Lets talk volunteering and put to rest the notion that volunteering once means you are obligated to keep doing so.

Not everyone’s schedule allows for them to volunteer on a week to week basis or even a month to month basis. It is likely that you are a college student interested in volunteering. However, first semester has been very busy and you simply do not have the time. Luckily for you, the YMCA always has opportunities to volunteer. Whether it’s the weekend of this blog post or next semester during the spring. There are always options to volunteer that fit what you are looking for.

For me volunteering during the spring semester was never an option. I played baseball which took up a majority of my time during the spring months in high school and college. As a result I had to find time during the fall and winter months to give my time. The local YMCA was able to offer me this in high school. Today the Indiana YMCA gives me the chance to volunteer when I have the time. Of course they would like for me to volunteer each and everyday but they know I have other obligations. There’s no pressure to return every single weekend. Volunteering one time is extremely helpful to the organization and the more time you can give, the better. As a volunteer you will never feel pressured by the YMCA to have to volunteer each week. The hope is that you’ll want to keep coming back and giving your time because the time was enjoyable and humbling.

I volunteer because I joy seeing the smiles on the faces of those I help. I’ve never came back to a volunteering opportunity because an organization put pressure on me and said we need you to dedicate your time to this. Even with the Indiana YMCA I never felt I was trapped in some kind of secret handshake agreement. For those who might be hesitant because they feel that volunteering will come with some kind of agreement or obligation to continue to volunteer. I assure those people that is not the case with the Indiana YMCA. At the Indiana YMCA you are free to volunteer as many times as you want, whenever you want. There’s no pressure or obligation, just thankfulness for you giving your time.

-Luke Smeltz