For nonprofit organizations, volunteers are vital. And at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana, those volunteers are shaping future generations.
“Our Clubs are building the next generation of leaders, and our volunteers are a huge part of that,” said Stephanie Hamilton, Director of Branding & Digital Services at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana.
Volunteering to spend time working with children is not a calling fit for everyone. The volunteers at Boys & Girls of Greater Northwest Indiana have an invested passion for being a part of children’s lives.
“I think our volunteers have a special place in their hearts for kids. They’re all nurturing and amazing with youths. Whether it’s coaching a team, playing games with them, or being a tutor, our volunteers really know what it takes to make a kid feel special,” Hamilton said.
The volunteers at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana have the opportunity to affect change in children’s lives in many different ways, providing them a path for a greater future.
“Giving our youth as many mentors as possible provides so many opportunities for our kids. For example, having them hear from several different professions in their college readiness programs lets them know their many careers to choose from,” Hamilton said.
And it’s not just mentoring that creates an impact. Plenty of serving opportunities are needed to keep the Clubs running.
“There are many ways to volunteer! We have volunteers that help with tutoring, coaching teams, facility maintenance, playing games with kids, and more,” Hamiton said.“Also extremely important are the groups of volunteers who come in to rake leaves, paint walls, or clean, which allows our facilities to stay up-to-date and top-notch for our youth who call the Clubs their second home.”
Anyone who has time, talent, and a heart for children makes an excellent volunteer at the Clubs, and there are many ways to get involved.
“If you have a talent or career, we welcome volunteers to come in and speak to our youth through our career programs. We also have major events that need volunteers: our golf outing, 5K race, and Christmas to Remember. The volunteer opportunities are endless,” Hamilton said.
At Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana, the team knows that it is through the volunteers that the Clubs thrive, and they are extremely thankful for all of the help.
“Non-profits depend so much on volunteers that we simply can’t do what we do without them. All of our volunteers are changing the lives of youth, whether they mentor a child or paint a wall. They are all giving a loving space to youth in our communities,” Hamilton said.
The staff at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana also know that a person’s time is valuable, which is why they work with volunteers to ensure that their time and talents are being used efficiently and effectively.
However much time you spend helping at the Clubs, you can be certain that your volunteering helped to better the life of a child.
“Even if you aren’t directly working with kids, you’re changing the lives of our youth and giving them a safe, fun environment to spend time at after school. Our volunteers are making an impact for years to come,” Hamilton said.
You never know the impact you could be making on a child’s life until you step in and spend some time volunteering. Even if it’s just for a day, the kids at the Clubs are happy to have you in their lives.
“Recently at our Christmas to Remember event, a female officer really connected with a Club member,” Hamilton said. “The officer made such an impact on this girl that she didn’t want to leave her side.”
Volunteers at Boys & Girls Club of Northwest Indiana must be 18 years or older and pass a background check. You can complete the application at https://www.bgcgreaternwi.org/volunteer/. Sign up and start making an impact on a child’s future today.
For more information on Boys & Girls Club of Greater Northwest Indiana, visit their website https://www.bgcgreaternwi.org/.
