With a new year comes a new set of resolutions.
If volunteering is one of yours, Riley Baker, director of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program at Pittsburgh Cares, suggests you ask for help.
“I think that a lot of times it can be really hard to navigate the world of volunteerism, especially if you don’t really know a ton about the nonprofits that are out there,” he said.
Organizations such as Pittsburgh Cares try to play matchmaker between potential volunteers and nonprofits that need help.
“There’s a lot of opportunities out there that you could casually approach, see if it’s something that you’re interested in, find something that you connect with not only with your skill set, but also with your heart, because that’s ultimately what it’s all about, right?” he said.
He said a lot of people don’t understand that volunteering opportunities come at a cost to the nonprofit, and sometimes the volunteers might need to give more either financially or in other aspects.
“I think what a lot of people don’t understand is that it really takes a lot on an agency’s side to set up opportunities for people to volunteer,” he said. “And occasionally there are expenses that come along with that, and I think it’s hard for people to wrap their minds around ‘Well I’m here to give, why should I have to contribute more?’”
But he said if you find a place where you enjoy volunteering, see if there’s a way to go beyond what you’re already doing.
“If it’s something that speaks to you, move forward, talk to the supervisor there at the agency where you’re volunteering – there’s always ways that a person can expand on what they’re doing,” Baker said. “There might be little things that you wouldn’t even know that you have to offer to an agency until you get in there and start doing it.”
But Baker said not to be discouraged from other opportunities if you aren’t connecting with the non-profit where you’re volunteering.
“If it’s not something that you care for, try a different one,” he said. “There’s a million ways to volunteer out there currently, and all it takes is kind of getting that foot in the door, getting your toes wet and seeing what comes from it.”
Learn how to keep your resolution to lose wight here.
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