Let’s Define Helpful

I work with non-profit organizations and associations. We rely on volunteer staff. There just isn’t the budget to hire enough people to make the world go ‘round. The core responsibilities to keep organizations running are usually covered by paid staff, many of whom are part-time. However, when it comes to administrative tasks, special event planning and execution, and responsibilities like data entry, follow-up phone calls, creative contributions, or website review, being able to partner with someone who is invested in the organization and have them donate a few hours a week or month is critical to keep things moving without breaking the bank.  

I have spent years working with, and training others how to care for, volunteers. I love working with others, inviting them to share in the adventure, training them and watching them grow, thinking of creative ways to thank them, and receiving feedback to continue to improve the program. Covid did a number on volunteer teams. People were required to stay home for so long, bad habits developed. Now that operations have resumed in-person, many volunteer team members, as in other professions, are not returning to the “workforce.” 

At a recent event, however, we did have movement in a positive direction. We needed several volunteers to get the event set up, feed the staff and contracted workers, move equipment back and forth between venues, and the like. We made sure a potential volunteer had everything they needed to make an informed decision whether or not to participate; explained the roles, time commitments, work environment, and where any special skills were needed. We sent follow up emails to volunteers who committed to serve containing helpful information like what to wear, where to park, and who to meet.  

What I didn’t expect was having someone voluntarily sign up to help, then show up and not only not help, but tell me they didn’t realize that volunteering meant actual work. Let me be clear, we were talking minimal manual labor outdoors on a beautiful, hot, sunny day in September in Illinois (which is a rare gift). This volunteer had no intention of helping out and tried to socialize with the tired staff as they came into the dining tent for a break. Um, what? It would have been next to impossible for this volunteer NOT to know what they were signing up for. It was an intentional, voluntary choice. It required action on their part. This wasn’t a requirement of their employment, they didn’t need to fulfill any community service hours, and we didn’t drag them in off the street.

I thought I’d take a moment to define what it means to be helpful. Some of us may have forgotten how important volunteers are. There are organizations and associations who would not be able to do what they do without the selfless donation of the time, talent, and treasure of others.

When volunteering, helping out might mean, donating your time by getting up early on a Saturday instead of sleeping in, or using your talents and abilities to do tasks that need to be done. It may be spending your financial resources to buy and donate supplies to help an organization move their mission forward. Volunteering and being helpful can take many forms and can be different for each organization. There is also no expectation you will receive any payment in return but I can almost guarantee you will receive something: the joy that comes from having helped someone in need.

So the next time you see an opportunity arise where you can volunteer your time, talents, or treasures, please remember; there is a real need behind the request. We’re counting on you to do your part. If you sign up, come prepared to serve. And please, don’t assume someone else is going to fill the role. If everyone does that, there won’t be enough helpful people to make things tick.

The old saying is still true today, “Many hands make light work.”

Have you had a unique volunteer experience? Lets hear it!
You can send me an email or share it here.

Let’s see how many people we can help with the information found in this blog. Forward this blog
to 2-3 of your friends today, share it on your social media and be sure to like it!

Do you work with volunteers to accomplish your mission? Then you need Tracy Baer’s book Cultivating a Healthy Volunteer Team! Find your copy at tracybaer.com.