6 tips for being a better volunteer

Guardian of the holy rolls

Since my retirement two years ago, I've upped my volunteering activities. I have led a seniors’ group hikes for a local YMCA, assisted in the teaching of adult basic education classes, and helped pack food packages. 

My primary volunteering, however, has been with the non-profit organization Help At Your Door <https://helpatyourdoor.org/>. The mission of HAYD is: “Helping seniors and individuals with disabilities to maintain their independence and continue living in their homes.” I provide two services for HAYD - giving rides to clients to medical and dental appointments, hair salon visits, and shopping, and shopping for groceries and delivering them. I average about 30 hours working and drive around 400 miles a month.

Before retirement, I had volunteered primarily for my professional organizations, so doing this kind of hands-on work is new to me. And I am recognizing some things that make me a valuable volunteer.

1. Treat volunteering like a “real” job. It may be because I was an employee for over 50 years, but when volunteering I am reliable, I am on time, and I do my best while on the job. It’s easy to think “I really don’t have to do a very good job as a volunteer - what are they going to do - fire me?” Recognize that the people who depend on your labors depend also on the quality of your labors. Late ride pickups, mashed potato chips in grocery deliveries, or simply not showing up when others are counting on you, are not acceptable.

2. Know that your interactions with others is as important as the work itself. With the isolation caused by the pandemic, the seniors for whom I give rides or to whom I deliver groceries may be the only other person I talk to all day. But often I find that I, as the driver/delivery person, may be the only person the senior has talked to all week - or for weeks. Showing interest, responding empathetically to vocalized problems, and even laughing at bad jokes, just might make someone’s day. If some riders seem crabby, I try to remember that many may be in physical or emotional pain. 

3. Do a little extra. My final words whenever dropping a client off at home or finishing carrying up sacks of groceries are always, “Is there anything else I can help you with?” So now and then, not often, but now and then, I wind up carrying out trash, moving a heavy plant from one room to another, or placing cartons of cat food up in a cupboard. At one home after being asked what else I could do, a little lady shyly pointed at three pill bottles on the kitchen counter and asked if I could help her get the lids off them. For the rest of the day, I thought how little those few seconds cost me, but how great an impact they may have had for that lady.

4. Maintain boundaries. While it is easy to form a sort of relationship with clients you serve often, it is also important that professionalism must be maintained. I insist that any rides go through the HAYD office. I rarely give out my personal phone number. I refuse gifts (no matter how hungry I may be for that Twinkie). If people want to talk about families or health, I listen and share a little about my own family. But I don’t bring up either subject (or politics or religion). Usually it’s pretty safe to talk about the weather.

5. Be flexible. As medical offices began to shut down and take only emergency appointments last spring, I found that my volunteer driving was unneeded. So I asked HAYD about other work I might be doing and they suggested grocery shopping - they needed people since many seniors were reluctant to go to the supermarket in person during the pandemic. Turns out, it’s been fun and I’ve kept doing it even after driving jobs have picked up again. And if you need to know where the herring fillets in wine sauce are located at the local Cub Foods, I’m your guy.

6. Remember that volunteering is good for the volunteer as well as the client. My initial retirement “plans” were primarily about international travel. After all those years of being able to only stay in an exotic place for a week or two, I would finally live the life of a vagabond. And I did happily and extensively travel Year One.  But of course COVID closed many things, including international borders and even made in-country travel more risky that wise. So I had many empty days and weeks instead of flights and hostels. Volunteering gave me back some structure. Some entries on my calendar. Some reasons to set my alarm, to shave, to get dressed, to keep the car clean. And as noted above, the opportunity to interact with other human beings and feel good about contributing to the general welfare. I could make the argument that volunteering does more for volunteers than those they help. And we as volunteers should never forget that.

My own 88-year-old mother lives about four hours away so I don’t get down to see her as often as I should - and I feel a little guilty about that. But while I can’t help her on a regular basis, I can help other seniors, so many who do not have families or friends or other human resources on whom to rely. Volunteering salves my conscience so I try to be good at it. I try to be the volunteer I would want helping my own mother.

Comments

[Jim]

Amazing! Thanks for this.

[Carolyn]

Thanks so much, Doug! We at Help At Your Door are lucky to have you!

[Lynn]

Great thoughts Doug. It is also a pleasure seeing you in Bloomington when you are volunteering for HAYD. You make our environment fun. Lynn the Driver

[Doug Johnson]

Thanks, "Larry,"

The Friday morning bunch is a fun group to work with! I always appreciate your tips about the customers to whom I am delivering groceries.

See ya Friday.

Doug