March 29, 2019
By Nelson W. Burns, President & CEO, Coleman Professional Services
The entire month of April is set aside to encourage and recognize volunteerism throughout our communities. Founded in 1991 as part of President George H.W. Bush’s 1,000 Points of Light Campaign, volunteer month has been celebrated every year since then by organizations like ours.
National Volunteer Week, established in 1974, is April 7-13 this year.
Coleman Professional Services could not function as well as it does without volunteers and unpaid interns. Assignments at Coleman come in all shapes and sizes, and each one makes a difference in our clients’ lives.
If you are thinking about volunteering your time, please consider applying at Coleman Professional Services (Join Our Team) Today’s blog post will identify the simple things you can do to help others, how to thank volunteers and what we currently have to offer.
Six Key Volunteer Ideas
One of the reasons most people don’t volunteer is because of lack of time. However, any act of kindness is always appreciated by those you help. Perhaps you can do one of these activities sometime this month:
- Weed, mulch and plant flowers in your neighbor’s garden.
- Bring someone who’s homebound a meal and sit down to enjoy it with them.
- Take your elderly neighbor to their doctor’s appointment or run to the store for them.
- Become a senior companion.
- If you are handy, fix a leaky faucet, clean off the deck, or repaint a room.
- Make a batch of baked goods and drop them off at Coleman Adult Day Services.
Thank a Volunteer
If you are on the receiving end of someone’s kindness, please make a volunteer’s day by:
- Writing a handwritten thank you note to them.
- Calling the person’s boss, spouse or family member and let them know how much the volunteer has meant to you.
- Nominating exceptional volunteers for the Daily Point of Light Award. This award celebrates the power an individual has to spark change and improve the world.
The Difference Between an Unpaid Intern and a Volunteer
As I mentioned earlier, Coleman has full- and part-time internship and volunteer positions available. Can’t commit that much time? We also offer substitute positions where you can fill in when someone’s on vacation or ill.
An internship candidate is a graduate and undergraduate student. They must formally apply, provide three references, and complete a criminal background check. They are interviewed and, if selected, will undergo an orientation and training process. Hours are flexible and can vary depending upon the internship site and the student’s requirements. If you are interested in applying for our program, applications must be in at least eight weeks before the requested start date of our program.
Volunteers perform non-critical tasks and primarily serve on a part-time basis. We are currently in need of:
- Confirmation specialists
- Records assistants
- Crafters
- Game leaders
- Health and nutrition coaches
- Kitchen assistants and
- Senior Companions
You must formally apply and interview with Coleman Professional Services. Each applicant is required to provide three references, complete a criminal background check and if selected, attend orientation and training. Hours are flexible and can vary depending upon the site’s hours of operation and your availability.
Please Consider Joining Our Team
We are actively looking for Human Services and Social Science students to intern in all of our nine Ohio counties. Coleman Professional Services is looking for full- or part-time applicants.
We are an award-winning nonprofit provider of behavioral health, addiction and rehabilitation services. Know someone who can use our services? Please contact our 24/7 crisis helpline at (877) 796-3555 to talk to one of our experienced, caring support persons.