Advertisement It’s all part of being a volunteer at the Coulee Region Humane Society. I spend two hours a week there with dogs, doing anything from playing fetch to taking them on walks to just sitting on the ground giving a good belly rub.
 |
In the words of leaders of area nonprofit organizations, volunteers are crucial. They’re instrumental to making it all work. And they’re in short supply.
Beth Twiton, executive director of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Coulee Region, said the organization is always looking for people interested in becoming a Big Sister, Big Brother or Big Couple.
She said the organization is especially in need of Big Brothers or Big Couples, as there are always boys waiting to be matched with a Big. There are 30 boys on the waiting list. A few girls also are on the list, but Twiton hopes they will all be matched soon, due to women at area colleges returning to school and choosing to become Bigs.
Anyone interested in becoming a Big needs to commit two hours a week for one year with a Little. For me, that was no problem.
I became a Big Sister shortly after graduating from college. I saw it as a chance to do all of those fun kid things all over again and hopefully be a positive role model, too.
For about three years, we hung out, watched movies, played board games, went out for ice cream, shopped, you name it.
That same kid inside of me has inspired me to start volunteering at Girl Scouts of Riverland Council.
I’m also toying with the idea of volunteering at the Children’s Museum of La Crosse, where about 230 volunteer hours are logged every month.
Executive Director Anne Steuer said the need for volunteers at the museum are mostly event and program driven.
“In our case, volunteers are instrumental to making it all work,” Steuer said.
Habitat for Humanity of La Crosse also needs new volunteers, and not just people who know how to handle a hammer.
Cori Skolaski, executive director of La Crosse’s Habitat for Humanity, said the organization, which also has a Habitat ReStore in La Crosse, needs volunteers to do pickups, accept donations, cashier and provide customer service.
“We have a very small staff of five people … so they’re very important to us,” Skolaski said of volunteers.
One area organization that has seen the number of volunteers drop as gas prices have gone up is Mobile Meals of La Crosse, which delivers meals seven days a week to home-bound senior citizens.
“It’s getting worse,” volunteer coordinator Christal Thielker said of the number of volunteers.
The distance from the organization’s home site to other locations is about 10 miles, she said, and takes between 1 and 11/2 hours to complete.
“It’s not that bad, Thielker said. “When I can’t find a volunteer, I’ll just do it.”
Whenever my volunteer experiences come up in conversation, people often respond by saying something like, “Good for you. It’s great you do that!”
Confession time. I don’t volunteer to be a better person or to make a positive contribution to society. I certainly hope I make a difference, but the reason I’ve sought new volunteer opportunities is, well, selfish. I do it for me. For the enjoyment I get out of it.
And there’s nothing wrong with that. Volunteering should be about helping others, but also about helping yourself and doing what makes you happy.
The uncanny ability dogs have to make me laugh and the attention they are so happy to give, that’s what keeps me going back week after week. Knowing they probably enjoy my company as well is just a bonus.
Get involved
Many organizations in the community are in need of volunteers. Here are just a few places to consider:
(608) 796-1092
(608) 782-2227
www.bbbscouleeregion.org
(608) 784-2652
(608) 781-4014
www.couleehumane.com/volunteer.htm
(507) 895-2066
www.lacrescentanimalrescue.org
(608) 791-9766
(608) 775-6755 or 1-800- 362-9567, ext. 56755
www.gundluth.org/web/misc/volunteers.nsf
(608) 785-2373
www.habitatlacrosse.org/volunteer.html
(608) 785-6145
(608) 784-4623
Catholic Worker House, (608) 782-6224
Emily Wilson is a copy editor for the La Crosse Tribune and Winona Daily News. She can be reached at (608) 791-8216 or emily.wilson@lee.net.
