Volunteering: good for city government, good for business

Everyone can do it. It can make a huge difference to other people and can be one of the most rewarding experiences of a person’s life. It doesn’t cost a cent but requires you to share your most valuable resource: your time. What am I referring to? Volunteering. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said it best: “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.”

The City of Columbia created the Office of Volunteer Services in 1996 to strengthen the role that citizens can play in local government. Columbia is one of few cities across the country that has an office with the sole purpose of helping volunteers work to meet needs identified in city departments.

In the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, volunteers shared more than 38,500 hours of service. Using the national value of $18.77 per hour of volunteer time (as reported by Independent Sector), the value of all those hours is more than $723,000. In addition, volunteers in the community visioning process logged nearly 7,200 hours. And members of the City Council and the city’s many boards and commissions gave more than 5,700 hours, not including time outside of meetings.

The impact of volunteers on the community goes beyond counting hours or dollars. Volunteers make local government more efficient, provide services and programs that would not be possible with staff alone and enable residents to have a stake in local activities. The volunteer experience provides personal benefits including education, new friendships and an increased feeling of self-worth.

Volunteers help the local government serve citizens in many ways. They plant trees in city parks; patrol trails, parks and streets; assist with special events and festivals; greet visitors to our city; and are prepared to assist in the event of an emergency. There are dozens of opportunities for all ages, interests and schedules.

An important role for volunteers comes when disaster strikes. Last May, more than 600 volunteers filled sandbags at Rocheport and Hartsburg as the Missouri River threatened homes and businesses. The response of residents throughout Boone County was outstanding and demonstrated our caring and can-do spirit.

The Office of Volunteer Services plays a role in organizing volunteers for disasters throughout the county, beyond the city limits, as part of the county’s Emergency Management Plan. We are currently working with the Columbia/Boone County Health Department to fine-tune the plan for the hundreds of volunteers needed in the event of pandemic flu.

The volunteer experience can help businesses. Group activities are good ways for employees to join together outside the office and invite interaction in a different setting. Picking up trash during Cleanup Columbia, scheduled for April 12, 2008, or working together on an event such as Tiger Night of Fun or the Heritage Festival can be a good opportunity for a group to get involved in the community.

Volunteering provides a great opportunity for personal development. People who are new to Columbia may find volunteering is a great way to learn more about their new community. TreeKeepers, the Columbia Aquatic Restoration Project (C.A.R.P.) and the Citizens Police Academy provide training to citizens who can then volunteer in parks or assist the Columbia Police Department. All of these programs will have sessions starting again in early 2008.

Volunteering can even provide recognition for a business or organization. There are 80 Adopt-A-Spot beautification flower beds and dozens of Adopt-A-Spot litter control areas throughout the city. Each project includes a sign that acknowledges the adopter. This is a great way to get your business name out to hundreds of folks who pass by each day.

Finding out more about volunteer opportunities with the City of Columbia is easy. The Office of Volunteer Services can be reached at 874-7499, and more information can be found online at www.GoColumbiaMo.com/Volunteer. Consider volunteer service to keep this community great!