Each volunteer is a treasure

Each April, our organization, Community Caregivers, celebrates National Volunteer Month with a luncheon and program with a guest speaker. We like to think (although you would need to a confirm this with one of our volunteers) that we appreciate Community Caregivers’ volunteers year-round. About 50 volunteers usually attend this fun event, which this year is on Wednesday, April 26, at the Hampton Inn in Albany.

Treating each volunteer like a treasure is also in our best interest; our service model of “neighbor helping neighbor” is totally volunteer-driven. While our professional staff offers program guidance, day-to-day help is generously provided by volunteers. We encourage Community Caregivers volunteers to serve on schedules that fit into their busy lives.

Nationally, we know that 62 million Americans — about one-quarter of the adult population — volunteers during a given year. We also know that that percentage has fallen off a bit in recent years: volunteerism reached its peak in the years following the 9/11 attacks.

Locally, we still find the desire to serve community and fellow citizens in need to be strong. We offer volunteer orientations twice a month in our office and other sessions upon request.

Individuals may find us through word of mouth, or often, through The Altamont Enterprise. We also have a partnership with the Service Learning program at Albany Medical College where future physicians volunteer with us.

We seek to work with area employers, like the State Employees Federal Credit Union that offer release time for their employees to volunteer during the work day. In addition, Community Caregivers participates with our local RSVP program, which places volunteers age 55 and older in interesting and varied volunteer roles at agencies throughout the Capital District.  

If you or someone you know wants to know more about volunteering with Community Caregivers or wants tips to get started volunteering, please feel free to contact me at .

We really hope that you can find the way that is right for you to give back to your community.

Community Caregivers Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that provides non-medical  services including transportation and caregiver support at no charge to residents of Guilderland, Bethlehem, Altamont, New Scotland, Berne, Knox and the city of Albany through a strong volunteer pool of dedicated individuals with a desire to assist their neighbors.

Our funding is derived in part from the Albany County Department for Aging, the New York State Office for the Aging, and the United States Administration on Aging. To find out more about our services, as well as volunteer opportunities, please visit www.communitycaregivers.org or call us at (518) 456-2898.

Editor’s note: Linda Miller is the Outreach and Education coordinator for Community Caregivers.