Volunteers: Flying into the Volcano

Thank you to Amy DeBurgh, Director of Volunteers & Guest Services, for writing today's blog.

If you want to know what effectiveness looks like, you will have to look hard.  A passing glance, at any institution, organization or individual, will not immediately reveal the treasure that lies within. 

Effectiveness is a word measured by degree.  The degree of something is a range.  For example something finds its place somewhere on the spectrum from worthless to worthy, from cold to hot.  The hottest volcano on earth can’t be judged by a cool photo on someone’s Instagram page.  You have to be brave enough and care enough to get dangerously close to understand just how effective that volcano is at being hot.

People are like that.  So are institutions, organizations, churches and ministries.  It takes time and concern - even bravery - to really find out which of these are most effective.  This is an important step if you want to give a person, place or institution your time, energy or money.  When you do, you won’t regret it.  It will be priceless to get to the end of your life, to the end of your wealth, and realize you didn’t toss it all away into a very hot-looking, but dormant volcano.

When Jesus said, “What you do unto the least of these, you do unto me,” in essence He was saying be wary of doing that which seems like it means something, but doesn’t.  Don’t get ripped off in how you spend your resources.  Care for the truly needy and do it with no thought of self, but with an all-consuming interest in Christ’s glory.

This is Shepherds Ministries to me.  Here, we believe that people with intellectual disabilities are created on purpose for a purpose to reflect the image of God with the freedom that comes from knowing they are a glory-bearing champion.   They are growing in the independence necessary to express that awesome purpose.  We and they have a need to be effective.  

So, to me, the volunteers who give their time, energy and wealth to such a cause aren’t missing out.  They are flying helicopters into the volcano, while tourists are snacking on cotton candy below.

Speaking of cotton candy, it is difficult in a cotton-candy-world to wake people up to the reality of volcanoes.  It shouldn’t be, because hot, flowing lava is dangerous, interesting and way cooler than the passing pleasures of eye-candied, vaporous trivialities that so many Americans are consumed with today.  We can be such a distracted people.  

There are those who get it, though.  I find that volunteers are not only effective, but they are interesting people.  They are tossing off the emptiness of boring self-service and venturing into better places.  This is because they are interested in interesting things.  Follow them to the real things, the meaningful things.  They are in good company.  Christ Himself ventured down.  He gave up wealth, entered time and history to show the value of serving in this sacrificial way.  And, it’s safe to say, He was effective. 

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!