WISCONSIN
RAPIDS, WI
– On Saturday, November 18, 2017 the Volunteer Center will be asking families
in south Wood County to get out and volunteer together as a family!
According to the Points of Light Foundation “Family Volunteer Day is a day of
service that celebrates the power of families who work together to support
their communities and neighborhoods.”
In
south Wood County, families can view our website at www.volunteerinnerwisc.org
to find ideas. We have a variety of different volunteer opportunities to
choose from that are perfect for families. Opportunities range from
stay-at-home projects such as creating “Shoebox Projects” and donating them to
local agencies; to getting out and decorating an agency for the holidays.
Families can also check out the volunteer opportunities at their churches or
schools.
Families
who wish to volunteer on – or around – November 18th should plan
ahead, as many agencies have a volunteer application process. The
Volunteer Center is not coordinating any projects, but can make suggestions and
help your family decide on a project. Families need to volunteer together
(adults cannot drop off their kids and leave); especially since smaller
children will need to be supervised.
“Volunteer
projects do not need to be on November 18th,” said Angela Loucks,
Volunteer Center Director. “We just want to help families get started on
the path to volunteering. National Family Volunteer Day is a good time to check
out the local opportunities we have and learn about the benefits of
volunteering.”
“This
is also an opportunity to show your kids the world around them,” continued Angela.
“Show your kids all the good that there is in the world! It helps kids
know that we live in a community that cares about others - including them –
which has a huge impact on their own self-esteem. It’s also an
opportunity to pass down family values such as showing compassion and always
doing your best. You can put these values into action by volunteering and
show your kids first-hand what it looks like. It’s also an opportunity to
spend quality time with your family and have fun - so grab your kids,
grandkids, nieces, nephews, etc. and volunteer together!”
Benefits
of Volunteering
·
Youth
who volunteer learn respect, leadership skills and how to work as a team.
Youth volunteers also tend to do better in school, are more likely to graduate,
make better choices, choose healthier lifestyles and have higher
self-esteems.
·
Volunteering
can help job-seekers get a job by providing references and experiences that can
be listed on resumes and job applications. (Volunteering also helps
students who are applying for college.)
·
Volunteering
benefits your health in a number of ways: it lowers the body’s response
to stress and strengthens your immune system. Volunteers also experience
less depression, lower blood pressure and fewer health problems later in life.
About
United Way of Inner Wisconsin’s Volunteer Center
The
Volunteer Center is a clearing house for requests for volunteers and volunteer
opportunities. An online database of volunteer opportunities is available
at www.volunteerinnerwisc.org.
Volunteer opportunities are announced every Wednesday morning on WFHR; and can
be viewed on Wisconsin Rapids Community Media. The Volunteer Center works
on several initiatives such as Day of Caring, Stuff the School Bus, Homeless
Point in Time (PIT) Count, and the Disaster Volunteer Reception Center.
The
Volunteer Center is a program of United Way of Inner Wisconsin. Its
mission is to mobilize and inspire people to utilize their talents to enhance
our community.
