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Here's to you, Kathy - it's Global Volunteer Month!
This month, in the spirit of this worldwide observance, I'm pausing to reflect on this quote:
“Volunteering is at the very core of being a human. No one has made it through life without someone else’s help.” -Heather French Henry
Perhaps at some point in your life you were vulnerable. Who helped? Or, maybe someone close to you volunteered and served as the example that prompted you to take action yourself. Whoever that was, they made a lasting impression and now here you are, paying it forward in service to others. You chose Neighborly. As a result, over 4,400 seniors in our county have received food, social connection, access to medical care, and enriched lives thanks to your service. While volunteer board members navigate Neighborly's strategic future, many others work behind the scenes so that operations continue to flow smoothly.
During Global Volunteer Month, I want to express our deepest thanks for the myriad ways you ensure clients enjoy a much-improved quality of life. While your volunteer colleagues on the recognition committee heard you clearly that a celebration wasn't ultimately what mattered to most, Leslie and I, as well as members of our leadership team, will be visiting sites to thank volunteers personally this month. Then later in April, all actives' names will be dropped into a hat and two names will be drawn for a gift certificate for an in-home wine tasting for up to 12 people, thanks to the generous donation from PRP Wine.
Oh, and one more thing: if you can reach out to that special someone who helped inspire you to serve, be sure to thank them as well!
Thank YOU!
Hilary Justice, CVA
Volunteer Services
| | Just What You Asked For: Bring a Friend to Volunteer Week! | | |
In the 2024 retrospective volunteer satisfaction survey, we asked volunteers for their great ideas to attract more volunteers (since volunteers are our #1 source of new volunteers). One suggestion we received we've actually pondered for a long time, but it comes with some strings attached due to the nature of our Federal funding. Here's what we've designed that will attract great prospects while still fulfilling our requirements to keep our clients protected and safe:
BRING A FRIEND* TO VOLUNTEER EVENT!
When: Week of May 26 - 30, 2025 only
What: A prospective volunteer may join you on your regular MOW route or medical transportation trips but must stay with you at all times.
Required: Prospective volunteers must complete a disclaimer prior to the event and sign up must occur by May 21. No late entries or last minute changes can be made. Supervisors will receive a list of names of who to expect for check in.
How: Share this link with your friends to sign up.
If successful, we may consider offering this again in the future. For now, this is a pilot, one week only, event. Thanks for all your help iningspir others to serve!
*adult friends/neighbors/relatives/spouses, no teens/children, please.
| | We're Seeing Stars in Your Future | | |
The volunteer recognition committee, consisting of 35 of your fellow volunteers, reviewed the survey results on a get together (from potlucks to happy hours) and ultimately decided to forgo a celebration this year as previously reported.
What they did wish to pursue was "stars for service years" - stickers that represent one, five, ten, 15 and 20+ years of volunteer service - that can be affixed to the plastic cover of your name badge. If you would like a sticker, kindly send Hilary an email here with your years of service and a sticker will be sent to your site for your badge.
| | St. Pete's Second "Do Good Day" Attracts Wealth of Prospects
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by Hilary Justice, CVA, Volunteer Coordinator
On Saturday, March 29, volunteers (from left, above) Norm Ross (GFP), Kristin Lindow (CLM, SUN and EDC), and Mary Ordal (SUN) joined me at Ferg's in downtown St Pete for the second annual Do Good Day. This was an opportunity to pair prospective volunteers with area nonprofits, and by all accounts hundreds were in attendance! You could not have asked for a better team of community liaisons - each was an outstanding spokesperson for Neighborly and our volunteer opportunities! We'll continue to track the applications that come in. Special thanks to Norm, Kristin and Mary for their contributions to our volunteer program's success!
| | Volunteers Going The Extra Mile | | |
Site Coordinator Steve Stanabach at Lake Seminole Meals on Wheels sent in this month's Volunteers Going the Extra Mile submission:
"We have a volunteer who has recently 'gone the extra mile' for one our clients. The client who we refer to as "the cat lady" had either adopted a couple of feral cats or they adopted her, I'm not sure. The client was getting to the point where she had too many cats and it was becoming difficult for her to take care of all of them. Jessica Helfrich who is a self-admitted cat lady, offered to help out and had several of them fixed and found homes for just about all of them as well. A very nice gesture to do that." Wow! Thanks for Going the Extra Mile, Jessica!!
Anyone can submit a volunteer for this column! Just email Hilary!
| | Video How-Tos, Feedback, and Other Helpful Resources | | |
This is the volunteer resource hub of this monthly newsletter. Here you can find:
- How to record your volunteer hours with your pin (on your nametag). All volunteers sign in at the beginning of their shift and again before they leave. VicTouch and Mobile Meals unfortunately can't be integrated despite our requests.
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How to deliver meals using the MobileMeals app (mileage functionality is not enabled)
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Volunteer Feedback Portal for sharing thoughts, suggestions, concerns
| | Ways to Make Greater Impact: Do Good, Feel Good! | | |
Let your friends and family in on the secret that volunteering benefits them in so many ways! Please share this application link with prospective volunteers! Or, to give them a taste of "a day in the life", have them accompany you during the week of May 26 - 30!
Here are Neighborly's volunteer needs as of this publish date:
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April 1 (today!) at 1pm: Medical Transportation orientation - Volunteers drive clients to/from medical appointments and pharmacies. Choose a region of the county, serve four hours per week (we'll work with your availability). No lifting or wheelchairs. Contact Hilary to sign up, or new volunteers click on the application link above. Also, currently active MOW volunteers only need to attend the second half of the orientation which starts at 1:45pm.
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Meals on Wheels - urgent needs exist in Seminole, Largo, Clearwater, and St Pete. Orientations held weekly! New volunteers complete the application above; existing volunteers, please see your site coordinator if you can help out a little extra.
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MOW orientation assistance - as we work to remove 600+ seniors from our wait list, more seasoned MOW volunteers will be needed to teach new volunteers the ropes, and to provide assistance during orientations at our new office located at 5225 Tech Data Drive in Clearwater. Instructors should be comfortable with MOW processes and teaching; assistants will conduct background checks and work on our tablets with new volunteers. Training provided. Email Hilary to learn more.
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Community Liaisons - Volunteers help heighten awareness of Neighborly services and promote volunteer opportunities at community events. Full training provided! Call Georgia Smith at 727.798.7147
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Adult Day Care Assistance - Our South St Pete Adult Day Care Center (EDC) has a lovely, gentle client who is mostly non-verbal but is friendly and loves attention. She enjoys being outside and going for walks (around the center). If you have an hour or two any weekday (between 12:30-1:30/2pm - ish) and would be interested in keeping this lovely lady company, contact Hilary.
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“Hope is the eternal tool in the survival kit for mankind."
~ Sidney Poitier
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