The Atlanta Journal and Constitution
Sometimes it takes patience and persistence to capture . . . The Joy of Giving
By Derrick Henry
May 30, 1998
It takes more than desire to be a productive volunteer. It also takes
patience, persistence, purpose --- and reparation. Just ask Shavette
Neal of Marietta. After testing the volunteer waters of Atlanta, Neal
decided to take the plunge by getting involved with "Helping
Hooves," a project that teaches disabled children horseback riding.
"I found that there was more involved than I expected," Neal
says. "I'd ridden horses a few times and thought I was OK. But I
quickly learned I wasn't that good. I was scared."
Malikah Berry also wanted to help others. One of her first tasks as a
volunteer was to help build a house with Hands on Atlanta. "I hated
it," she remembers. "I wasn't big enough to do it, and I
didn't like working so hard." Thousands of people in metro Atlanta
each year want to become part of the volunteer community but quite often
don't have a clue how to go about finding a task that is both helpful to
others and meaningful to themselves.
Officials stress potential volunteers should spend time doing some
homework: learning about specific volunteer agencies and determining
what they hope to get out of volunteering. A few useful questions to
ponder, suggests Marni Bognar, an information and referral specialist
with United Way 211, include: What sort of work do you like to do? Do
you like to work inside or outside, alone or with a group, with kids or
seniors? What kind of hobbies do you have? Do you have special skills?
How much time can you devote and what hours are you available? Is there
a particular cause you identify with? What do you hope to get out of
volunteering? Are you looking to meet people, learn new skills, obtain
leadership experience?
"You need to be honest with yourself about the reason,"
says Kathy Klatt, president of the Junior League of Atlanta. "Don't
pick something just because it's around the corner or the hours are
perfect. Pick something where you believe in the mission." For
instance, Klatt got involved with the Wellness Community, a support
group for cancer patients, after her own bout with cancer.
And Katy Pattillo, who has volunteered in a wide variety of tasks
since childhood, focused most of her attention on children's issues
after she began a family. She's been involved with the Boys & Girls
Clubs of Metro Atlanta for over a decade, the past two years as board
chairwoman.
Klatt suggests beginning volunteers start slowly. "Do a little
trial period," she says. "You need to figure out what works
best for you before you hook yourself into a long commitment." And
know your limitations. "I was donating so much time in the hospital
as a chaplain with dying patients that it became overwhelming,"
says Wellness Center volunteer Steve Ward. "I took away too much of
their problems. Now, when I deal with people with terminal illness, I
limit my time. If you don't learn when to back down, it can wreck your
own life."
Often bad experiences can be attributed to the agency itself.
Volunteers need to be properly trained and to work in a well-organized,
appreciative atmosphere. "Time is very limited these days,"
says Anne Holbrook, who volunteers for the Greater North Fulton
Education Force, where she helped develop a program to prepare
preschoolers for kindergarten. "You need to know there's a specific
and directed purpose."
A new national study by United Parcel Service indicates that while 38
percent of the population would like to do more volunteer work, the
primary concern among volunteers is that the organization make good use
of their time. Indeed, 40 percent of volunteers have stopped
volunteering for an organization because of poor volunteer management
practices.
Still, when you connect with a satisfying task for a worthwhile
agency, you will know it, says Pattillo. "Sometimes I wonder if I
am doing the most effective thing," she admits. "But little
things happen that reinforce you. I remember one day I was riding in a
taxi and the driver told me how much a Boys Club had affected his life
. . . You will get asked to do a zillion things, but you have to listen
to your heart."
After initially stumbling, both Neal and Berry have become happy and
productive volunteers. Berry found other, more suitable projects with
Hands on Atlanta and today is the organization's leadership development
coordinator.
Neal eventually became involved with a transitional home, 830
Boulevard, for homeless and low-income people. The work has been
worthwhile and meaningful. "It was always in the back of my mind to
do something," she says. "I don't have a lot of money, but my
grandmother said there's a lot you can do with nothing. And I can give
time."
Katy Pattillo is chairwoman of the board of the Boys & Girls
Clubs of Metro Atlanta. She began doing volunteer work with children
when she was 12. She is shown with kids from the Brookhaven club.
RESOURCE WEB SITES
United Way of Metro Atlanta: www.unitedwayatl.org
Hands on Atlanta: www.handsonatl.org
Project America: www.project.org
America's Promise: www.americaspromise.org
Stone Soup for the World: www.soup4world.com
BOOKS
Stone Soup for the World: Life-Changing Stories of Kindness and
Courageous Acts of Service. Edited by Marianne Larned (Conari Press, $
15.95).
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