National Volunteer Week, April 15-21, isn't just about random acts of kindness. The movement urges you to make giving back part of your life.
Volunteer Week was established by President Obama, who urged Americans in a press release to make giving an integral part of who they are:
"NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 15 through April 21, 2012, as National Volunteer Week. I call upon all Americans to observe this week by volunteering in service projects across our country and pledging to make service a part of their daily lives."
The Points of Light Institute, an organization that advocates and organizes civic engagement and service opportunities, has been celebrating National Volunteer Week for more than 20 years.
The organization is founded upon the belief that volunteering is a fundamental and healthy part of life.
From April 15- 21 of this year, volunteers around the country will get involved with the causes closest to their hearts. Are you one of those volunteers?
Our challenge to readers is to get at least one volunteering photo from each state! Take part and add your pictures to the slideshow by clicking "Add slide" below!
Not sure where to get involved for National Volunteer Week? Check out VolunteerMatch for more ideas.
Eloise Lynton (California)(01 of54)
Eloise Lynton of Los Angeles, Calif., has worked for more than a year to create The Book in a Bag program at Westside Children's Center, a local head start that provides a wide-range of services to more than 100 low-income families. (credit:Courtesy Points of Light)
Jamie Hobson (California)(02 of54)
Jamie Hobson (California)Jamie Hobson of Los Angeles, Calif., has worked for more than a year to create The Book in a Bag program at Westside Children's Center, a local head start that provides a wide-range of services to more than 100 low-income families. (credit:Courtesy Points of Light)
Faith Feeds (Kentucky) (03 of54)
Jack Walker founded Faith Feeds, an organization that provides food for the poor and provides less fortunate community members with the opportunity to volunteer in community garden programs and provide their own food. Thanks to Jack, food pantries in his community have fresh food to offer instead of just canned goods and "non-perishable" food. (credit:Courtesy Points of Light)
Nicolina Kelly (Rhode Island)(04 of54)
When Nicolina Kelly's teenage son returned home to Rhode Island from a humanitarian trip to the Dominican Republic organized by his math teacher, she noticed an extraordinary change in him which in turn, motivated her to create change in her own way. She partnered with her son's teacher and began student humanitarian trips to make a major impact all over the world. (credit:Courtesy Points of Light)
Bobby Henline (Texas)(05 of54)
Bobby Henline, a retired SSgt in the United States Army, did four tours in Iraq and on his fourth tour was severely injured. Operation Homefront of Texas was able to assist Bobby and his family. As a way to give back to his community, he joined the board of directors at Operation Homefront of Texas and serves as a motivational speaker, comedian and visits wounded warriors on a weekly basis. (credit:Courtesy Points of Light)
Alayna Charpentier (Minnesota)(06 of54)
Alayna Charpentier helps women and children at Wayside House in Minnesota where she provides childcare services to women recovering from addiction or removing themselves from human trafficking or abusive situations. (credit:Courtesy Points of Light)
Andrew Appleby (Ohio)(07 of54)
When Andrew Appleby was 15-years-old he started Make A Splash in his community of Akron, Ohio. Andrew's Make A Splash program provides free swimming lessons to at-risk, inner-city, economically disadvantaged kids, most of whom are minorities. (credit:Courtesy Points of Light)
Brandon Dunman (Missouri)(08 of54)
Rev. Brandon Dunman is not only the pastor for a church in his community of Eureka, Mo., but he is also a H.E.R.O.E.S Care outpost coordinator. H.E.R.O.E.S. Care is an affiliation of program partners working together to provide support to military families in the communities where they live. (credit:Courtesy Points of Light)
Carin Vogelzang (Michigan)(09 of54)
After the loss of her grandmother, Carin Vogelzang felt love and compassion from her community and wanted to pay that forward to other people suffering from a loss. In 2007, she founded Margaret's Hope Chest, an organization that brings hope and comfort to people around the country through the gift of handmade quilts. (credit:Courtesy Points of Light)
Christian Haerter (New York)(10 of54)
Christian Haerter and his partner, Michelle Severance, created Jordan's Initiative after Haerter's son, Jordan, was killed in Iraq in 2008. Haerter and Severance use Jordan's Initiative to raise awareness about veterans' needs, provide immediate assistance to those serving in the military and to military families and to create a community of support. (credit:Courtesy Points of Light)
Christopher Craig (North Carolina)(11 of54)
Throughout the course of the past 10 plus years, Christopher Craig has provided dedicated service to the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS), where he has deployed to countless disasters and has served his country on multiple National Specialty Security Events. (credit:Courtesy Points of Light)
