One Way to Beat the Winter Doldrums

Although April is National Volunteer Month I thought this would be a nice piece to share now. Getting out of the house and helping others might be just the thing for beating those mid-winter blues!

The Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration (MAVA) recently released results from their November 2009 survey: The Status of Minnesota’s Volunteer Programs in a Shifting Environment.

The survey found that:

• nearly 60% of organizations reported an increased reliance on volunteers compared to a year ago.
• over 50% reported an increase in volunteer hours of service.
• 44% of respondents reported increased numbers of inquires from potential new volunteers.
  
• 52% reported volunteers were more likely to have strong work skills.
  

Respondents shared hundreds of strategies for volunteer programs to respond to the current times. The survey included responses of 280 Minnesota nonprofit and governmental organizations. For the full survey report go to: www.MAVANetwork.org/shiftingenv.

Are you looking for volunteering opportunities in central Minnesota? Contact one of our HOP participants or check the United Way's website for more ways to get involved in your community!