Welfare/Social Programs and Volunteerism

[RCIAGraduate]

Hello and good day to you!

Holding down a job or being in some sort of job training or education program(I.e community college) seem to be logical rules and regulations if one was in a social welfare program(excluding hard cases)-but what about volunteering?

On the surface it appears to be a sensible idea-one could learn office skills by being a clerical volunteer for Catholic Charities while another could learn the Construction Trade through Habitat for Humanity. Could such a requirement lead to experiences that inspire reciepients exiting the social welfare system(or leaving similar programs like AmeriCorp which provide education aid instead) to lead lives of service,supporting community and improving society afterwards? Or would putting incentives into service end up killingthe alturistic spirit of volunteerism?

Happy Sunday and have a good weekend.

 

[ClearWater]

Hello and good day to you!

Holding down a job or being in some sort of job training or education program(I.e community college) seem to be logical rules and regulations if one was in a social welfare program(excluding hard cases)-but what about volunteering?

On the surface it appears to be a sensible idea-one could learn office skills by being a clerical volunteer for Catholic Charities while another could learn the Construction Trade through Habitat for Humanity. Could such a requirement lead to experiences that inspire reciepients exiting the social welfare system(or leaving similar programs like AmeriCorp which provide education aid instead) to lead lives of service,supporting community and improving society afterwards? Or would putting incentives into service end up killingthe alturistic spirit of volunteerism?

Happy Sunday and have a good weekend.

No…I think it’s because the “pay” one receives may often be much less than one normally gains working. It is so that the person can at least survive while working. In the Bible, it actually does say a worker is ENTITLED to his wages.

I think it’s EXCELLENT that they provide these incentives.

If one wants to forego them, I’m pretty sure that could be proposed.

 

[ClearWater]

I think with AmeriCorps, especially, that giving educational benefits helps the person become even more educated, further benefitting that person, and society, in general.

I knew a couple volunteering in Mexico who had a TON of student loans, was endebted incredibly. So, it’s not unreasonable to want them to start off in life, educated, debt free, even, or at least less in debt.

 

[Book_Worm]

It’s not volunteering if you are required to do it.

Would this “volunteer” labor take paid jobs away from those who need them? Or would training the unskilled put a burden on these agencies which are already overburdened?

 

[ClearWater]

A lot of places will pay a stipend, but it is to try to defray some of the costs, in most cases…of transportation, materials, so that volunteering will not be as much of a burden.

Here in Mexico, they have INEA, which is like the Mexican equivalent of Literacy Volunteers. The volunteers only get paid, a small amount, if and when, the students actually pass the exams. If they don´t pass, no money, despite the fact the tutors often invested untold hours, and sometimes paid for materials out of their own pockets, and due to no fault of their own, students didn´t pass.

These stipends are to help go towards the cost of buses, pencils, pens, notebooks, chalkboards, chalk, and other teaching materials. Even the Mexicans consider the small amount of money, negligible. Their salaries are SO low, and if THEY consider it volunteering, it is!

In the US, most people can make more, teaching or tutoring, as well.

If a tutor makes $15/hour in real life, the stipend wouldn´t normally come anywhere close to it, but helps allow the person to squeak by, for gas, wear and tear of a car, etc., etc., etc.

Tutors often will pay for educational materials out of their own pockets, and none of that is cheap.

If one wants to volunteer in something that offers NO compensation, whatever, that also exists. One can simply not accept the stipends or incentives.

I know some believe it has to be pure 100% altruistic volunteerism, or it somehow doesn’t count. I think one can volunteer, get some benefits, still be a “volunteer”.

I’ve volunteered, generally lost all kinds of money, even when I was given a stipend. I spent more than they ever gave me, in other words, is all I’m saying, generally speaking.

It’s just hard to spend so much time, and also LOSE lots of money…in gas, time, transportation. If one can afford that, fine. Some can´t.

I have no problem with AmeriCorps or any others that pay stipends and such. I don´t think they are hurting anybody, and neither are the volunteers. There is a place for all these things.

If someone wants to volunteer, not be compensated for gas, materials, wear and tear on the car, mileage, etc., more power to him. Those positions exist. I am sure most places will be more than HAPPY not to pay you, to save that money.

I´ve volunteered, sometimes accepted stipends, sometimes not. Either way, I felt my work was valid.

In fact, even if someone works for pay, their work is valid, especially if they do it the right way, and can even be used altruistically. I’ve seen people do that, as well.

 

[MyLittlPwn13]

I think meaningful and useful work are requirements for human well-being, and volunteering would be a great way to maintain one’s wellness if one were not able to hold regular employment. Volunteering provides social support and a constructive way to use one’s time, and yes, it’s a good way to develop skills and references.