Ed Shiinoki (Hawaii)(12 of54)
Ed volunteers with the Division of Interpretation at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park leading hikes that would otherwise not exist due to lack of funds, working in the visitor center and supporting volunteer trainings. (credit:Courtesy Points of Light)
Jack Ohara (Maryland)(13 of54)
Jack O'Hara is one of the dedicated volunteers who understand the Maryland Food Bank's mission: to lead the movement and nurture the belief that together we can improve the lives of Marylanders by ending hunger. Jack values the food bank as much as they value him, he never leaves until the job is done and even volunteers extra hours to make sure incoming groups have a correct understanding of the process. (credit:Courtesy Points of Light)
Dr. Ken Johnson (Oregon)(14 of54)
Dr. Ken Johnson creates smiles that will last a lifetime through the free dental work he provides to children in need. Through a partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of Corvallis, Ken created the first free youth dental clinic in Benton County, Oregon and since it opened in 2008, 1,200 children have received access to nearly $1.2 million worth of free dental care. (credit:Courtesy Points of Light)
Mary Ward (Pennsylvania)(15 of54)
Mary Ward volunteers with the local Army Family Team Building Program. Although she could be employed in a high salary executive career due to her education, skills, talents and drive, Mary focuses on supporting soldiers like her husband and their families. (credit:Courtesy Points of Light)
Patricia Powell (Oklahoma) (16 of54)
As a Vietnam veteran, Patricia Powell sets no boundaries in giving to the community and asks nothing in return. Her commitment to service has continued unabated throughout the years. (credit:Courtesy Points of Light)
Pioneers (Colorado)(17 of54)
The AT&T Pioneers began as a place to build friendship and fellowship. It soon became a place to organize community service and philanthropy. Today, the organization is the largest industry-related network of volunteers in the world. Pioneers members are committed to improving the quality of life in the communities they serve through immediate and tangible change. (credit:Courtesy Points of Light)
(18 of54)
Having a twin brother with severe autism, Rebecca Ackerman understands the enormous personal, educational and financial challenges that families with autistic children face on a daily basis. In response, she formed a team, Doing It for Dave, and has organized annual events, raising increasing sums for a current fundraising total of more than $55,000. (credit:Courtesy Points of Light)
Sahana Jayaraman (New Jersey)(19 of54)
Sahana Jayaraman helps underprivileged children by mentoring them in math, reading and writing. She was majorly impacted when she visited India and saw children her age begging for food on the streets and when her cousin was diagnosed with autism. She realized that she was very fortunate and was motivated to make a difference. (credit:Courtesy Points of Light)
Shoreh Elhami (Illinois)(20 of54)
Shoreh Elhami is a volunteer with the GISCorps, a volunteer program under the Urban and Regional Information Systems Association (URISA), an International professional organization for GIS professionals. Volunteers within the GISCorps are geospatial professionals who provide technical services in the areas of geographic information systems, remote sensing and global positioning systems. (credit:Courtesy Points of Light)
Sue Kalensky (Wisconsin)(21 of54)
Luckily for the National Guard and reservists in and around Brookfield Wisconsin as well as active duty posted at Fort McCoy, Give an Hour provider, Sue Kalensky, is only 25 minutes away. A licensed professional counselor, Kalensky has worked with military service members and their families for six. She has given presentations, run group sessions and briefed post command on topics such as substance abuse and combat stress. (credit:Courtesy Points of Light)
Tiffani Webb (West Virginia)(22 of54)
Tiffani Webb has been volunteering since she was a young girl in the Girl Scouts and since, has become involved in providing for the homeless in her community through the Christian Motorcycle Association (CMA). Every Saturday morning the CMA bikers feed a hot breakfast to 75 to 125 homeless at Harris Riverfront Park, distribute hygiene packs, and witness to them God's love. (credit:Courtesy Points of Light)
Lori's Hands Volunteers at UD (Delaware)(23 of54)
Lori’s Hands is a volunteer student organization that connects energetic college students with elderly or chronically ill members of the community. Volunteers help their clients with housecleaning, grocery shopping, yard work, and other tasks. The club was founded in 2009 by Sarah LaFave in memory of her mother who passed away after an eight year battle with breast cancer. Several times a week, UD students leave campus and give back to the surrounding community by volunteering their time and service through this organization.
