Volunteer Opportunities

1. Develop new skills.

Gaining skills, knowledge and expertise are common side effects of volunteering. Giving others your time brings you interesting and challenging opportunities that might not come along otherwise. This experience can be added to your resume.

2. Make social connections.

Loneliness and boredom are common among retirees, students, and transplants to a new city. Volunteering can relieve this sense of social isolation and help you fill empty hours in the day.

3. Give back to your community.

Doing something for the community you live in and returning the favor to those who have helped you are strong motivators. Everyone, rich or poor, takes from society, and volunteering is one way to show a sense of appreciation.

4. Develop and grow as a person.

Volunteering is an excellent way to explore your likes and dislikes. If you're interested in a new career, volunteer in the field first to see if you will actually like it. You may find a totally unrelated field is a much better fit for you, one you'd never consider if you hadn't volunteered there first.

5. Gain a new perspective.

Life can be hard and when you're feeling down, your problems can seem insurmountable. Volunteering can offer a new perspective, seeing people who are worse off than you are, yet still hanging in there, can help you see your life in a whole new light.

6. Know that you're needed.

Feeling needed and appreciated are important, and you may not get that appreciation from your paid work or home life where the things you do are expected or taken for granted. When you volunteer, you realize just how much you are truly needed. Meeting people who need your help is a strong incentive to continue, people are depending on you.

7. Boost your self-esteem.

Many volunteers experience a sense of increased self-esteem and greater self-worth. Helping others makes you feel good about yourself, because you're doing something for someone that they couldn't do for themselves.

The Bay Lakes Boy Scout Council is looking for someone from the UW-Green Bay community who would like to join their board.  Meetings are every other month in various locations around the geographic area served by the Bay Lakes Council.  They’re looking for someone who is “an enthusiastic individual with leadership skills, excellent decision making ability, and community orientation." Also, they add that “diversity is key to allow for thinking to be from all angles.”

This would be a good connection to local business leaders and others who have an interest in supporting kids who may someday be our students. 

If you are interested or would like more information, please contact Melissa Platkowski at platkowm@uwgb.edu or ext. 2764.