Montgomery College- TP/SS Campus- Office of Volunteerism and Service Learning
STEPS FOR STUDENTS TO FOLLOW FOR VOLUNTEERING
BEFORE YOU VOLUNTEER
1. Before committing to volunteering think about a few things:
- What do you like to do? What are you good at? What issues concern you?
- What are the benefits and challenges inherent in this type of organization (what challenges are you looking for)? What do you want to learn? Is there a career choice you’re not sure about and would like to try? Is there a course of study you’d like to learn more about? Is there an organization that might help you learn more about your course of study?
-Consider: Your schedule? Your transportation needs?
-What kind of time do you have to offer? How much of a commitment would you like to make? One month? A few hours? There are many possibilities.
-If this is for a class, what are the course requirements?
-What kind of skills do you have? What organization would best match your abilities? Your interests? Hobbies? Your interests and hobbies matter!
-What languages do you speak, read or write? Many organizations can use your skills.
-Do you want to volunteer individually? In pairs, or with a group?
2. Do a little research. Look around to see what is available to you matching your interests. You’ll be amazed at how many opportunities are available! The web is a great place to start, a good resource is:
By entering your interest, the region you’d like to serve in, and how wide of a search you’d like to conduct, you can read up on many volunteer organizations and its needs. Use different requests to do the search, try different key words or regions. Take some time to browse these organizations, this may help you explore your own preferences.
3. Select a few organizations that stand out to you by matching your skills, interests and needs with the organization’s mission and need for volunteers. Make a list. Visit their websites. On your list choose a minimum of 5 or 6 organizations that appeal to you.
4. Once you’ve answered these questions, done a little research and found organizations that interest you, begin the process of contacting these organizations to see which ones need your help and seem like a match. If you’re feeling brave, give them a call!
Contact the organization both by telephone and e-mail. Tell or write:
-Who you are
-Why you want to help their organization
-What you think you can contribute (your skills, personality, interest, amount of time you’d like to commit to)
-What you’re looking to learn from this experience/organization
-and any other relevant information
When you call…
- Ask questions: have your list of questions and concerns handy. Your questions are the key to finding out if you and the organization are a good match.
- Be honest: if your skills and availability don’t match the organizations needs, be honest. They may try to find an activity that matches your abilities and schedule.
- Be understanding: an organization may not be able to increase its volunteer capacity at the time you want to join. Don’t be discouraged. Call back at a later date, or find an organization with a similar mission that is actively seeking volunteers.
- Be persistent: if someone doesn’t call you back immediately, don’t assume they don’t need you. Most organizations have small budgets and staffs to handle overwhelming demands, and they usually are very busy. Call back!
A script you may want to use when calling:
“Hello, I’m ______and I’m a student at Montgomery College and interested in volunteering at [name of organization you’re calling], may I speak with the Volunteer Coordinator [if you know this person’s name, use it!]? [Once you’ve got the right person on the phone] Hello, my name is ______and I’m a student at Montgomery College. I am interested in volunteering at your organization. I’m doing this service as part of my ______(English, Math, Reading…) class. I am interested in [your interests], and am studying [major, prospective major]. I can speak [language you can speak], (list your hobbies, talents, special skills). I am available on [day of the week] at ______o’clock. Is this a good time to talk about how I can serve at your organization (if not, can we make a phone or in person appointment?)?” Go on to discuss next steps as described in section 1 of “While Volunteering”.
If you’re confused about what is right for you, and you want help deciding and researching organizations, or would like assistance contacting organizations, talk with us in the Office of Volunteerism and Service Learning! We can share our insights and previous students’ experiences at organizations.
Before you go to serve at any organization you must come in and visit us to complete your Volunteer Profile Form and the Waiver of Liability and Hold Harmless Agreement. These are available in the Office of Service-Learning. The Office of Service-Learning will also confirm that the organization that you have chosen has volunteer insurance.