Exelon, ComEd Volunteers Mentor Aurora’s Next Generation of Engineers for National Volunteer Week(24 of54)
Employee volunteers from ComEd and its parent company Exelon mentored East Aurora, Ill., students from Cowherd and Waldo middle schools on Saturday, April 14, as part of National Volunteer Week activities. The volunteers spoke about the importance of education and gave the students a tour of Exelon’s Cantera Emergency Operating Facility in Warrenville, Ill.
Supporting our Troops(26 of54)
When Staff Sergeant James Morgan Klingshirn of the United States Marines was deployed to Afghanistan, he was adopted by Mrs. Armentrout's pre-school class at Due West United Methodist Church in Marietta, GA. as their class soldier. The 5 year olds sent multiple care packages and prayers overseas.
Helping Homeless Animals (Florida)(27 of54)
A one-hour dog-walker orientation was all it took for me and my kids (ages 8 and 10) to complete training for volunteer work at our local Humane Society. We walked dogs, played with dogs, fed dogs, and comforted the furry friends others had left behind. We watched the pups—both big and small—check in to the shelter, and we cheered for them when they found their forever homes. That's Mason in the photo. He was a puppy who didn't last long at the Humane Society. He was adopted in quick time, and we hope he is playing happily in a backyard right now.
The Austin Passport Party(28 of54)
Tracey Friley:
Founded by travel writer & travel-preneur Tracey Friley, The Passport Party Project is a global awareness initiative that travels the nation gifting girls 11-15 with their very first passports. At the end of this 10 city tour, 100 girls will have a new world view! Tracey, an advocate for youth travel, has dedicated her life to giving girls of all ages and from all cultural backgrounds a world view via her own travel camp and The Passport Party Project, a unique yet simple volunteer initiative that got the attention of Expedia and was fully funded.
Founded by travel writer & travel-preneur Tracey Friley, The Passport Party Project is a global awareness initiative that travels the nation gifting girls 11-15 with their very first passports. At the end of this 10 city tour, 100 girls will have a new world view! Tracey, an advocate for youth travel, has dedicated her life to giving girls of all ages and from all cultural backgrounds a world view via her own travel camp and The Passport Party Project, a unique yet simple volunteer initiative that got the attention of Expedia and was fully funded.
Tracey Friley, Founder of The Passport Party Project(29 of54)
Tracey Friley:
The Passport Party Project is a global awareness initiative founded by travel writer & travel-preneur Tracey Friley that travels around the nation gifting girls 11-15 with their very first passports in an effort to ultimately give 100 girls of all ages and from all cultural backgrounds a world view.
The Passport Party Project is a global awareness initiative founded by travel writer & travel-preneur Tracey Friley that travels around the nation gifting girls 11-15 with their very first passports in an effort to ultimately give 100 girls of all ages and from all cultural backgrounds a world view.
Sally White (Massachusetts)(30 of54)
Matt McGuire:
After losing her daughter Susan on 9/11, Sally White wanted to find a way to honor her daughter’s memory. She volunteers at a national nonprofit, Homes for Our Troops, based in Taunton, Massachusetts, which builds free specially adapted homes for severely injured veterans of post 911. Sally has folded, stuffed, sealed, and mailed over 10,000 thank you letters to donors in her spare time.
After losing her daughter Susan on 9/11, Sally White wanted to find a way to honor her daughter’s memory. She volunteers at a national nonprofit, Homes for Our Troops, based in Taunton, Massachusetts, which builds free specially adapted homes for severely injured veterans of post 911. Sally has folded, stuffed, sealed, and mailed over 10,000 thank you letters to donors in her spare time.
Everybody Wins! Power Lunch(31 of54)
Barbara Murphy of New York, New York, has read with her reading partner once a week for over 14 years! Murphy volunteers with the Everybody Wins! Power Lunch program, a literacy and mentoring initiative that pairs corporate, college and community volunteers with students in nearby public schools for weekly reading and conversation for one lunch hour a week.
Kentucky College Coach, AmeriCorps(32 of54)
Serving through AmeriCorps,as a Kentucky College Coach. Mentoring high schools students that would be first in their family to attend college, help create a 'College Going Culture'in our schools, and to promote volunteerism and service throughout the community. I stand beside 44 other College Coaches across the state that serve high school students from 9th to 12th grade.
A Joyous Activity (33 of54)
Rakhma Joy Home's residents with our dedicated volunteers at the Minnesota Institute of Arts
Tutoring ESL Students One-on-One(34 of54)
Loudoun Literacy:
Loudoun Literacy Council- Volunteer Mary works with Fatima weekly on reading, writing, and computer literacy. Fatima is from Morocco and never learned basic literacy skills in her country. However, since she has moved to the United States, she has been improving her reading and writing in tutoring sessions. Without our volunteers, we could not reach the 400+ students we serve every year in our program.
