Why Volunteer on the Northshore?

The list of reasons to volunteer can be endless, but the bottom line is that serving your community is advantageous to both yourself and others. You will feel better about yourself after volunteering, in addition to the people whom you helped through volunteering, which in turn means that the community is a happier and better place. Imagine a neighborhood where nobody helps each other out. How could that even be called a neighborhood? It would merely be a collection of houses, a group of strangers that just happen to occupy adjacent parcels of land. What kind of fun is that? Summertime is about coming together, enjoying the company of others, getting to know each other better. Your weekend grill outs and barbeques will be enriched by the company of the people that you meet through your service to the community, be they fellow volunteers or the recipients of your help.

Parents: Not sure what to do with the kids now that they are out of school for the summer? How about getting them involved with a charity as volunteers themselves? Of course, kids are going to want to spend every waking hour playing video games, riding bikes, running around with their friends, playing sports, and all of those other fun things that they have not had the opportunity to fill their day with all school year. But why not give them a little structure during their few months of freedom? Not only will they be out of the house for a little while (giving you, or the babysitter, a much-needed respite), they will definitely learn and meet new friends as they serve the community.

Retirees: You are also extremely valuable volunteers on the NorthShore. Your wisdom, skills, and experience that you have accrued over your lifetimes are invaluable in helping others throughout Mandeville, Slidell, Covington, and the rest of St. Tammany Parish. You will feel great knowing that you can still make a strong impact on your very own community and gain even more wisdom and experience along the way.

Volunteering on the NorthShore

One organization that can utilize the services of all kinds of volunteers on the NorthShore is the Volunteers of America of Greater New Orleans. This organization prides itself on serving over 63,000 people each year throughout 16 parishes. VOAGNO even has its very own Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), which gives seniors and retirees the chance to volunteer throughout St. Tammany Parish. For more information on volunteering on the NorthShore, please visit www.voagno.com or contact Brenda Brown at (985) 674-0488 or bbrown@voagno.org.

How to Volunteer

There is any number of ways to volunteer your services for a charitable cause. You can clean up litter along the streets of your neighborhood. You can serve food at a shelter. You can teach life skills such as resume writing to adults, allowing them to improve their standing in life. These examples of volunteering are just the tip of the iceberg of chances to lend your services.

New Orleans is a city with absolutely no shortage of volunteer opportunities. Inner-city schools need the help of volunteer tutors to sharpen their students’ skills. Garbage tends to build up in the streets, especially during the seemingly never-ending festival season, and municipal cleaning crews cannot pick it all up—they need help! With crime at near epidemic levels, after school programs are constantly looking for citizens to donate their time to help coordinate and run activities designed to foster a positive environment for New Orleans’ at-risk youth. As mentioned before, tutors are needed to help adults improve various life and professional skills. Homes and other buildings throughout the city are constantly in need of repair, so why not leave a visible, tangible legacy of your service through volunteering to help in the repair or construction of a home for a needy family, or the rehabilitation of a historic property? New Orleans is chock full of opportunities to volunteer, so there are hardly any excuses not to get out there and get involved this summer.

Volunteer Programs in New Orleans

If you would like to get involved in the New Orleans community, consider the volunteer programs of the Volunteers of America of Greater New Orleans. VOAGNO is a well-respected organization dedicated to helping over 63,000 people per year throughout a 16-parish area. A couple of the programs offered by VOAGNO include mentor programs for at-risk youth and helping out with children in various capacities. With the long summer days comes the increased outside activity, which can be either positive or negative depending on the environment to which children and teens are exposed. By donating your time to these programs, you will both improve your own community and make yourself feel better, which is what summertime is all about, right? For more information on VOAGNO’s programs and how to volunteer, please visit www.voagno.org or call (504) 482-2130.