5. Once you’ve connected with an organization, work out the details of your service:
-What will you be doing? Be clear about their expectations of you and yours of them. What are your responsibilities? Who will you interact with? Who is your supervisor? Make sure you’re on the same page about schedule, expectations, location, and dress code. If you need any help working out these details, don’t hesitate to visit the Office of Volunteerism and Service Learning, we are happy to help!
-When and where you will be doing your service work? What time do you need to arrive? Do you need to be early to prepare? Where is the location of the organization? How will you get there? How long will you serve each time? Often, organizations schedule their volunteers two weeks ahead, for two to three hour blocks of time.
- Some organizations have a training session or orientation at scheduled times. Ask the organization about orientation/training. Do they need to train you? Is there an orientation time or will you learn as you go?
6. Talk with the organization about special needs you may have: most organizations will make every effort to accommodate volunteers with special physical needs. If you have such needs, talk to the coordinator about them when you first call.
WHILE VOLUNTEERING
1. Show up on time. If you are going to be late or absent call the organization’s volunteer coordinator or your supervisor as soon as possible and be prepared to help find someone to take your place. Approach volunteering as you would a job - professionally.
2. Be realistic: you may not always see the impact your efforts are making. Volunteering is hard work; the problems are often profound, and the victories often small. Don’t ever doubt that you’re making a significant contribution. You are.
3. Be humble: most people will thank you for your efforts, but some may not. Remember that people appreciate your efforts, even if they don’t say it.
4. Be creative: volunteer your skills and ideas, as well as your time. Think about all the ways you can use your unique talents to make a difference, and talk about your ideas with everyone. Work to make your new ideas solve old problems for the organization.
5. Once you’ve worked out the details, and begun your service, keep a record of the hours you work. We provide a Time Sheet to help you and your supervisor keep track of the service you do. Get your supervisors signature on your timesheet, and make sure you note the location of your service. This will help you keep track of your work experience, hours volunteered, and who your supervisor was on-site (for future job or personal references).
6. Take notes or keep a journal recounting your experiences! Use these entries to observe themes in your work, what you were learning, what impacted you, what was important. Learn from your experience! Think about not only what you are doing, but what you are learning from what you are doing! Inform your instructors about your volunteer work! They will be interested, and may give you extra credit if you incorporate your service into essays, research projects or other course work.
Keeping a journal, and making an entry each time you volunteer will help you not only track the different experiences and tasks you perform, but can also provide the basis for other writing or research assignments in your college coursework. Include as much detail as possible, sometimes the smallest moments can be the most significant! In your entries you might ask yourself:
-What happened today? Who was involved? Where were you? When did it happen? What made you choose this event?
-What were the effects of what you did? How did it impact you? How do you think it impacted the organization you are serving?
-How does your service relate to your courses? Your interest? Your skills? Your career choices?
7. Dedicate a folder to keeping track of your volunteer service related paperwork. In this folder you should keep your time sheet, any written agreements you have with your service organization, your schedule, your reflections and any other information relevant to your service.
8. Make sure you ask permission before taking any photographs. If you can take photographs on site, do so! Include them in your reflection journal and share them with the Office of Service-Learning!
9. In- kind help
-Help in other ways: organizations can always use equipment, supplies or gifts. Look around your home or place of work for quality items that aren’t being used, and would be useful to an organization (check with the organization before delivering donations, there may not be needed or space for them)
-Give what’s needed: when determining where to make your donation, call organizations and ask for their “wish list”.
-Be helpful: because many organizations do not have the means to pick up your donation, be prepared to drop-off the items.
AFTER YOU SERVE
Fill out the Reflection Questionnaire in order to reflect and think about the work you have just completed. Return this to the Office of Volunteerism and Service Learning.
You may want to ask for a letter of reference from the supervisor regarding your service.
Office of Volunteerism and Service Learning
Montgomery College- TP/SS Campus
Lucy Vitaliti, Service Learning Coordinator – -240.567.1527 - ST216
Kathrin Gilbert, AmeriCorps Member- -240.567.3992 –ST 221