chris created the idea of having volunteers come into shelter at bedtime to read to the kids a story before they go to bed. What a wonderful tradition to help our families start with their kids. The kids love this program; we just don’t have enough volunteers to keep it going every night. Hint hint. Chris is also known to staff our information table at health fairs or wherever is needed. I loved working with him at one of the Mavericks games as we sold Chuck a Pucks for Hope House. Chris and his sisters started our birthday fund as well, in honor of their mother who loved to celebrate her children’s birthdays. In her memory they created a fund that pays for birthday cakes for children in shelter so when kids are celebrating their birthdays in shelter they can do it just as they would if they were at home with a cake! Chris is so easy going and such a lovely spirit. He will do whatever we ask of him. He truly gives of himself and we are ever grateful.

Chris and all the other wonderful committed volunteers deserve the special recognition of this week. We are truly grateful to you for dedication in helping us carry out our mission of breaking the cycle of domestic violence. THANK YOU for all you do.

Volunteer Appreciation Week is April 18-24, 2010

This week’s guest blogger is Gretchen Hicks, Volunteer Programs Manager for Hope House.

Volunteer Appreciation Week is April 18-24, 2010. If at no other time, this is the time to show your appreciation to volunteers!

Volunteers don't get paid, not because they're worthless, but because they're priceless. ~Sherry Anderson

A statement could not be truer than that. Volunteers are priceless. As the Volunteer Programs Manager at Hope House, I have the pleasure of working with volunteers day-in and day-out. Currently we have 250 volunteers, with an average of 70-90 who volunteer each month. With the help of our volunteers, we are able to accomplish so much more. Their assistance equates to Hope House saving approximately $22,000 a month in personnel costs.

The work we do here, empowering our clients to live a life free of abuse, could not be done without the help of our valued volunteers. Volunteers are here for us rain or shine, snow or ice, helping in a multitude of ways. Volunteers are able to work in any of our programs. Here are a few examples of the things volunteers can do:

• “Reading Reaches”, a program where volunteers read to children in shelter

• Special events

• Assisting in shelter

• Assisting in the Court Advocacy program

• Assisting with BridgeSPAN, our hospital-based advocacy program

• Answering the phones at the front desk of each location

• Administrative assistance

• Speakers bureau / display requests

• Assisting at our safe visitation program

• Working with the children in the Early Childhood Center

• Working in the Hope Street Boutique, which is our clothing closet

• Facilities and maintenance work

And it all begins with just an 8-hour volunteer training class. Those interested in working directly with clients receive a more intensive training. Volunteer trainings are held quarterly. The next one is scheduled for June 2010.

If you’re thinking that you have no special skills to offer, you are wrong! Everyone has something to offer. It’s just a matter of reaching inside yourself and letting it be expressed. Once you find a good cause that you support and believe in, all it takes is the will power to take that first step—you’d be amazed how easily you can become a volunteer. There is nothing better than being there supporting someone else with their needs, knowing you’re making a difference. What a rewarding feeling!

Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something. ~Author Unknown 

If you’re thinking that you have no special skills to offer, you are wrong! Everyone has something to offer. It’s just a matter of reaching inside yourself and letting it be expressed. Once you find a good cause that you support and believe in, all it takes is the will power to take that first step—you’d be amazed how easily you can become a volunteer. There is nothing better than being there supporting someone else with their needs, knowing you’re making a difference. What a rewarding feeling!

I always wondered why “somebody” didn't do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody. ~Lily Tomlin

Be that “somebody”. Ask yourself, “Why haven’t I become a Hope House volunteer?” To find out more, check out our website www.hopehouse.net and click on “Ways to Give”, or you may contact me directly at ghicks@hopehouse.net.