Loudoun Literacy Council- Volunteer Mary works with Fatima weekly on reading, writing, and computer literacy. Fatima is from Morocco and never learned basic literacy skills in her country. However, since she has moved to the United States, she has been improving her reading and writing in tutoring sessions. Without our volunteers, we could not reach the 400+ students we serve every year in our program.
Jumpstart Volunteers Run the Boston Marathon (35 of54)
Jumpstart, a national non-profit organization focused on early childhood education, was an official charity of the 2012 Boston Marathon. A team of 16 volunteers ran 26.2 miles in record-breaking heat, and have raised nearly $100,000 to help prepare children for kindergarten.
Caitlin, (Tewksbury, Massachusetts)(36 of54)
Raytheon employee Caitlin McGovern and her Stand & Deliver mentee look to the skies during the fourth annual “Go Fly-a-Kite” event at Integrated Defense Systems headquarters in Tewksbury, Mass. Fifty mentors and mentees from the Stand & Deliver corporate campus program flew kites and challenged the students to use the Pythagorean Theorem to solve the question about the kite’s height in the sky.
Volunteer Maryland Class 24 at Moveable Feast(37 of54)
Members of Volunteer Maryland preparing meals to be delivered by Moveable Feast. These AmeriCorps volunteers have devoted 11 months of service to improving communities across Maryland. Interested in learning more about effective volunteer management? Applications for the next class are on our website: www.volunteermaryland.org
Raytheon Employees (Bedford, Massachusetts)(38 of54)
As part of an ongoing relationship with Edith Nourse Rogers VA Hospital in Bedford, Mass., a team of nearly 20 Raytheon employees coordinated memorable visits for hospital residents to the New England Patriots’ Gillette Stadium and The Hall at Patriot Place Presented by Raytheon.
Community Impact Day (Los Angeles, CA)(39 of54)
More than 130 SAS employees volunteered for Raytheon's Community Impact Day at the Los Angeles Food Bank.
Eleanor Goldberg (New York)(40 of54)
Impact reporter, Eleanor Goldberg (she's in blue!), runs alongside athletes with disabilities in Central Park through the organization Achilles International. The nonprofit trains people living with a range of physical and intellectual disabilities the opportunity to kick some serious butt out on the race course. (credit:Eleanor Goldberg)
Not For Sale (California)(41 of54)
Allie Molina is a volunteer at the Not For Sale Store, an innovative enterprise of anti-slavery organization Not For Sale that showcases products made by survivors of human trafficking and those vulnerable to exploitation. She has worked at the store for 17 months and plays a vital part in the store's vision, which is to create new futures for survivors of modern-day slavery. Allie loves that the organization explores creative ways to fight and end slavery worldwide.
GW Alternative Breaks (Washington, DC)(42 of54)
mtarulli:
Students from George Washington University in Washington, DC spent their spring break volunteering with local veterans and military organizations such as Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, USO, US Veterans Initiative, Soldiers Angels, Vinson Hall Retirement Home, and the VA Hospital.
Students from George Washington University in Washington, DC spent their spring break volunteering with local veterans and military organizations such as Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, USO, US Veterans Initiative, Soldiers Angels, Vinson Hall Retirement Home, and the VA Hospital.
Christine Whitehill (California)- Special Olympics Passion(43 of54)
Christine Whitehill:
After experiencing a family tragedy Christine was inspired to start volunteering with Special Olympics in hopes of applying her athletic knowledge to the philanthropic world. Seven years later Christine has coached for number teams, planned athlete social events such as dances, and organized fundraisers. As the Special Olympics oath says, "let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt".
After experiencing a family tragedy Christine was inspired to start volunteering with Special Olympics in hopes of applying her athletic knowledge to the philanthropic world. Seven years later Christine has coached for number teams, planned athlete social events such as dances, and organized fundraisers. As the Special Olympics oath says, "let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt".
Volunteers at work during National Volunteer Week!(44 of54)
Douglas Blair:
Jenny Cheshire and Lisa Wheeler volunteer their time with Communities In Schools and it's event Reality U. Reality U is a one-day event focusing on helping kids realize what adult life would look like, as well as increase their financial literacy.
Jenny Cheshire and Lisa Wheeler volunteer their time with Communities In Schools and it's event Reality U. Reality U is a one-day event focusing on helping kids realize what adult life would look like, as well as increase their financial literacy.
