{"id":2281,"date":"2016-08-06T09:31:29","date_gmt":"2016-08-06T09:31:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/themes.muffingroup.com\/betheme\/?p=2281"},"modified":"2024-02-22T12:53:28","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T17:53:28","slug":"what-makes-a-good-volunteer","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.poac.net\/blog\/what-makes-a-good-volunteer\/","title":{"rendered":"What Makes a Good Volunteer?"},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"grid grid-cols-12 gap-4 lg:gap-6 mb-4 xl:mb-10\">\n    <div class=\"block--column-text col-span-12 md:col-span-10 md:col-start-2 lg:col-span-8 lg:col-start-3 xl:col-span-6 xl:col-start-4 text-lg md:text-xl md:leading-8 text-gray-700 column-text-block guten-block align\">\n      <h3>So you want to be a volunteer. \u00a0Maybe you want to help out at one of the hundreds of recreational events POAC and other\u00a0non-profit agencies have every year for children with autism and you wonder what you need. \u00a0Well here is what is required of you:<\/h3>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<h3><\/h3>\n\n    <\/div>\n  <\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"block-featured-image mb-10 featured-image-block guten-block align\">\n  <div class=\"grid grid-cols-12 gap-4 lg:gap-6 relative\">\n    <div class=\"col-span-12 lg:col-span-10 lg:col-start-2 xl:col-span-8 xl:col-start-3\">\n      <div class=\"relative\">\n        <div class=\"relative z-20 overflow-hidden aspect-4\/3 flex md:aspect-auto md:max-h-100 print:max-h-64 print:aspect-auto print:max-w-none print:w-full rounded-3xl\">\n                      <picture class=\"w-full\">\n  <source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/2014\/05\/13680265_1303174133029002_712377499202166036_o-872x654.jpg\" \/>\n  <source media=\"(min-width: 1024px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/2014\/05\/13680265_1303174133029002_712377499202166036_o-796x597.jpg\" \/>\n  <source media=\"(min-width: 834px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/2014\/05\/13680265_1303174133029002_712377499202166036_o-756x567.jpg\" \/>\n  <source media=\"(min-width: 576px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/2014\/05\/13680265_1303174133029002_712377499202166036_o-514x386.jpg\" \/>\n  <source media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/2014\/05\/13680265_1303174133029002_712377499202166036_o-576x432.jpg\" \/>\n  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"object-cover h-full w-full print:w-auto print:mx-auto print:object-contain print:rounded-3xl print:overflow-hidden\" width=\"872\" height=\"654\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"\" \/>\n<\/picture>\n                  <\/div>\n                              <\/div>\n\n          <\/div>\n\n      <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"grid grid-cols-12 gap-4 lg:gap-6 mb-4 xl:mb-10\">\n    <div class=\"block--column-text col-span-12 md:col-span-10 md:col-start-2 lg:col-span-8 lg:col-start-3 xl:col-span-6 xl:col-start-4 text-lg md:text-xl md:leading-8 text-gray-700 column-text-block guten-block align\">\n      <h3>A Desire to make a difference.<\/h3>\n<p>At the heart of it, the desire to volunteer is the desire\u00a0to make a difference. \u00a0One of my favorite quotes is from Mahatma Gandhi \u00a0\u201cYou must be the change you wish to see in the world.\u201d \u00a0Volunteers live that ideal by putting into action that belief. \u00a0They see a need and step up to do their part. \u00a0I always joke with my volunteers that once they\u00a0volunteer at an event I own them. \u00a0That they will come back year after year and often get friends and family to join in on the fun. \u00a0The volunteers get as much from these events as do the children they are there to help.<\/p>\n<p>[blockquote] \u201cMany persons have the wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. \u00a0It is not attained through self-gratification but rather through fidelity to a worthy purpose.\u201d \u2013 Helen Keller\u2026[\/blockquote]<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<h3>Patience<\/h3>\n<p>Patience is a skill that took me years to develop under the direct supervision of my son Christopher. \u00a0He has taught me that children with autism and\u00a0other special needs may operate under their own time table. \u00a0So you are volunteering at a surfing event and can\u2019t wait to get one of the children into the water to share your love of the ocean with them. \u00a0You quickly find that this particular child is not ready to go into the water and spends the next 30 minutes playing with you\u00a0in the sand and never even makes it into the surf. \u00a0You may walk this child back to their mother with a nagging feeling that you somehow let them down by not getting them onto a surf board. \u00a0That feeling quickly vanishes as you look at the mom who has tears in her eyes as she thanks you so much for playing with her son. \u00a0She explains he has never liked the beach and for him to just play and interact with you means the world to her.