Volunteer

Give Thanks to Volunteers During National Volunteer Month

April is National Volunteer Month, when we celebrate the work that volunteers do year-round. During National Volunteer Week (April 10-16), organizations across the country will recognize their volunteers for helping them achieve their mission.

As Goodwill Industries International’s national volunteer specialist, I often hear stories about the dedicated volunteers giving their time at Goodwills in the U.S. and Canada. However, one program has allowed one financial institution’s employees to turn their skills into a life changing volunteer opportunity: Good Assets, a financial education program funded by the Charles Schwab Foundation.

Bring the Joy of Reading to Your Community

On March 2, Americans gear up to celebrate the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss and the National Education Association’s Read Across America Day. This day encourages communities to celebrate one of my favorite things: reading.

Being unable to read makes many aspects of life difficult, from ordering on a menu to completing applications for jobs. Many Goodwill® agencies provide resources to help individuals increase their reading proficiency.

Have You Thanked a Mentor Today?

January 25 marks Thank Your Mentor Day, a chance for everyone to recognize the important role of mentors in their life. Rosemary Hobbs, mentor coordinator for the Goodwill Industries® of South Central California (Bakersfield) GoodGuides® program, shares her firsthand account of how mentors make a difference in the lives of youth in her community.

Make Mentoring Month Every Month Through GoodGuides®

January marks the 10th anniversary of National Mentoring Month. This month, organizations and individuals raise awareness of mentoring in its various forms, with a goal of recruiting individuals to become involved in formal mentoring programs.

In November 2009, Goodwill Industries International, along with 56 Goodwills in 38 states, kicked off the GoodGuides youth mentoring program. Today, more than 3,100 youth have been matched with mentors. Across the country, youth, families and referral sources report positive changes in the lives of youth from mentoring.

Read about one successful pair matched through the GoodGuides program and learn how you can make a difference in a young person’s life as a mentor.

Gain Good Job Skills and Support Working Families as a VITA Volunteer

This year, growing numbers of workers will qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) because their income declined or they experienced unemployment. The EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit for working individuals and families with low-to-moderate incomes. Last year, the program lifted an estimated 6.6 million people out of poverty — including 3.3 million children— making this tax credit one of the largest anti-poverty federal measures in the U.S.

To help workers claim the EITC and other tax credits, the Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program offers free tax help to low-to-moderate income working families with the help of trained volunteers. Goodwills across the country are currently training hundreds of volunteers to help members of their community to prepare their taxes this season.

Make a Difference: Become a GoodGuides Youth Mentor

When I was in middle school, a local elementary school was looking for volunteers to assist students in its after-school program. Most of the volunteers were adults; however, because I knew the counselor running the program, I was given the opportunity to help.

Thus began my first mentoring role — tutoring one of the students through engaging activities. I remember feeling proud when the student passed a test we’d studied for together, or when I was able to teach someone a new way of solving a math problem. The experience taught me the rewards of empowering others to achieve their potential, and marked the beginning of my passion for mentoring.