UPDATE: President Barack Obama has launched a summer service initiative, ‘United We Serve,’ urging Americans to volunteer in their local communities. Read more about this initiative.
Who Volunteers?
People from all walks of life volunteer in Goodwill programs, including:
> Retirees
> Corporations
> College students
> Youth
> Religious groups
> Government organizations
> Participants of Goodwill programs
What Do Volunteers Do?
Goodwill volunteers benefit their communities in many ways, including:
> Mentoring children and young adults
> Tutoring a variety of individuals, on a wide range of topics
> Collecting goods for shelters
> Organizing community events
> Contributing to newsletters
> Participating in service projects
> Training individuals for employment
> Job shadowing
> Career Panels
> Virtual volunteering
> Mock interviewing
> Music, art, and pet therapy
> Cooking instruction
Virtual Volunteering
Some people prefer "virtual volunteering" for the convenience and scheduling flexibility it allows, or as a way to develop skills such as web design. Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit recruits virtual volunteers to help produce its bi-monthly employee newsletter, InnerVision. The Goodwill staff suggests topics and contacts for articles to be authored by volunteers, who return their completed articles to the newsletter editor via e-mail. This enables people to use their computers to volunteer from work or home, whenever their schedules allow.
If you’d like to contact your local Goodwill for information on volunteering, you can use the Goodwill locator or call 1-800-664-6577.
