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More Resources
To learn more about volunteering, visit Realtormag's Good Neighbors Toolkit . For registered users of REALTOR.org. | | Do you long to volunteer in your community? Three winners of REALTOR® Magazine's Good Neighbor Awards can help you get started. These exceptional people agree: You'll get back much more than you give.
Ask them about how to make time for service work, identify your valuable skills, determine what type of work will be most rewarding for you, recruit and retain volunteers, and raise money for your cause.
Who are these real estate good samaritans?
Craig Conant , Elsberry Realty in Warrensburg, Mo., is behind many projects that enrich his community, including a Big Brothers/Big Sisters chapter and a memorial park to remember children, like his daughter, Angel, whose lives have been cut short.
Debra Parmenter , Coldwell Banker Heritage House in Durango, Colo., is active in numerous groups on both the local and national level, such as the Four Corners Health Care Center, the Durango Foundation for Educational Excellence, and the American Cancer Society.
Q. I want to volunteer in my community, but I don't know where to start. Where can I find a list of volunteer groups in my area? How do I go about picking a field? What opportunities are there for large-scale projects, such as rehabbing a house or improvinga block?
Jackie Vaclav
Chicago-Realty@msn.com
Century 21 McMullen
Chicago, Il.
A. Local Chambers of Commerce keep lists of nonprofit organizations. The local United Way is another good source for leads.
Find a charity involved with a cause in which you have a genuine interest. If no single cause catches your attention, join a local service club, such as the Lions Club, Rotary, Optimist, or Kiwanis. These local organizations assist communities in a variety of ways.
I don't know of any groups that renovate houses. However, Habitat for Humanity builds new homes for qualified people. It might be an option if you're interested in doing something "handy."
---Craig Conant
A. Congratulations, Jackie. You have taken your first step in getting involved; you have the desire to help.
There are many options for finding listings of charitable agencies, such as through RealtorMag Online's Good Neighbor Tool Kit , your local Chamber of Commerce, even your local newspapers.
Pick an activity you care about, whether it's reading to the elderly or spending one-on-one time with elementary school students. Or you might see a need in your community that you'd like to address, such as providing highway clean-up or gathering clothing for the homeless. Maybe you have a passion for the arts. You can volunteer for art centers, music festivals, and museums. The list is endless--I can't think of many organizations that don't want assistance.
If you identify an interesting cause, call the representative organization to find out what kind of help it needs. Ask to attend meetings or receive written materials to see if the work is what you thought it would be. Don't be afraid to ask questions.
An important factor to consider is how much time and energy you want to devote. Are you looking for short-term or ongoing involvement? Do you want to be involved with more than just one organization?
Don't be discouraged if a project doesn't get quick results. I started Adopt a Family during the holidays for the homeless. It took me at least three years before I found the best way to make it work. It was sometimes difficult to track down the very people we were trying to help, leaving us with excess food and clothing. I started working with an agency, Volunteers of America-(The Homeless Shelter) that provides shelter for homeless families. We now know specific information about the people we are helping, such as sex, ages, and clothing sizes, in advance. This last year we have also turned our money over to The Homeless Shelter (I work very well with their director) as they know how to put the money to its best use.
I have found that you need to be flexible, as there are never two years that are the same. If you are the committee head, be organized and recruit dependable people. It's not much fun to have a great idea and spend most of your time "baby-sitting."
You can make a difference. Good luck, and remember to enjoy what you are doing.
--Debra Parmenter | | |
