July 2010 Archives
According to the Corporation for National and Community Service (www.nationalservice.org), the second reason to volunteer is to “conserve funds for charities, nonprofits and faith-based and other community organizations by contributing your time.” Some food banks, for example, are completely run by volunteers, allowing the money solicited from contributors to be used to buy inexpensive bulk food, diapers, or other needed items, rather than going to salaries.
Did you know? The value of an hour of volunteer time in MA has been pegged at $26.32 for 2008 (http://www.independentsector.org/volunteer_time). Give yourself a pat on the back for helping your favorite charity save money!
According to the Volunteering in America report from Corporation for National and Community Service, rates of volunteering in America increased for the second year in a row. In 2009, an additional 1.6 million volunteers were added across the country. For the full report, see www.volunteeringinamerica.gov.
While the reasons for this increase are being studied by experts, I can offer my own thoughts on volunteering and why I joined the Marlborough Junior Woman's Group.
This morning's installment: Connecting to the Community
Although I've lived in Marlborough for over a decade, I realized if I dropped off the face of the Earth, it would make hardly a ripple in the city of Marlborough. My social connections (through family and work) were all out of town and mostly out of state. Similarly, my charitable activities were all national and international groups. I wanted to make an impact in my own town, in my own neighborhood. And I didn't have much information about the people who were making changes and serving the community, and I wanted to meet them! One frindge benefit - I've gotten some greats tips about local restaurants and service providers!
More thoughts about volunteering and joining a local volunteer group to come. Join in the discussion via Facebook!
More than 1 out of 3 schoolchildren in the Marlborough Public School system participates in the free or reduced lunch program.
In 2006, the Mayor's Youth Commission began serving lunches to children in need over the summer. The program is completely run on volunteer help and community donations. Lunches are assembled at the Metro Church (401 Elm Street) on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday mornings.
At a recent Juniors meeting, we voted to donate money to the Children's Lunch Program. If you are interested in volunteering to help assemble lunches, contact Peggy Ayres, chair of the Mayor's Youth Commission at 508-786-3040.
If you missed the presentation earlier this year at our Juniors meeting by Sustainable Life Solutions, or if you want more information on saving energy and greening your home, you will have your chance at the Hudson Public Library on Saturday, July 24th at 2 pm.
Join Laura Kischitz, co-founder of Sustainable Life Solutions, to learn how you can:
save hundreds of dollars annually on your fuel and electricity bills, reduce consumption, and improve indoor air quality of your home, reduce your energy costs, carbon emissions, consumption, and toxins in your home.
In addition, you can use your library card at any time at the Hudson Library to check out a Hudson Climate Action Kit (in bags next to the reference desk), which include Kill A Watt meter and the book 10 Minute Energy Saving Secrets and the Low Carbon Diet book. The meter comes with an instruction book about testing your electrical devices to identify the energy-suckers. You can learn more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1l_mo1jwh8Y or www.hudsoncan.org or http://www.sustainablelifesolutions.com/.
The Mayor's office released some additional information about how you can help those displaced by the fire on Main Street in Marlborough last week.
Donations of gift cards which can be used to replace clothes, personal and household items can be dropped off at the Human Services Office located at 225 Main Street Room 108. You can reach Marlborough's Director of Human Services, Rosalind Baker, who is coordinating the donations, at 508-460-3758.
Monetary donations should be made out to the Mayor's Charity Relief Fund and sent to the attention of the Mayor's Office at 140 main Street 4th floor Marlborough MA 01752. Please note "Fire Victims" in the memo section.
And of course, donations of household goods (sheets, cooking pots, etc.) and furniture can be made to Furnshing Options. Call 774.348.4922 for more information.
The Marlborough Senior Center, located at 250 Main Street, is looking for help with several different volunteer positions. If you are interested, please call Susan Maki at 508-485-6492.
Volunteer receptionist - to answer the phone and sign participants up for programs and activities. The time commitment is a two hour time slot, from one day to multiple days per week depending on your availability. Prior receptionist experience is not necessary.
Greeter's desk - to sit at the front desk and greet people as they enter the Senior Center. The greeter will direct people to the appropriate location for activities and may assist the receptionist with signing people up for activities or selling raffle tickets.
Assistant librarian - will assist Terry Killiam in maintaining the Senior Center's library. The library continues to be in need of LARGE PRINT books.
If any of these volunteer positions interests you or someone you know, please contact Susan Maki at 508-485-6492.
