We are in the midst of the holidays and with that comes the spirit of giving. But, after Dec. 25, what comes next? You guessed it: the New Year – 2009! And with the New Year comes the infamous New Year’s resolution.

This coming year, why not make volunteering part of your New Year’s resolution? If you are wondering why. do not stop reading. I would love to fill you in on why you should volunteer in 2009 along with a friendly tip to get you started.

People get involved with an organization because of a particular motivation. There are three levels of motivation – basic, secondary and highest – that volunteer managers address when recruiting volunteers for a certain program.

The basic level of motivation is a self-serving drive, secondary is the relational drive, and the highest level of motivation for volunteerism is belief and/or passion in a particular cause.

My friendly tip to get you started volunteering in 2009 is to pick which level of motivation works for you. Do you want to learn more about fundraising or a new life skill? Then you are self-serving motivated. Call The Volunteer Center of Randolph County and we can connect you with an organization that plans special events or builds homes for individuals in our community.

Do you want to volunteer with your children, friends or family? Then you are relationally motivated and we can help you find an organization that will fit your schedule while including your associates as well. Is their a particular passion that you have deep in your heart and would like to help make a difference this coming year? You are motivated by a belief, so pick up the phone or e-mail The Volunteer Center of Randolph County and we can most certainly put that passion to good use for the betterment of our community.

Remember volunteering is part of the recipe that makes Randolph County an appetizing place to live, raise children and retire.

Now that you have some tips to get you started thinking about volunteering, let me get to the real reason as to why you should make volunteering part of your New Year’s resolution. The Volunteer Center has received many phone calls in November and December to volunteer. Thank you community citizens for your generosity during the holidays. We have referred volunteers in the past two months to assist various charities in Randolph County. We have helped provide Thanksgiving dinner to the homeless, assisted the elderly in much needed home repairs for the winter months ahead and even referred someone to the Senior Adults Association for Christmas Caroling.

While the surge in volunteering during these two months is phenomenal, let us look at what a great gift it would be to our local non-profits if they could retain a volunteer for the entire year and not just for a season.

If you find yourself volunteering for an organization throughout the holidays, why not ask yourself how much time you could spend once a week or even once a month volunteering. Just think about how much time you might have to give (two or four hours a month) and make that initial call to us at (336) 626-6643. Like I have said many times over, there is a volunteer opportunity that will fit your criteria. For example, the Cooperative Extension Offices, home of the 4-H program, needs volunteers to help with their newsletter. You can do this from home and are still lending a much needed helping hand.

I am sure the most popular New Year resolution is to become physically in shape. If you are part of that popular promise to yourself, then here is an idea: volunteer at Kopper Top Life Learning Center where you can bail hay and assist with taking care of the land where they run their programs for developmentally challenged kids and adults.

See, you can take care of two New Years resolutions in one volunteer opportunity.

Think about it. Sometimes the right opportunity can change your life! Have a wonderful Holiday,



Amy Byrd is coordinator of the Volunteer Center of Randolph County, a program of United Way. Byrd’s column appears the third Wednesday of each month. A listing of volunteer opportunities in Randolph County appears weekly. If you would like to volunteer, call (336) 626-6643 or send Amy an e-mail at amy@uwrandolph.org.