“There are many opportunities for service members, retirees and Family members to volunteer on post.”
— Kristen Kea
By Scott Prater
Mountaineer staff
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Soldiers with Bravo Company, 4th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Aviation Regiment, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, ruck with toys while dressed in holiday costumes and sweaters Sept. 2, 2021, at Fort Carson. More than $17,000 worth of toys were collected for the Mountain Post Santa’s Workshop. (Photo by Sgt. James Geelen)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Volunteering these days requires a bit more time and effort thanks to the lingering worldwide pandemic, but people hoping to continue a family holiday-time tradition and those looking to give back during the holiday season should know that community helping agencies need as many volunteer workers as they can get this time of year.
“During the height of the pandemic (2020) Care and Share Food Bank for Southern Colorado distributed 25 million pounds of food,” said Tonya Dower, volunteer coordinator, Fort Carson Army Community Service (ACS). “Volunteering didn’t stop even then, and Care and Share is looking to break last year’s distribution record.”
Most organizations nowadays take precautionary measures to ensure the safety of community members, so it’s best for potential volunteers to find the type of work that suits them best and then contact the corresponding organizations well in advance of the time they plan to perform their volunteer work. Those who put a little planning and research in prior to searching for opportunities should have better success at finding just the right fit for them.
“Army Community Service (ACS) at Fort Carson has quite a lengthy list of helping agencies on an off post that people can learn more about,” said Dower.
ACS’s resource list includes more than 50 local agencies that assist the community in a wide variety of ways, including the American Red Cross, the USO, CASA of the Pikes Peak Region, the Boys & Girls Club, Habitat for Humanity, Operation Homefront, Catholic Charities, Silver Key Senior Services, the Salvation Army, Pikes Peak United Way and the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region.
Choosing between organizations and the types of volunteer work available can become exhausting for people searching on their own. Potential holiday-time volunteers can make the process of finding the right opportunity easier by contacting a resource agency such as ACS. Volunteer services staff can then help people whittle down their choices.
“We ask (potential volunteers) about their interests and their skills and experience to help align them with the best opportunities to suit them,” Dower said. “But their decision also has a lot to do with what speaks to them.”
Volunteer coordinators recommend performing a self-assessment as part of one’s selection process. Some like to put their talents to good use, for example, while others may want to venture out and experience something new. Time is another factor. Some may want to involve themselves over a longer period while others can only dedicate a single day or even just a few hours.
“Really, it’s important to give back over the holiday season,” said Kristen Kea, division chief, ACS. “So many times, the holidays can be stressful. And, that stress comes from setting expectations for yourself and your family. People tend to set a hectic schedule and don’t carve out time to give back during the holidays. A self-assessment can help people figure how and where they would like to give back or how to pass on meaningful interactions to their children.”
Potential volunteers should also be prepared to attend an organization’s volunteer orientation, where they learn various aspects of the volunteer experience specific to that agency. Some may also assist children and require their volunteers to pass a background check. Attending a volunteer orientation is also a great way to learn about the mission and philosophy of an organization.
Of course, in these times, as service members continue to be concerned about the health and safety of their families, most nonprofit organizations in need of volunteers also must adhere to rules and restrictions. Kea explained that each organization may follow different procedures when it comes to masking, vaccination and testing requirements, so it’s best to check with the organizations directly before agreeing to work with them. Currently, anyone volunteering on Fort Carson must wear a mask in any public space on the post, for example.
“There are many opportunities for service members, retirees and Family members to volunteer on post,” Kea said. “(The post) chapels are always in need of help over the holidays with a variety of different things they have going on. As well as with off-post opportunities, ACS staff can connect hopeful volunteers with chapel programs.”
While some prefer to volunteer by working for a helping organization, others prefer to act independently, by conducting toy or food drives during the holidays. Kea explained that if people are thinking about organizing a toy drive, for instance, they should check with their unit’s Soldier and Family readiness group before initiating a planned drive.
“That can be a really fun way to get your group incentivized to give back to the community, and it’s easy,” she said. “But chances are a service-member’s Soldier and Family readiness group (SFRG) may already have something on the calendar. Plus, the SFRGs have contacts with private organizations on installations and may have worked with them in the past.”
Whether people have a lot of time or just a little, most all volunteer help is greatly appreciated. Leaders at Fort Carson’s BOSS program, a single-service-member activity group, even set up opportunities for people to volunteer at agencies like Habitat for Humanity during the holidays and throughout the year.
To learn about potential holiday-time volunteer opportunities, visit Fort Carson ACS’s website at https://carson.armymwr.com/programs/army-volunteer-corps.
“It is the season of giving, and their time is one of the most amazing things people can give,” said Kea. “The beautiful thing about volunteering is that it gives back. That spirit of contributing to our great community is well worth it.”