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Need is great for volunteers

11/26/2009 - West Side Leader
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By Kathleen Folkerth

United Way offers list of ways to help

Volunteers help staff the Salvation Army’s stations during its annual Red Kettle Campaign. The agency reports that its need is especially great on weekdays.
The Salvation Army is one of several organizations that is seeking help with gift distribution during the holidays.
Serving hot meals to those in need is one way people can give of their time during the holidays.
Photos courtesy of the Salvation Army of Summit County
GREATER AKRON — Times are tough, but people are still coming forward to help others during the holiday season, according to Pam Beals, director of volunteer services for the United Way of Summit County (UWSC).

“I heard from one company that has worked with us before where the entire staff of 30 people took pay cuts, but they still wanted to adopt a family this year,” Beals said. “During these hard economic times, people still want to help people.”

The UWSC’s Volunteer Center compiles a list of needs from local nonprofit agencies and helps individuals, families, organizations and businesses find opportunities to help others.

The holidays are a popular time for people to come forward and volunteer, Beals said.

“It’s the time of year when everyone wants to give back,” she said. “People want to feel good during the holidays, and this is one of the ways they can feel good, knowing they helped someone else. And certainly the need is strong during the holidays.”

Beals said requests for help this year are similar to those from last year. Some agencies are looking for people to buy gifts or necessities for children and families in need, while others need help with putting together food baskets or staffing client pickups of items.

This year, Beals said there are two opportunities to volunteer on Christmas day, which is something she can’t recall having before. Access Inc., a shelter for women and children in West Akron, is seeking volunteers to dress as elves to deliver presents starting at 6:45 that morning. Also, Summa’s Palliative Care and Hospice Services needs volunteers to prepare one or more dishes for a Christmas meal and help serve the meal that day to families with loved ones at the Acute Palliative Care Unit at Akron City Hospital.

Beals said the Volunteer Center also had volunteer needs on Thanksgiving day and those were quickly filled, so she hopes people will come forward to do something on Christmas.

Throughout the holidays, there are diverse opportunities for people to help others and lend a hand. Beals said families with children could take part in an adopt-a-family or adopt-a-child gift-giving program.

“It’s a great way to get the family involved,” she said.

Typically, an agency will provide information on the family or child with ages, sizes and needs, and the adopting family will purchase items for them. Some agencies give the volunteers the opportunity to meet the family they adopt, while others serve as the middlemen.

Local agencies with adopt-a-family programs are Akron Pregnancy Services, Battered Women’s Shelter, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve, Child Guidance and Family Solutions, Community Health Center and Summit County Children Services Board.

Some agencies need help sorting and packing items, tasks that children can do with adult supervision, Beals said. Community Support Services is one agency that needs help Dec. 10 to fill bags for clients. Helpers can be as young as 10, provided they have an adult with them.

Direct service opportunities like that one and others are good for those who want to help someone but aren’t in the financial position to buy items, Beals said.

“They’re usually just a few hours,” she said. “They’re a short-term, one-time opportunity where if you have half a day to give, that’s all you need to do.”

Some of the volunteering that can be done in the next few weeks can be entertaining as well, Beals said, especially for teenagers.

“The Cuyahoga Valley National Park is looking for volunteer elves for the Polar Express,” she said. “And the Downtown Akron Partnership needs help at First Night® Akron.”

Those with musical talent or other skills to entertain also are in need. Beals said Hospice of Visiting Nurse Service and Affiliates is seeking musicians to play at the Copley facility through Christmas. The Salvation Army also welcomes musicians to staff a red kettle site. United Disability Services seeks performers to appear before clients through Dec. 25.

People of all ages who like to bake also can donate their tasty creations to agencies such as Pregnancy Care of Summit County, which needs desserts for a holiday party Dec. 3, and Safe Landing Youth Shelters, which will accept baked goods throughout December.

More information on these opportunities and others is available by calling the Volunteer Center at (330) 643-5512 or by going to www.uwsummit.org and clicking on Volunteer.

Beals asks that those interested in helping the agencies on the list go through the Volunteer Center rather than contacting the agencies directly.

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American Red Cross