<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<h3>Flexibility<\/h3>\n<div><\/div>\n<p>So you wanted to dress up like Elmo or help the children down the inflatable slide and you find yourself instead carrying cases of water or stuck behind a hot grill for three hours. \u00a0That happens to the best of us. \u00a0Please remember there are no small jobs, that to have a great event that the families will remember always- there are a hundred different things that need to come together and the event could not happen without everyone pitching in. \u00a0And truth be told- it is often hotter inside an Elmo costume than stuck behind a burning grill. \u00a0It also smells much better behind the grill. &#x1f609;<\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3>A smile<\/h3>\n<p>One of the first things I tell my volunteers is that their number one job is to be a cheerleader for the day. \u00a0That for many of our families this may be the one event all year that they get to go out as a \u00a0family. \u00a0Many in our community feel very isolated and may feel a sense of apprehension in attending a public event with so many people. \u00a0 It is our job to make them feel welcome and accepted for who they are, because they truly are great. \u00a0 We have had over 1,700 family recreational events over the years for the autism community. In all these years and all these events the overriding sense of gratitude and joy from the families is not reserved for the rides, music, food or giveaways, it is always reserved for the volunteers. \u00a0We have received thousands of comments about our incredible volunteers. \u00a0The smiles and joy that you give and will receive back in triplicate will last a lifetime. \u00a0Just four simple traits are all you need to impact a child forever.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A desire to make a difference.<\/li>\n<li>Patience.<\/li>\n<li>Flexibility.<\/li>\n<li>A Smile. \u00a0Don\u2019t worry if you don\u2019t come with a smile, we know you will definitely leave with one.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We cannot do what we do without the incredible support of our volunteers. \u00a0So spread the word and we will see you at our next event.<\/p>\n\n    <\/div>\n  <\/section>\n\n\n<section class=\"mt-10 mb-14 md:mt-20 block--blog-signature print:break-inside-avoid blog-signature-block guten-block align\">\n    <div class=\"grid grid-cols-12 gap-5 md:gap-4 lg:gap-6\">\n    <div class=\"col-span-12 md:col-span-12 lg:col-span-10 lg:col-start-2 xl:col-span-8 xl:col-start-3 grid grid-cols-12 gap-5 md:gap-4 lg:gap-6 px-6 pt-6 md:pt-0 md:px-0 bg-poac-blue-bg rounded-2xl\">\n      <div class=\"col-span-12 xl:col-span-7 md:col-span-6 md:py-11 md:pr-8 md:order-2 print:col-span-8 print:pb-4 print:pt-2 print:pr-4 print:order-2 xl:pr-12 xl:pl-8 xl:py-12 text-lg text-gray-700\">\n        <div class=\"space-y-2 print:space-y-1\">\n          <h3 class=\"text-3xl font-bold text-gray-900 print:text-black\">Gary Weitzen<\/h3>\n          <p class=\"text-base font-semibold text-gray-500 print:text-black\">POAC Executive Director<\/p>\n          <div class=\"pt-2 space-y-4 text-base text-poac-blue-text print:text-black\">\n            <p>Gary Weitzen, the Executive Director of POAC Autism Services, also holds a certified law enforcement instructor title in New Jersey and has 20 years of experience in risk management. Besides managing POAC, he&#8217;s spent 15 years teaching life skills to adults with autism. A notable autism advocate, Gary has been featured in major media networks and has a son with autism, Christopher.<\/p>\n\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"col-span-12 xl:col-span-5 text-lg text-gray-700 md:col-span-6 md:order-1 md:justify-end md:pr-4 md:relative md:self-stretch print:col-span-4 print:order-1 print:justify-end print:pr-4 print:relative print:self-stretch\">\n        <div class=\"pl-4 pr-8 relative md:pl-0 md:pr-0 md:absolute md:h-full md:flex md:w-full md:items-end print:pl-0 print:pr-0 print:absolute print:h-full print:flex print:w-full print:items-end\">\n          <picture class=\"relative z-20 w-full md:w-[468px] xl:w-[401px] md:absolute md:right-4 md:bottom-0 print:w-56 print:absolute print:right-4 print:bottom-0\">\n  <source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/blog-signature-401x359.png 1x, https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/blog-signature-401x359@2x.png 2x\" \/>\n  <source media=\"(min-width: 1024px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/blog-signature-468x419.png 1x, https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/blog-signature-468x419@2x.png 2x\" \/>\n  <source media=\"(min-width: 834px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/blog-signature-468x419.png 1x, https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/blog-signature-468x419@2x.png 2x\" \/>\n  <source media=\"(min-width: 0px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/blog-signature-576x516.png 1x, https:\/\/www.poac.net\/new\/app\/uploads\/blog-signature-576x516@2x.png 2x\" \/>\n  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"w-full relative z-20\" width=\"401\" height=\"359\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"\" \/>\n<\/picture>\n          <div class=\"bg-poac-green absolute top-4 left-1\/2 -translate-x-1\/2 z-10 w-21 h-21 rounded-3xl md:w-30 md:h-30 md:-top-16 lg:left-2\/5 xl:left-2\/5 print:hidden parallax\" data-speed=\"0.03\"><\/div>\n          <div class=\"absolute z-40 top-2\/3 right-6 md:top-1\/2 xl:top-[56%] xl:-right-6 parallax\" data-speed=\"0.05\">\n            <div class=\"bg-poac-blue -translate-y-1\/2 rotate-45 w-16 h-16 rounded-3xl md:w-22 md:h-22 shadow-blue-rectangle print:hidden\"><\/div>\n          <\/div>\n          <div class=\"bg-poac-yellow absolute top-2\/3 left-0 z-40 w-9 h-9 rounded-full md:w-12 md:h-12 md:top-1\/2 md:-left-20 xl:top-[56%] print:hidden parallax\" data-speed=\"0.01\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Volunteers are at the heart of all the great work that charities provide every year. 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