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People who give back
By Christian Toto
November 18, 2007
The Washington Times

Just about everyone, except maybe a pre-conversion Scrooge, wants to give something back to the community, but reality often stops do-gooders cold. Mounting bills mean little money is left each month for charities, and work and family responsibilities wipe out most free time for volunteering.

That doesn't have to stop people from giving back. Today's volunteer groups are adjusting to economic and social realities, offering the kind of volunteer opportunities nearly everyone can fit into a busy life. Kilin Boardman-Schroyer, director of programs with Greater D.C. Cares, says that two-headed tension is a driving force behind his organization.

D.C. Cares offers up to 80 volunteer projects each month, most scheduled on weeknights and weekends, to give working people the perfect chance to pitch in at some point.

"Whatever someone's skills, we can find something that can help them help others," Mr. Boardman-Schroyer says. "You can just sign up for anything at any point."

The organization also connects tech-savvy people with charitable organizations so they can contribute from the comfort of their homes.

Volunteers can do pro bono legal work, for example, on their own schedule without facing District traffic, he says. Some people do their best work at 3 a.m., when the family is fast asleep, he adds.

"Usually, nonprofits are incredibly flexible when they hear those skills are available pro bono," he says.

Robert Rosenthal, director of communications with San Francisco-based Volunteer Match, says the issues of time and money are "something a lot of volunteers, a lot of people who care, struggle with."

"People value their spare time like they do their bank account," says Mr. Rosenthal, whose nonprofit online service matches volunteers across the country with various charity groups. The key, Mr. Rosenthal says, is to find ways to make things people are already doing pay off for worthy nonprofit causes people care about.

For example, some schools ask families to buy an extra item or two, nothing fancy, while doing their regular supermarket shopping and then give the goods to a charity the school chooses.

"There's almost no extra time involved," Mr. Rosenthal says, and that kind of purchase won't affect the grocery bill by much.

Another way to give without feeling a pinch is to donate the compost pile in the back yard to a community garden, he says.

Even vacationers can carve out a small slice of time for giving. While traveling to a third-world country, for example, a tourist could set up a modest volunteer effort he says. Vacationers will learn more about the land and its people than they would otherwise, he says, while the locals will get an obvious benefit from their help.

"It's not just a way of giving back, but learning about other cities," he says. "You can add value to a trip you're already taking."

The problem often lies with would-be volunteers who don't think their schedules can match that of a charitable group.

"People associate volunteering with long-term commitment," Mr. Rosenthal says. "In a connected world, we think there are as many ways to give back as there are good intentions."

Sometimes, simply being a responsible neighbor can be a great way to give back to the community, says Suzanne Tarlov, associate director for the Center for Social Justice at Georgetown University.

Ms. Tarlov says volunteers should look closely at their neighbors' needs for ways to contribute. Shovel an elderly person's walk during the winter or simply stop in to visit and say hello, she says.

"That way, they know they're not completely alone," she says.

When in doubt, clear out a closet and help one's neighbors in the process.

Libraries in financially stressed areas can always use more books and DVDs, particularly children's books, Ms. Tarlov says. Some nonprofits furnish their entire offices from donated couches and tables, she adds.

"Nonprofits are notoriously short on furniture," she says.

Midsize to large corporations routinely discard office furniture, which often is still in excellent shape and could be used for years — if a sharp employee informs the person responsible for swapping out the furniture about a local group in need.

People also should ask around at work concerning how their companies can help them give back without requiring much time or money. Some companies will match whatever funds an employee raises for charity, she says.

"There's a lot of missed opportunity there," Ms. Tarlov says.

Workers also can start a fundraising project that doesn't take up much desk time but serves up some good local press for the company. Some firms will team up with local supermarkets, for example, to set up receipt-clipping services to aid a local cause.

A would-be volunteer who is stuck on how to give back can go online to see if the neighborhood has any Web sites or bulletin board where people can post profiles of who they are and how they can help their neighbors.

"A lot of people have neighborhood blogs," she says. One also can go the low-tech route of simply chatting up neighbors at the dog park or playground.

Dy Brown, communications director for Serve D.C., says her group offers volunteer opportunities designed for the busy working person. Ms. Brown's group sponsors events that only ask people to donate five days of the year for a good cause.

"Volunteer groups are trying to make sure the opportunities are available and accessible," she says.

Often, tag-teaming groups can have a positive effect without taxing either parties' time or resources. Serve D.C. is coordinating a warm-coat drive, for example, which lets people give their older coats to charity. A local dry cleaner is cleaning the coats free of charge.

"We want people to understand while it's great for volunteerism to happen every day of the year, any amount of time you give is important," Ms. Brown says.

Mr. Boardman-Schroyer says the problem with volunteerism today isn't a concern with the pool of potential volunteers.

"If you talk to people, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone saying, 'I have no interest in giving back,' " Mr. Boardman-Schroyer says. "The intent is there. It's not fully understanding the options available to them."

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