"He who wishes to secure the good of others, has already secured his own."
-- Confucius
What drives you as a volunteer?Take the volunteer quiz to see what suits you best!There are no good or bad answers, and you may feel a similarity with more than one answer. Just select the one that sounds most like you.
Other things to know about becoming an effective volunteer...
Find out about an organization's history and purpose – this will help you to be more effective in your volunteer efforts. Establish a contact person– know who will be working on the project and have a phone number to reach them
Always call if you are scheduled to volunteer and cannot make it– make sure that you contact the agency as soon as you know that you will not be available
Be aware of your environment – realize that each organization has a specific way of interacting and accomplishing things so be aware of these particularities and act appropriately.
Follow the organization’s policies and procedures– this will help to protect both you and the people with whom you are working
Understand the need for confidentiality – becoming personally involved with agency clientele is a rewarding experience, but remember you may be dealing with sensitive information that is not to leave the agency
Dress appropriately and sensibly – wear clothing that affords you comfort, flexibility, and agility
Ask about training – if the agency asks you to perform a task, will they provide the necessary back up for you to be successful?
Evaluate the experience – take the time to reflect upon how this service opportunity is affecting you as a person