I was unemployed or underemployed for a good year during the recession and I got a lot of mileage out of volunteering. I got an organization to let me take on a project that I knew I could do, but I didn’t have any professional experience in. I did great, and I was able to put the project on my resume just as though I’d been paid for it. I got a recommendation from the director and I used my volunteer work to fill in my “dead space” between jobs. And if nothing else, it gave me a reason to be up and dressed in the morning, which can be tough to come by when a layoff pulls your identity out from under you.

And what do you know…today I have a career in social service.

 

[Sunbreak]

There’s a big difference between volunteering when you are unemployed because you want to and being forced to “volunteer”. If you are 20 and single, then yeah, the volunteer thing may work for you to get more experience in something. But if you are a single mother with 3 young children to take care of, who is going to watch the children while you have to volunteer? Who is going to take the time to train you when they have their own jobs to do and not enough staff or time to do the work already?

 

[St_Francis]

On the flip side, I heard that a place that fed the homless would not allow any of the homeless people to volunteer.

Well, it may have been because of its being more trouble than it was worth to try to keep the active schizophrenics out, deal with people showing up under the influence or belligerent, or people not showing up, cleanliness, and training.

But to me it was a wonderful opportunity that was missed! They could have reorganized the place to do more for the homeless. They could have organized the mothers to take turns working and watching the children in the eating area so they could have all gained valuable experience in both childcare and working. Etc.

But most of all, the people they were serving would have had a chance to feel like they too could give, like they had something to give. Like they could contribute. And this seems really valuable for people who are homeless and possibly discouraged.

So, yes, its tricky, but I’d like to see efforts like that. Right now, I myself am not in a position to do anything like that, maybe someday.

 

[EvagrianBridge]

I take issue with the people who get involved with these programs solely for the incentives, while taking every opportunity to get themselves all over their hometown paper to show what wonderful churchian people they are for traveling to the third world to volunteer. I! Am! Heaven! Bound! Watch! Me! Volunteer! always with a condescending note that most of you lesser souls reading this have No Clue! where this country even is, so respect and bow down to my superiority. I believe in Biblical times people with this attitude were known as Pharisees. There is a “Catholic” university in the area which is known for this sort of thing. More BMWs, Lexus, Acura, Infiniti in the parking lot than a luxury car show. And these are the students.

 

[Bspencer]

E-Bridge.

I understand what you are talking about.
A fellow I know did the same thing. Always in the paper, look at me, etc.
Then I went with him and saw the wonderful work that he was doing with hundreds of orphans.
He remains arrogant, and still loves the spotlight, but there is an orphanage a school and a small medical clinic because of his efforts.
Now I dont care so much that I see his picture on the front page of the paper.

 

[gamewell45]

Hello and good day to you!

Holding down a job or being in some sort of job training or education program(I.e community college) seem to be logical rules and regulations if one was in a social welfare program(excluding hard cases)-but what about volunteering?

On the surface it appears to be a sensible idea-one could learn office skills by being a clerical volunteer for Catholic Charities while another could learn the Construction Trade through Habitat for Humanity. Could such a requirement lead to experiences that inspire reciepients exiting the social welfare system(or leaving similar programs like AmeriCorp which provide education aid instead) to lead lives of service,supporting community and improving society afterwards? Or would putting incentives into service end up killingthe alturistic spirit of volunteerism?

Happy Sunday and have a good weekend.

Or people could consider becoming a Volunteer Firefighter/EMS and save lives. How does that sound as a noble cause? Saving a life/property can make a most profound difference in someones life. I’ve been doing it for the past 39 years and have no regrets. Keep the spirit of volunteerism alive!

 

[Sarcelle]

I think meaningful and useful work are requirements for human well-being, and volunteering would be a great way to maintain one’s wellness if one were not able to hold regular employment. Volunteering provides social support and a constructive way to use one’s time, and yes, it’s a good way to develop skills and references.

I was unemployed or underemployed for a good year during the recession and I got a lot of mileage out of volunteering. I got an organization to let me take on a project that I knew I could do, but I didn’t have any professional experience in. I did great, and I was able to put the project on my resume just as though I’d been paid for it. I got a recommendation from the director and I used my volunteer work to fill in my “dead space” between jobs. And if nothing else, it gave me a reason to be up and dressed in the morning, which can be tough to come by when a layoff pulls your identity out from under you.

And what do you know…today I have a career in social service.

I did volunteer work when I was unemployed. It made me feel like I was “earning” my unemployment check. I liked being productive and using my skills to benefit others.