Kahala, HI Shoreline Debris Monitoring and Clean Up(45 of54)
Justina Fever:
Hawppon aims to provide environmental minded individuals with education on proper marine debris monitoring practices, and to endow them with a global perspective on the problem of marine debris.We want to raise awareness of everyone's impact on the environment, and will provide the public with tools and network(s) necessary to initiate change that benefits the beach's shoreline.To follow our daily beach monitoring progress, please visit: hawppon.wordpress.com
Hawppon aims to provide environmental minded individuals with education on proper marine debris monitoring practices, and to endow them with a global perspective on the problem of marine debris.We want to raise awareness of everyone's impact on the environment, and will provide the public with tools and network(s) necessary to initiate change that benefits the beach's shoreline.To follow our daily beach monitoring progress, please visit: hawppon.wordpress.com
Helping To Feed Our Neighbors(46 of54)
Kelly E:
I started a Mobile Food Pantry almost 2 years ago at my sons school and every 3rd Wednesday of the month we have hundreds of families come shopping for groceries, free of charge. What you see is a small portion of the 8 TONS of food that we are setting up. We do this rain or shine.
I started a Mobile Food Pantry almost 2 years ago at my sons school and every 3rd Wednesday of the month we have hundreds of families come shopping for groceries, free of charge. What you see is a small portion of the 8 TONS of food that we are setting up. We do this rain or shine.
Volunteering at Hunger Inc Food Pantry(47 of54)
Lori stocks the shelves at Hunger Inc food pantry in Indianapolis, Indiana. Thursday evenings are a busy evening, as clients come in for a variety of groceries. Find more info at http://www.hungerinc.org/
Regardless of ability, volunteers always make a difference.(48 of54)
Adam Laing is a student at Loveland Center. Loveland Center is a nonprofit agency located in Venice, FL that helps adults with developmental disabilities live their lives to the fullest by providing adult day training, supported living, supported employment & volunteer opportunities and residential services. In his free time, Adam volunteers in the community at the local senior center. He spends time with the residents, participates in events, assists the staff in caring for the residents and has become one of their best volunteers! Adam enjoys helping others and brings so much joy to the residents and guests of the senior center.
Not For Sale (California)(49 of54)
Allie Molina is a volunteer at the Not For Sale Store, an innovative enterprise of anti-slavery organization Not For Sale that showcases products made by survivors of human trafficking and those vulnerable to exploitation. She has worked at the store for 17 months and plays a vital part in the store's vision, which is to create new futures for survivors of modern-day slavery. Allie loves that the organization explores creative ways to fight and end slavery worldwide.
Lending Hands of Michigan founder John Hilliard(50 of54)
Amanda Reel:
John Hilliard founded Lending Hands of Michigan in 2005 as an all-volunteer organization that lends home medical equipment to people that can't afford to purchase their own.
John Hilliard founded Lending Hands of Michigan in 2005 as an all-volunteer organization that lends home medical equipment to people that can't afford to purchase their own.
Ending Slavery(51 of54)
Katie Bergman:
Community Abolitionist Network leaders Becca Posey and Pattie Harrelson educate an audience of 200 about modern-day slavery in their backyard in Atlanta, GA.
Community Abolitionist Network leaders Becca Posey and Pattie Harrelson educate an audience of 200 about modern-day slavery in their backyard in Atlanta, GA.
The Fresh Air Fund's 2012 Volunteer Leadership Conference (52 of54)
Delaware Fresh Air Fund volunteer B.J. Ellis accepts her “Chairperson of the Year” award from Fresh Air Fund Executive Director, Jenny Morgenthau and Director of the Friendly Town program, Kimberly Reid.
Kathyrn Sheaffer (New York)(53 of54)
Kathryn Sheaffer, Associate Brand Manager at Kraft Foods, led a marketing workshop at The Fresh Air Fund's 2012 Career Awareness Fair on March 31st at the Con Edison Learning Center for our Camp Mariah, Career Awareness Program students (CAP). The CAP students learned about various career opportunities from many volunteers.
Melissa Conrad, Ms. Worldwide Universal 2012(54 of54)
Melissa Conrad, Ms. Worldwide Universal 2012, has been volunteering in her community since she was a child. Diagnosed with asthma at the age of 5, she has felt firsthand the struggles to breathe. After suffering a life-threatening asthma attack, she became motivated to help others suffering from lung health issues. She dedicates hours of volunteer service to the American Lung Association as well as other charitable organizations. Melissa utilizes her titles in pageantry to be a voice for causes she believes in.
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