the power of one
Cultivating theVolunteer Spirit
The volunteer spirit is alive, well and thriving in Calcasieu Parish and the surrounding areas, according to Beverly McCormick, executive director of the Volunteer Center of Southwest Louisiana. Volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds and motivations, she said. Some use volunteering as a way to re-enter the workforce, others simply want to offer time or resources. “The challenge is to find a position that is a good match for the volunteer,” McCormick said. “It has to work within their time frame and within their skill set, and the volunteer must be a good match for the agency.” Schools, churches, and non-profits usually have a substantial need for volunteers, she added. Debby Nabours, director of Foundation/Patient Relations at West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital, said volunteers play a vital role in supplementing hospital staff. “They work at information desks, giving information about the location of patients in the hospital, as well as helping guests find their way to departments and services,” Nabours said. “Some manage a book cart, changing out magazines in waiting areas and patient rooms. Others work alongside staff providing clerical assistance. And yet others help patients by working in the gift shop where visitors may purchase bouquets and gifts to lift the spirits of patients.” West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital currently has two men and 38 women who volunteer in various capacities. It has been estimated that volunteers in the state of Louisiana save organizations about $19.33 per hour in wages. “This translates to over $200,000 a year for our community hospital,” Nabours said. Pam Smith, a SPARK teacher at W.W. Lewis Middle School in Sulphur and co-sponsor of the Junior Beta Club, said it’s important to instill a volunteer spirit at a young age. “(The idea of) helping others is not as prevalent as it used to be,” Smith said. “I think that with the new age of technology, students get sucked into the cyber world and tend to not participate in the real world. They need to be aware of what’s going on around them. Encouraging them to interact with the public teaches them muchneeded social skills and helps them to feel good about something they have done for others.” Some organizations on school campuses are more “service oriented” than others, Smith said. Junior Beta tries to promote both academic excellence and service. Students in the service clubs have to earn a certain number of points each semester. “Many of our students earn their service points through different church organizations—
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working ‘clean up’ days, working church-sponsored yard sales, Pumpkin Patch unloading, volunteering at Care Help, or serving Thanksgiving Dinner at the SPAR community dinner,” Smith said. “We do a club scavenger hunt for canned goods for Thanksgiving. We visit with the residents at StoneBridge Assisted Living and sing carols during the holiday season. Students have also volunteered at MSU with campus clean up, and participated in various walks.” There are several opportunities for people of all ages to volunteer; the Volunteer Center’s HandsOn component helps people find areas in which they may want to donate their time. In addition, United Way of Southwest Louisiana is implementing ul“Get Connected,” a web-based platform designed to increase the collaboration, connections, and relationships among local non-profits and community members. The comprehensive system will give information on available opportunities as well as specific group needs, according to Melissa Hill, marketing and event coordinator for United Way of SWLA.
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While it’s essential for individuals to volunteer, both McCormick and Denise Durel, president and CEO of the United Way of SWLA, said businesses are also an integral part of community volunteerism. “The impact and support that we receive from every company is crucial,” Durel said. “United Way is able to make lasting impact and change in SWLA because of the support and engagement of all of our corporate citizens. Last year corporate gifts totaled 26 percent of our overall campaign, with those gifts equaling $1,137,886.”
Logan Moore, from left, Kyli Gremillion and Emily Fitkin, Junior Beta students from W.W. Lewis, spent time cleaning the basement and stage area of Bulber Auditorium on Show Your McNeese Pride Day. This event launched the preparation for the celebration of McNeese’s 75th Anniversary. t
November 2013