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About Florida Volunteer Month
THE INAUGURAL FLORIDA VOLUNTEER MONTH occurred in April 2005 and now has become an annual tradition. Sponsored by the Governor’s Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service (Volunteer Florida), Florida Volunteer Month celebrates and promotes the spirit of service throughout Florida, and raises awareness about how volunteering changes lives and strengthens communities. Some of the many ways Volunteers strengthen communities include:
- Services to state parks and the environment
- Fostering or adopting children
- Being a guardian ad litem
- Promoting youth fitness through coaching sports leagues
- Mentoring and tutoring
- Disaster preparedness and response
- Respite care for seniors
- Home repairs to impoverished neighborhoods
- Public safety
- Working in homeless shelters
- Making public spaces accessible
- Neighborhood clean-up/Removing graffiti
- Building playgrounds
- Bringing meals to homebound seniors
- Organizing a neighborhood watch
- Serving on nonprofit boards of directors
In Florida, approximately 219,000 adults are mentoring schoolchildren, providing needed guidance and role modeling for children who might otherwise not succeed in school or in life. Currently, more than 1,700 AmeriCorps Members serve in Florida, of which 728 are serving under Volunteer Florida administered sub-grants. The majority of these AmeriCorps members are involved in mentoring and tutoring elementary schoolchildren; working in state parks; aiding the elderly; and working alongside public safety professionals. Volunteerism is personally and professionally rewarding, and offers benefits such as enhanced self-esteem and confidence; new friends and associates; new skills and abilities; and enhanced employability.
So ... what are you waiting for? Volunteer!
