Green Options » volunteerism

HR 1388 Serve America Act Federally Funds Volunteerism, HR 1444 Mandates Youth Service Requirement

Jennifer Lance — Tue, 05 May 2009 03:37:07 +0000

Since we first covered HR 1388, the name of this law has changed from the the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act to the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. Many Americans fear HR 1388 will force mandatory “volunteerism” on our youth, and some people have gone so far as to compare the program to Hitler’s Youth. According to the Open Congress summary of HR 1388:

The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (formally the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act) authorizes a dramatic funding increase for AmeriCorps and other volunteer programs, and the creation of new programs for seniors and veterans. It establishes a goal of expanding from 75,000 government-supported volunteers to 250,000, and would increase education funding and establish a summer volunteer program for students, paying $500 (which would be applied to college costs) to high-school and middle-school student who participate.

Farmers’ Market & Bazaar in Need of Friends’ Support

Adam Williams — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:49:27 +0000

The Tower Grove Farmers’ Market and Bazaar in St. Louis is not only a community center piece, but a regional one. And the group is candidly joining a nation-wide line of community-minded organizations who are in economic straits and need support.

Understanding that there are many worthy groups asking for assistance these days, the one that organizes the Tower Grove market is asking, in particular, for those who already value what it creates in the St. Louis region — shoppers and friends who stop by, even just twice a season — to consider stepping forward. The support can be monetary or otherwise.

Tip o’ the Day: Want to Green Up Your Community? Volunteer

Jennifer Lance — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 16:22:54 +0000

One of the easiest (and cheapest) ways you can impact the greenness of your community is to volunteer. Wikipedia defines a volunteer as "someone who serves in a community or for the benefit of natural environment primarily because they choose to do so." Volunteering can be both informal and formal opportunities to help, and with a focus on greening your community, you can do your small part to help improve the lives of those around you. Volunteering is also a wonderful opportunity for you family to spend quality time together modeling your green values.

Finding formal volunteer opportunities is relatively easy. Typing in "volunteer" and your city's name into a search engine (you can narrow this search by adding "environment", "river", "recycling", etc.) will result in many opportunities. Also, many of these opportunities are posted in newspapers, or you can contact a local environmental agency. In my area of northern California, there are many opportunities for coastal clean up, removal of non-native species, recycling, environmental education, etc. There are also many volunteer websites and programs that can link you to local organizations based upon your interests:

Informal volunteering is an even easier way to make an impact on a daily basis. Simply find an area of interest and carry out your own action plan. For example, if headed to the recycling center, stop along the way and pick up recyclables you see on the side of the road. I once picked up five tires on one such trip. Or, you could volunteer to start a recycling program at a local school or assisted living facility. These locations may also benefit from a donation of CFLs. It is also easy to pull a non-native weed from the ground while on an enjoyable hike.

The possibilities for volunteering are endless and can take minimal time and effort on your part. The Volunteer Family lists multiple ideas such as,

Write letters to congress supporting legislation that helps the environment
Help clean up shore around lakes, beaches/coasts, river
Clean up litter on the street or in a park
Weed in a cemetery or park
Use more energy-efficient light bulbs
Work on a community garden or farm
Clear trails
Start a compost pile

As Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself." By volunteering in your community, not only will you help your local environment of which people are a part, but you will help yourself as a living member of your ecosystem.