Some people think volunteering can be the perfect gift
BY BILL GUIDA bguida@kenoshanews.com
The spirit of giving during the holiday season raises our awareness of people and charitable organizations in need.
But it’s not just food, clothes and money that are needed — there’s also human connection.
And according to a CarthageCollege professor, volunteering during the holiday season can fulfill that need.
“Giving money is absolutely important. Social service agencies need that. But the act of friendship, one-to-one contact, is vitally important to people,” said Ruth Fangmeier, a professor of social welfare at CarthageCollege.
“Volunteering might not cost a lot and might not take very long. It’s a matter of doing it when it’s needed,” she said.
Upswing in volunteering
The holidays often prompt an uptick in volunteering.
“We do have more people calling, asking what they can do at the holidays,” said Jennifer Swartz, a social worker and meal program coordinator of Kenosha Area Family and Aging Services Inc., which offers numerous volunteer possibilities, including Meals on Wheels, transportation programs and the Friendly Visitor program.
The Volunteer Center of Greater Milwaukee notes “hundreds of opportunities available” to meet all interests, from “playing board games and visiting seniors to mentoring kids” or serving on a nonprofit board.
“Social service agencies use a lot of volunteers,” Fangmeier said. “They rely on people coming and volunteering.
“I don’t think the difficult part is deciding where to give. It’s picking up the phone or stopping in and asking what help is needed because most of what’s needed is not terribly sophisticated, and most of us can do it. Hospice, for example, often needs volunteers to pick up prescriptions for people who are at home.”
Benefits of volunteering
“There’s also the other piece that comes with volunteering, the personal contact, the recognizing of the person who has the need, the person as an individual,” Fangmeier said. “Like saying, ‘How are you? It’s a beautiful day today.’ There’s that whole other connection that emerges.”
Fangmeier said the unstable economy not only will grow the numbers of needy but will inspire others to volunteer goods and services.
“We like to see ourselves as a kind, giving people. At the holidays in our culture ... when people give gifts, it’s not unusual for us to think of those whose needs are greater than ours.” Fangmeier said.
Ways to volunteer
Volunteering doesn’t always require working through a charitable organization and social service agencies. Here are some relatively simple suggestions from the Volunteer Center of Greater Milwaukee, posted at www.volunteermilwaukee.org:
Collect and donate food.
Visit someone in a nursing home.
Make holiday cards or decorations with children and deliver to a nursing home.
Collect and donate winter clothing (hats, mittens, scarves, jackets) to homeless shelters.
Bring a group of friends or your choir to an adult day center, nursing home or homeless shelter and sing holiday songs.
Bake Christmas cookies and take them to seniors at an adult day center.
Cook and bring a meal to an elderly neighbor.
Purchase personal hygiene items and drop them off at a homeless shelter.
Buy cat and dog supplies and donate them to an animal shelter.
Hold a holiday cooking party with friends and family (cookies, soup, bread) to contribute to a food pantry or shelter.
Offer a “babysit while you shop” service for friends or family.
Where to volunteer
Looking to volunteer?
Try these local agencies:
Kenosha Area Family and Aging Services Inc., 7730 Sheridan Road, 658-3508, www.kafasi.org.
