Daniel Boone Area School District’s Post

"Many homeschoolers have a great amount of flexibility at home, which is one of the beauties of homeschooling, but that flexibility is not always found on a job.  Learning this can be helpful!” – Cindy LaJoy Quote taken from the SPED Homeschool article, Eight Benefits of Volunteering for Your Homeschool #quoteoftheday #homeschoolfreedom #spedhomeschool

If you're wondering how we've kept at it all these years, watch this clip! Edie knows what we know: There's no substitute for seeing the lightbulb go on in a young person's eyes! There's no substitute for running into a teacher you've worked with and getting good news about a student or program's progress. The Stanford Center on Longevity identified three reasons why people don't volunteer, even though 90% of us reportedly want to (it improves our physical health and cognitive function). In my experience, volunteering with schools responds to them all: 1) Volunteer schedules are too inflexible/ it takes too much time: Schools can offer volunteers all sorts of scheduling flexibility because they often operate with "rolling day" schedules, which means that your "Day 1 of 8" commitment to help out with Music or Careers or whatever your jam is, won't always fall on a Monday or Friday. You can absolutely schedule your life around your volunteer commitments at a school. Taking a benchmark birthday or anniversary trip? Just let the school know "In the second term of next year, I'll be gone for a week". They only need advance notice. 2) Most volunteer roles aren't interesting: Listen to Edie in this clip, she talks about how as she spent more time in the classroom, her volunteer roles evolved to include more one-on-one time with students. Knowing you helped a child master their times tables, a crisis of confidence in reading or preparing for a test is a game-changer. But of course, you have to demonstrate to teachers that you can get that job done before they'll give it to you. "Plum assignments" always go to top performers, don't they? But trust me, the minute teachers know "you're for real", they'll ask you to do more, because they need the help. 3) No one asked me: The shortage of teachers/ aids/ school staff and resources is not a secret. Many schools today do have a vetting process for volunteers (as they should), but if you are committed to helping a school deliver on it's mandate, they'll find a way for you to make a contribution. I've been volunteer-teaching primarily 10-14 year olds how to think before they buy for almost 9 years. I've learned how to structure content so that it easily fits into lesson plans, engages students, and doesn't create pre or post-workshop administration for teachers. I show up on time, conduct workshops, and leave. I make one follow-up request for feedback, in service of keeping workshops as engaging as possible. I've seen the Edies of this world in countless settings. We always give each other a knowing smile. That moment is always a great part of my day. #TeachKidsAboutMoney #GiveMoneySmartz #WorkingTogether #Volunteering

Good morning, friends and colleagues! Success through volunteer engagement is always important for nonprofit organizations to discuss. Please read my latest article, which provides an interesting perspective on volunteering.

Now's a good time to ask ourselves a big question. Have you been feeling sort of disconnected? Like you're not sure how you fit in. Or why. A great start to fixing that? Volunteer. Rates of volunteering have been down in the US every year for the past 14 years. 😳 We don't all have to join Peace Corps (but if you'd like to than I think that's fantastic). Connecting to our communities in small, regular ways is vital to our well-being. And just makes the world a better place. There are so many organizations that can make good use of your time. A quick list of places if you want to keep your efforts local: -Public library -Pet shelter -Food bank -Parks and Rec -Schools You could ask about helping just at special events, or about regular help with the day-to-day things that keep these organizations functioning. And of course there are national and global organizations galore if that's more in line with your desired impact. Could you volunteer once a month? Once every other month? What if you started to really look forward to it each time? Imagine that. Search for [volunteer opportunities] or [volunteer near me] or visit https://lnkd.in/g7Zhmzuk to find an opportunity that speaks to you. As a society we're not volunteering as much as we used to, and I think we're all feeling that.

Check out my blog about volunteering and how it relates to my long-term project!

How do you prepare for the ever-changing demands of youth ministry? Start with these five key steps: 1️⃣ Prayer 2️⃣ Scripture study 3️⃣ Mentorship 4️⃣ Volunteering 5️⃣ Community Share in the comments which area is most critical for your current ministry journey. Save this post for when you need to reflect on your next step! ✨ Want to sharpen your skills? Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/g5pK8jh5

Nothing like reading an article filled with things you've been saying for YEARS and people rolled their eyes at you... "6 Ways a Volunteer Program Can Burst the Bubbles We Live In" All my favs: how volunteering can bring people with very different points of view together, why EVERYONE should be invited to volunteer, why it's sometimes a good idea to say "come help your neighbors" instead of "come volunteer!", and on and on: https://lnkd.in/gax6rYuF

Ensuring the safety and trustworthiness of candidates and volunteers is crucial for nonprofits and charities. Charityvillage provides essential guidance on conducting background and criminal record checks. Learn how to navigate this important process and create a secure environment. Read the article here: . #SafetyFirst #VolunteerScreening #NonprofitGuidance

Grateful to have been chosen for #AMPTGrant! While we are excited about this opportunity we also wanted to express our remarks regarding the election: The personal is political. The choices we make in our everyday lives, the way we engage with others, and the values we teach our children all shape the world around us. As we reflect on the outcome of the recent election, let’s lean into the importance of community connections, remembering that our mental health and the act of protecting our energy are vital during times of division and uncertainty. The election results have left many of us feeling divided, both as a nation and within ourselves. Yet, even in the face of this fragmentation, we must remember our shared commitment to one another, especially to our Black and Latine communities. We need to be able to empathize with others, to understand perspectives that may differ from our own. While we may not agree with every viewpoint, it is crucial that we approach each other with kindness, compassion, and an open heart. We must teach our children to be supportive, to listen, and to engage with respect—no matter how challenging the conversation may be. Together, we have the power to transform division into unity, uncertainty into clarity, and frustration into action. Stand with us, stand with each other, and let’s build a future rooted in our peace, hope, and love. The work begins with us—today. #latinenonprofits #blacknonprofits #chicagononprofits #spreadthelove

Being in the nonprofit space for awhile now, I find that individuals' expectations for the volunteer experience vary. If they have personal connection to the mission, there seems to be more consistent engagement. But not always. Comment below on some of the aspects of volunteering for an organization that draw you in and your thoughts on what keeps you engaged?!