Any idea what 60+ million Americans have in common?
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Courtesy Photo
Marcia Mohar and Art Kleinjan take a break from their volunteer duties during the lunch hour clean up at the Chinook Senior Center. Art, who for seven or eight years delivered meals to locals who could not make it to the Center. At a certain age he "retired from driving and took up cleaning plates." Marcia, who moved to Chinook just a few years ago, found a niche where she could help and join the cadre of volunteers who keep the Chinook Senior Center humming along.
Three years ago a nationwide study found that about 23 percent of Americans do some kind of volunteer work. That equates to 60+ million of your fellow Americans. Those numbers may have shocked alert readers but the sad truth is the number of Americans willing to volunteer is on a steady decline.
While the reasons for the decline are many and varied, the bottom line is this...many organizations still need volunteers in order to fulfill their mission and many need those volunteers now. You don't have to look any further than the Chinook Senior Center where there are already many dedicated volunteers, but more are needed.
Varied positions for varied skill sets
The first thing that comes to mind when you think about where volunteers are needed at the Center is likely in the kitchen. And you would be right. The Center currently has several head cooks (several locals share that duty as well as their other jobs) but the assistant cook position is vacant.
Debbie Ramburg, one of the people sharing the head cook position, told recently, "I can get the major cooking done but there are many ways a volunteer can help-preparing side dishes, desserts and salads, getting meals ready for delivery or pickup and, always, tidying up the kitchen after the noon meal." There are several days when volunteers are needed to help in the kitchen (That's for the noon meal, Monday-Friday). While the cooking is going on, other volunteers set the tables in the dining area for folks who will be coming to the Center to eat.
Then there are meals to be delivered. Another set of volunteers do the driving to get the noon meals to folks who can't come to the Center. The drivers load the boxed meals, take them to their designated destinations and return to the Center about lunch time. If there are no volunteers to help in the kitchen, the drivers may give a hand getting meals served.
Not only does the kitchen have to be cleaned after the noon meal, the diners' tables, dishes and flatware have to be gathered, scraped and put through the dishwasher. Sometimes there's a mixture of diners who help clear the dining room tables. Some volunteers who earlier helped in the kitchen or set up the dining room with plates, utensils and condiments for the diners may also help clear the dining area. There always seems to be a task where a volunteer could help.
Some volunteers are needed to help in the programming, the non-edible fun stuff, that folks come to enjoy at the Center. Setting up cornhole games, calling bingo, arranging card tables for the card players or helping with some special craft that someone brings for the regular clients to enjoy. There's even a band on Fridays that will welcome an extra musician or two. Sometimes there's a special holiday that's being celebrated and decorators can put their talents to work to create a festive atmosphere.
If you want to volunteer but didn't see a specific role that appeals to you in this article, check with Center Director Ginger Hanson. She'll likely be able to match you to a job that needs done and you can feel good about doing it. You'll be a part of the 60+ million plus fellow Americans that keep non-profits going and you get enjoy a gratis lunch for your time and effort.
The study mentioned above about people who volunteer discovered another interesting fact. When asked "why" they volunteer, most folks said, "Because somebody asked me to help." Okay, here it is: will you be a volunteer at the Chinook Senior Center? Contact Ginger Hanson, the Director of the Center, at 357-2648. Or, stop by the Center Monday through Friday. Ginger will be happy to help you find a job that fits your schedule, your skill set and your interests.
