[Community-service] Direct Service Volunteering * discussion starter*

Tue Dec 16 02:29:23 UTC 2014

Hi all,
I agree with Jonathan. This is the majority of the kind of service I have participated in over the years. I would much rather jump in and get my hands dirty than do paperwork/data entry, etc. I know that stuff is important, but I found it far easier for me to get involved by doing direct service. If working at the check in desk at a homeless shelter isn’t easily accessible, why not volunteer to clean dishes? That was always my job when I volunteered at the homeless shelter in college. The staff knew me and knew that was where I felt most comfortable chipping in. It was definitely a messy job, but I could do it just as fast and as well as anyone else. Or why not bring a deck of braille cards and play spades while you hang out with the residents after dinner? 

In my experience, non profits generally have a variety of jobs that need doing. It just takes some creativity and time to find how you can best help. I have found this is generally easier when you go with a friend but it is definitely doable by yourself. Confidence is the key. If you approach it with an attitude of, “I’m not really sure where I can help,” you are far less likely to find something you really like doing than if you come in and ask what needs to be done and then pick from a list. If you expect them to find something for you to do, chances are they will not. If you take matters into your own hands, just like any other type of advocacy, it is far easier to find something you can/want to do and gives others a greater confidence in your abilities. 

Good article Darian. Thanks for posting.

-Greg

On Dec 10, 2014, at 1:39 PM, jonathan franks via Community-service <community-service at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hello Darian and all,
> I think this is a great article and great discussion starter. I fully
> believe that blind individuals can participate in direct service
> volunteering.
> 
> I have already partook in many direct service volunteering roles such
> as working with the Salvation Army homeless shelter, the Boys and
> Girls Club as well as the Arc of the Arts of the Capital area.
> 
> One method I have utilized throughout my volunteer experience is
> advocating for yourself. Our sighted friends most likely have not had
> any experience in working with a blind individual and do not know what
> capabilities you bring to the table. What I do is speak up on what
> activities I can partake in and what skills I offer to the position.
> 
> I fully believe in the NFB's philosophy in that we can all live the
> life we want. I have been able to reach out to more areas than I ever
> thought possible as a blind individual. I never imagined myself being
> able to teach a class to young children or serving food to the
> homeless. There is no end to what we can do. I hope this message
> helps.
> 
> Jonathan Franks
> Board Member
> National Federation of the Blind of Texas
> 
> On 12/10/14, Darian Smith via Community-service
> <community-service at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Hi All:
>> 
>> Probably the largest goal of the  Community Service Division is to involve
>> Blind people as a whole and   FEderationests  in general in community
>> service that  impacts the community/world around us.   probably the most
>> impactful, transformative  and all around educational is  “direct service”.
>> 
>> below is an article  I found  on the matter and I wanted your thoughts on
>> it.
>> Is impact service as described in this article possible for blind people?
>> do you think it’s possible, but not for yourself?
>> what other thoughts might you have?
>> 
>> Darian
>> 
>> Direct service volunteering
>> When people picture volunteering in our communities, direct service is
>> typically what comes to mind.
>> What's direct service? <http://www.idealist.org/info/Volunteer/Direct#what>
>> 
>> Why choose direct service volunteering?
>> <http://www.idealist.org/info/Volunteer/Direct#why>
>> Direct service roles take skill
>> <http://www.idealist.org/info/Volunteer/Direct#skill> <>What's direct
>> service?
>> 
>> Direct-service volunteers are the most visible — delivering food boxes,
>> shelving books in a library, building playgrounds. Whether it's in an office
>> or somewhere out in the woods, direct service volunteer roles are all about
>> getting involved in hands-on, tangible ways.
>> For many people, direct service is an ideal way to volunteer.
>> <>Why choose direct service volunteering?
>> 
>> You can serve at the core of an organization's mission; for example, if
>> you're thinking of volunteering for a homeless shelter, one of the direct
>> service projects that might immediately come to mind is serving meals or
>> making beds.
>> You can jump in to lend a hand and to get to know an organization, issue,
>> cause, or population served — an entry point that can help you determine
>> what you might want to do next, either as a volunteer or with your career
>> <http://www.idealist.org/info/Volunteer/Career>.
>> You can quickly see the results of your labors (an example: if you spend
>> your day job doing more behind-the-scenes or capacity building types of
>> work, it can be incredibly rewarding to finish painting a wall or to walk a
>> dog at a shelter).
>> <>
>> Direct service roles take skill
>> 
>> While there will likely always be a need for folks to take on such
>> general-skills tasks like cleaning up parks and taking tickets at events,
>> direct service volunteer positions also include skilled activities like:
>> Teaching workshops at a community center
>> Leading tours at a museum
>> Collecting data as part of a wildlife census
>> Serving as a translator for recent immigrants at a social services agency
>> Remember that homeless shelter we mentioned before? In addition to assisting
>> with providing meals and a place to sleep, direct service volunteer roles
>> might include creating or joining a team of adult literacy tutors to partner
>> with and provide support to local residents.
>> While direct service volunteer activities will vary in difficulty—including
>> whether you'll need any training before getting started—and time commitment,
>> many of the volunteer gigs that you can sign up for one-time only
>> <http://www.idealist.org/info/Volunteer/How> or to show up episodically
>> <http://www.idealist.org/info/Volunteer/Hot> will likely fall in this
>> category.
>> So if you've been looking for a way to lend a hand and get some dirt under
>> your fingernails (either literally or figuratively), consider direct service
>> opportunities.
>> 
>> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> "People look for miracles, people look for wonders, people expect
> surprises of all kinds,". "Yet the greatest wonder, the greatest
> miracle, the greatest surprise is to be found in one's heart." –
> Muhammad Ali
> 
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