What Can I Do To Help?
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Benefits of Volunteering
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People volunteer for a wide variety of reasons, especially wanting to help others. But it's also OK to want some benefits for yourself from volunteering.
Some people are uncomfortable with the notion that a volunteer "benefits" from doing volunteer work. There is a long tradition of seeing volunteering as a form of charity, based on altruism and selflessness. The best volunteering does involve the desire to serve others, but this does not exclude other motivations, as well.
Instead of considering volunteering as something you do for people who are not as fortunate as yourself, begin to think of it as an exchange.
Consider that most people find themselves in need at some point in their lives. So today you may be the person with the ability to help, but tomorrow you may be the recipient of someone else's volunteer effort.
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Think about how much you receive when you give and consider why you want to volunteer.
You may have several different reasons. Here are just a few of the many possible motivations identified by other volunteers:
- to feel needed
- to share a skill
- to demonstrate commitment to a cause/belief
- to gain leadership skills
- satisfaction from accomplishment
- to keep busy
- for recognition
- to donate your professional skills
- to have an impact
- to learn something new
- to help a friend, relative or neighbor
- to be challenged
- to feel proud
- to make new friends
- to explore a career
- to help someone
- to do something different from your job
- for religious reasons
- to earn academic credit
- to keep skills alive
- to have an excuse to do what you love
- to assure progress
- to feel good
- to be part of a team
- to gain status
- because you were asked
- to build your resume
- to be an agent of change
- because of personal experience with the problem, illness, or cause
- to stand up and be counted
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Fabian Carrera and a satisfied Free Clinic patient with his son
A Volunteer's Story: Fabian Carrera
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Fabian first visited the Free Clinic in 2006 as a patient. He was referred to the Center for Sleep Disorder at PeaceHealth/St. John Medical Center for additional tests, and eventually was diagnosed with sleep apnea.
While a patient at the Free Clinic, Fabian observed a need for a male Spanish interpreter. After he had been helped, he saw a perfect opportunity to give back to the Free Clinic and signed up to become a volunteer interpreter.
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Typically during each clinic session, there are three to ten patients who are non-English speaking and need interpreter services.fi ll out forms, assist nurses with patient triage and interpret for the doctors as they examine these patients, make recommendations, give prescription instructions and schedule follow-up appointments.” Fabian also makes follow-up patient phone calls for the Free Clinic and accompanies certain patients to their follow-up medical appointments.
“Male patients are more comfortable speaking about their health concerns with a male interpreter,” said Fabian. “It is my job to help them
An accomplished classical guitarist, Fabian is a very busy man as he continues to perform and teach music privately. However, for most of his life, he has also devoted time to helping others. “I was treated with such dignity and gentleness that I made the decision to offer my services as a way of saying “thank you” for all the kindness and care I had received,” Fabian remarked. “Being a volunteer for the Free Clinic has allowed me to make many wonderful new friendships, for whom I shall be forever grateful.”
The Free Clinic is located at 1230 7th Avenue, Longview, WA and is open every Wednesday from 5:00pm - 9:00pm. No appointment is needed. Directions
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