Business Volunteers Maryland

doing good. better.

VOLUNTEERING: Good for the community, good for your health

by

In April 2020, Business Volunteers Maryland President and CEO Julie Kernan reflected on how the COVID-19 pandemic upended our lives- personally and professionally.

“I am optimistic the way we are living today is not our new “normal,” and whatever our new normal is, I believe we will be gentler with ourselves and our neighbor,” she wrote. “The silver lining to the COVID storm cloud is the development of a greater commitment to caring for others through volunteering and community engagement.”

Our team has been continuously inspired by the way our business and nonprofit partners have pivoted programs and volunteer opportunities to keep constituents safe. Volunteers tremendously help nonprofits, but also, volunteering makes a huge impact on those individuals that donate their time.

One study by United Healthcare found that 78% of American adults who volunteer said that it has made them feel less stressed, which left them with lower stress levels and better mood than adults who don’t volunteer. It is undeniable that coming together around a positive cause and giving back improves mood and decreases stress. Now, more than ever, our communities are yearning for opportunities to connect with individuals and community.

Important ways to get involved this holiday season: consider donating to Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program! The Salvation Army Angel Tree program helps provide Christmas gifts for hundreds of thousands of children around the country each year. You can donate gifts through their Amazon wish list.

Or if you’d rather volunteer your time in person, consider signing up to help sort through all their presents in their warehouse (LINK ).

For our business partners, Business Volunteers is thrilled to announce the dates of our annual Elf Week with the Salvation Army, December 7-11, 2020. We recruit hundreds of volunteers to be part of “Elf Week” and come together to be a part of it all. It is our most fun and festive event of the year!

2019 Elf Week at Salvation Army with partners, BGE.

2019 Elf Week at Salvation Army with partners, BGE.

BVM has been running this program for 16 years, and every year looks a little bit different. We are so excited that we have been able to figure out a way to still make an impact this year on so many lives in our community, while remaining safe in the pandemic.

Your business teams are missing interaction with each other. This is a perfect way to gather them AND give back to the community.

For more information about sponsorship opportunities and how to get involved in Elf Week, contact Melissa Hersh, [email protected].

Virtual Volunteering: Flipping the Script

by

On May 29th, I marked my one-year anniversary at Business Volunteers Maryland. I keep saying that this year has been the quickest, craziest, and funniest year to date…COVID-19 excluded.

Lauren, right, volunteering in New Orleans with SBP, a national nonprofit focused on disaster recovery.

As a new college graduate, I was excited to learn the ropes of the nonprofit sector and work with our business partners to provide engaging and impactful volunteer opportunities. Before joining Business Volunteers Maryland, I loved hands-on service projects. I spent time in Louisiana and Texas rebuilding homes after natural disaster and liked to spend Saturday mornings volunteering with Second Chance or The 6th Branch. This is something that I shared with many of our corporate volunteers as we revitalized schools and community centers or worked to create usable green spaces across the city.

And then the stay at home order happened. The idea of not being able to get our corporate volunteers out in the community was devastating.

After the initial shock of our new reality, the team at Business Volunteers began receiving unique requests to fill volunteer needs from local nonprofits. Three out of five charitable organizations report that the ability to deliver their mission is critically dependent upon volunteers. Knowing our role and capabilities as a connector agency, we created communityCONNECT– a forum for nonprofits to post their needs and for our corporate partners and individuals to find volunteer opportunities that fit their skills, comfort, and ability either on site, remotely, or virtually.

CommunityCONNECT filled an immediate need as people across the Region moved their lives online. As the direct needs surrounding food insecurity and personal hygiene began to fill, our focus shifted to the value of skilled volunteering.  Skilled volunteering (sometimes referred to as pro bono consulting) is when an individual, often with a specific professional expertise, helps a nonprofit solve an operational or business issue. This could include helping a nonprofit develop a comprehensive branding and marketing strategy, or assisting with financial modeling and budgeting, or helping to implement new technology solutions.

Our corporate partners are looking to engage their employees as they adapt to teleworking, and nonprofits need support as many are facing even more limited capacity than usual. While we do not know when we will be back completing the hands-on volunteer projects that we love, our partners are adapting to this virtual world and utilizing virtual, skilled volunteering to safely serve the community.

To adapt to the changing workforce into a primary telework community, Business Volunteers has adapted to the change and is offering our trainings and events virtually.

It might be too soon to talk about silver linings, but the team at Business Volunteers is inspired by the continued commitment to volunteerism in this virtual world and the increased interest in skilled volunteering.

 

COVID-19: How to volunteer at home

by

 

Across America and around the world, we are witnessing the true spirit of caring for others as our colleagues, friends, and neighbors align to ensure all are safe and secure and have access to necessities during the COVID-19 outbreak/pandemic. Business Volunteers joins the extended community in our commitment to supporting those in need during this unsettling time.

For eighteen years, we have made connections between those in need through our nonprofit partners and the business community. We have a profound appreciation for the ways in which individuals seek to engage in the community and a deep understanding of the variety of causes seeking support. But, how do we support these organizations while caring for our families and community by staying home?

Business Volunteers has been compiling virtual and remote opportunities on our new, real-time platform, communityCONNECT. While many of the opportunities fulfill immediate needs related to COVID-19, there are other remote volunteer projects that are impactful any time of year.

Engaging in volunteer projects helps individuals, especially children, build empathy and develop leadership skills while promoting personal wellbeing and happiness. In a time when selfcare is paramount, at-home volunteer activities provide a welcomed break in a monotonous routine.

Some of our favorite at home volunteer projects are:

Toiletry Kits
Now more than ever, vulnerable populations need access to basic necessitates that promote health and good hygiene. Package shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, hand sanitizer, socks, toothpaste, and a toothbrush in a Ziploc bag. You can also include non-alcoholic mouthwash or other items such as a comb, Band-Aids, and Chapstick. Consider making a version with feminine hygiene products as well. Before sealing the bag, write an inspirational note or card to let the recipient know that you are thinking of them. Asylee Women Enterprise will accept toiletry kits and deliver them to their clients.

Dog Toys
Many shelters in the Baltimore region have placed animals with foster families for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, these furry friends could always use a fun toy to enjoy while waiting for their forever family. Since you are already cleaning out your closets and garages, use old t-shirts and tennis balls to create the perfect tug of war rope. Check out these easy instructions! When completed, reach out to Baltimore Human Society or BARCS to coordinate your donation drop off.

Great Reads Bookmarks
Channeling your creativity is a great way to stay productive during a stay-at-home order. Celebrate and share the joy of literacy by giving handmade bookmarks to a local organization. We recommend donating your works of art to the Maryland Book Bank or Village Learning Place. Cut paper into 8.5 inch by 2-inch strips. Color them, write inspirational quotes, add ribbons or stickers. Be creative! Don’t forget to reach out to the organizations before dropping off your donations as employees may be working remotely.

Generation On, a Points of Light Enterprise, provides project suggestions, instructions, material lists and reflection questions to help guide the experience for you and your family. We recommend referring to this resource or communityCONNECT when looking for a fun, easy at home project. As you complete projects, tag Business Volunteers on Facebook and Instagram! We want to see what you are doing to be a #LocalLight during COVID-19.

Safety Note: Please make sure you wash your hands before and after you work on your projects and practice social distancing when making donation drop offs.

Photos from MDSDAT, Service at Stevenson, The Spruce Craft