The Impact of Volunteers on Shepherds

Thank you to Becci Terrill, Director of Ministry Partnerships, for writing today's blog.

Each year I have the privilege of reporting on the volunteers that God sends to serve at Shepherds. Reporting usually involves numbers which are important, but they don’t always tell the whole story.  While we have been blessed with a great number of volunteers each year, the impact that each volunteer has on our ministry is far greater than any number on a paper ever could be.  The bottom line is every volunteer that God brings to Shepherds has an impact.   Here are some of the areas where volunteers impacted our ministry this past year:

 

 

 

Maintenance

These volunteers work quietly behind the scenes making sure the grounds and facilities look good and work properly. This can be extremely difficult when budgets are tight.  But under the direction of Dave Slye & Steve Gillmore, they make it happen-with excellence!

In 2013, maintenance volunteers finished painting projects both inside and outside all over Shepherds—the Wood Center, the Findley Center, the Harbor, Clark Apartments, the Cayton House and Shepherds College.  They built stage extensions for the Bolthouse Center and installed two new kitchens in Cook Cottage.  They worked on the roof and did electrical repairs.  They cut down and removed trees.  For some of the projects, volunteers provided needed supplies to complete the task.  Thank you!

Office

Office volunteers work both on and off campus, doing everything from making phone calls to designing brochures. In 2013, adult groups completed two mailing projects saving us thousands of dollars.

Program

Both group volunteers and individual volunteers assist in Day Services and Shepherds Enterprises. In Day Services, volunteers play the piano for music class, do crafts and play games.  We even have a therapy dog who visits!   

In Shepherds Enterprises volunteers take a seat side by side with residents and clients working on the many jobs that come to us from local businesses.  All in all, there are a lot of great conversations and relationship-building going on in these areas.

Shepherds College

Volunteers impact Shepherds College in a variety of ways.   Three extra-curricular programs– choir, guitar lessons and scrapbook class– exist solely through the support of volunteers.   

Professionals provide video and photography for special events, along with hair and make-up services for graduates.  Following graduation transition coaches come alongside graduates to encourage and support them in their pursuit of Appropriate Independence.  Other volunteers assist with classroom duties by giving one-on-one attention to students.

Special Olympics

If we didn’t have volunteers, we couldn’t have Special Olympics.  It’s that simple. While many staff assist with these programs, they do so on their own time and are engaged in activities that are not part of their regular job.  When Special Olympics was restarted in October of 2011, it was a struggle to find enough volunteers to offer volleyball and basketball opportunities for one team.  In 2013, Shepherds had enough volunteers for 3 basketball teams, 5 Bocce teams, and 2 volleyball teams.  In addition, we had 23 bowlers, 4 softball players, 4 athletes in flag football and 32 in track & field.  That’s a lot of impact!

What impact do volunteers have on our ministry?

They provide services and opportunities that would otherwise not exist to help the ministry of Shepherds and the people we serve in their pursuit of Appropriate Independence.  That’s priceless.

If you are a numbers person, we’ve got those for you too.   The State of WI values volunteer service on average at $18.50 per hour.  In 2013, volunteers gave 8,791 total hours to our ministry.  Based on the state of WI’s average per hour, their gift of time was worth $162,624.25.

Whether you look at numbers or programs, volunteers have a huge impact on the ministry of Shepherds.  We are so grateful for the amazing people God sends to us each year.  

If you’re one of our more than 700 volunteers- Thank you!  If you’re not currently serving but would like to find out more about volunteering, please contact me at bterrill@shepherdsministries.org.  I’d love to talk with you!