American Cancer Society Is Looking for Volunteers

The American Cancer Society is looking for help. They're searching for volunteers interested in supporting one of two programs.

First, cosmetologists willing to help cancer patients cope with hair loss and skin changes. Also, they're looking for breast cancer survivors to help guide those newly diagnosed.

On Monday, Sept. 20, at the Society's office located at 740 Commerce Drive, Suite B, in Perrysburg there will be a refresher class for current Look Good&Feel Better (COSMOTOLOGIST) volunteers. It will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. A class for new volunteers will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Breast cancer survivors willing to help guide newly diagnosed breast cancer patients by providing a listening ear, help, and hope, are invited to a Reach to Recovery training on Saturday, September 25, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the same location. Dr. Anita Leininger, a breast cancer surgeon from the University of Toledo Medical Center, will be speaking.

Volunteering Up!

Both the number of volunteers and the volunteer rate rose over the year ended in September 2009, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. About 63.4 million people, or 26.8 percent of the population, volunteered through or for an organization at least once between September 2008 and September 2009. In 2008, the volunteer rate was 26.4 percent.

These data on volunteering were collected through a supplement to the September 2009 Current Population Survey (CPS). The supplement was sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service. The CPS is a monthly survey of about 60,000 households that obtains information on employment and unemployment among the nation's civilian noninstitutional population age 16 and over. Volunteers
are defined as persons who did unpaid work (except for expenses) through or for an organization.

Volunteering Among Demographic Groups
The volunteer rate of women increased from 29.4 percent in 2008 to 30.1 percent in 2009, while the volunteer rate for men, at 23.3 percent, was essentially unchanged. As in previous years, women volunteered at a higher rate than did men across all age groups, educational levels, and other major demographic characteristics.

By age, 35- to 44-year olds and 45- to 54-year olds were the most likely to volunteer. Their volunteer rates were 31.5 percent and 30.8 percent, respectively, in 2009. Volunteer rates were lowest among persons in their early twenties (18.8 percent) and those age 65 and over (23.9 percent).

Among the major race and ethnicity groups, whites continued to volunteer at a higher rate (28.3 percent)than did blacks (20.2 percent), Asians (19.0 percent), and Hispanics (14.7 percent). Of these groups, the volunteer rate of blacks and whites rose in 2009. Among blacks it rose by 1.1 percentage points, driven by an increase in the volunteer rate of black women.

Volunteer rates were higher among married persons (32.3 percent) than those who had never married (20.6 percent) and those with other marital statuses (21.5 percent). Parents with children under age 18 were substantially more likely to volunteer than were persons without children under 18 years of age, 34.4 percent compared with 23.9 percent.

Individuals with higher levels of educational attainment were more likely to volunteer than were those with less education. Among persons age 25 and over, 42.8 percent of college graduates volunteered,compared with 18.8 percent of high school graduates and 8.6 percent of those with less than a high school diploma.

Volunteering By Employment Status
During the year ending in September 2009, 29.7 percent of all employed persons volunteered. By comparison, the volunteer rates of the unemployed (22.9 percent) and those not in the labor force (22.6 percent) were lower. Among the employed, part-time workers were more likely than full-time workers to have participated in volunteer activities—33.7 versus 28.7 percent.

From 2008 to 2009, those employed full time showed a large increase in their volunteer rate—from 27.8 to 28.7 percent. This was led by women employed full time, with an increase of 1.4 percentage points in their volunteer rate. Among men, the largest increase in the volunteer rate was among the unemployed; it rose from 17.0 to 18.2 percent over the year.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Report link

Salvation Army Volunteers Visit the Homebound

Volunteers delivered Christmas gifts and holiday greetings today to more than 1,000 home-bound people in the metropolitan area. KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In the spirit of giving, more than 100 Salvation Army volunteers donated time Sunday to deliver Christmas gifts to shut-ins.

Roughly 1,000 homebound, elderly or disabled people throughout the metropolitan area are remembered in the annual event known as “Shut-In Sunday.”

“We’re trying to reach people who are unable to leave their homes, for whatever reason,” said Major Phyllis Blinks, divisional volunteer services director for the Salvation Army. “Our volunteers take each person a Christmas gift, check on their well-being, and let them know someone cares about them.”

Blinks said the Salvation Army has fewer volunteers this year, but more requests for home deliveries. Last year, volunteers delivered to about 800 homebound people; this year more than 1,000 have requested a visit. Volunteers must pass a background check before assisting with ‘Shut-In Sunday”.

For more information about Salvation Army volunteer projects, call (816) 756-1455.

Posted by: Caroline Rooney
Last Update: 12/06 5:13 pm

Volunteer Needs

Swine Flu Vaccine Testers Needed in Kansas
Heartland Research Associates are looking for 25 to 40 children between 6 months and 9 years to test the swine flu and seasonal flu vaccines in Wichita:
http://www.kansas.com/living/health-fitness/story/942123.html


Iowa, Woodbury County in Serious Need of Volunteers
Rescue squads and local ambulance are at a critical point and in desperate need of volunteers to fill out their ranks: http://www.kcautv.com/Global/story.asp?S=10977706&nav=1kgl

Fun Day in the Forest Looking for volunteers
15th annual Friends of the Freetown-Fall River State Forest in Massachusetts is September 27 and volunteers are needed: http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090824/NEWS/908240319/-1/NEWSMAP