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(ARA) - Whether it's cooking a meal for the homeless or helping
tutor a child, there are many ways to give back to those who are
in need. But sometimes the hardest part about volunteering is finding
the time and the right opportunity to get involved.
A recent national survey commissioned by McDonald's, as part of
its support of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), reveals that
less than half of Americans (45 percent) currently volunteer their
time to charity. While most people recognize the importance of volunteering,
they do not prioritize it in their daily lives. An overwhelming
majority of respondents (93 percent) believe that it is important
to promote volunteerism among today’s youth; yet more than half
of Americans admit that they’d prefer to spend their free time reading,
watching television or even visiting their in-laws than volunteering
for charity (51 percent versus 8 percent).
“It’s important to instill volunteerism at a young age,” says Julie
Foudy, former U.S. Olympic soccer player. “I follow this philosophy
at my own Sports Leadership Academy, where campers learn that sports
and leadership go hand in hand. We actually host a volunteer day,
where our campers visit places like the Ronald McDonald House to
show the importance of giving back to those in need.”
The most commonly cited barrier to volunteering is a perceived
lack of free time (49 percent). Others say that they haven’t found
a charity they want to get involved with (16 percent) or that they
simply don’t know how to get involved (8 percent). The survey also
shed light on what inspires Americans to volunteer, with 42 percent
stating that they look for a personal connection to a charity and
an additional 40 percent citing involvement in their community as
a driving force. Nearly one in ten Americans say they got involved
in volunteering because their employer encourages it (9 percent).
“It is always important to remember those who need help and find
a way to give back to your local community,” says Marty Coyne, RMHC
president and CEO. “We realize, however, that between work and family
it can be challenging to find the time. That is why, at RMHC, we
believe in offering a variety of opportunities that fit into our
volunteers’ active lives.”
There are a number of easy ways in which people can contribute
their time and get involved through RMHC. A few simple ways that
people can make a difference include:
• Pick up the phone -- Just make a call to the volunteer coordinator
at your local RMHC chapter and ask how you can help with one of
their programs, such as Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Family
Room and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile.
• Be a chef for a day -- Get a few people together and call
your local Ronald McDonald House or Ronald McDonald Family Room.
A nice home-cooked meal can go a long way to helping families who
are caring for seriously ill children feel more at home.
•Bring the movie theater to a Ronald McDonald House/Ronald
McDonald Family Room -- Bring a wide variety of movies, pop some
popcorn, and invite families to join in the fun.
• Exercise your green thumb -- Help maintain the garden areas
to brighten the space for the families at a local Ronald McDonald
House.
• Get rid of loose change -- For those who are unable to volunteer
their time, simply drop off some change in an RMHC collection canister
at your local participating McDonald's restaurant.
Visit www.rmhc.org for more information on community programs and
local volunteer initiatives.
Article courtesy of ARAcontent
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