(upbeat, energetic synthesizer music) - Hello and welcome to "AT Issue."

I'm H. Wayne Wilson.

Thank you for joining us this time for a conversation about helping others.

Some of us refer to it as community service, but the base word is volunteerism.

And on this Thanksgiving weekend, it's most important that we talk about how we can help others.

We reflect on being thankful for where we are in life, and we wanna share what we have learned with others.

And to have that conversation, I've invited Kris Williams to join us.

Kris is a volunteer on so many different levels in McLean County.

Kris, thank you for joining us.

- Thanks, thanks for having me.

- [H. Wayne] Also with us is Melissa Breeden.

Melissa is Vice President of the YWCA McLean County.

Thank you for being with us.

- Thanks for having me.

- [H. Wayne] Shirley Dust is here.

Shirley is a volunteer at EPIC in Peoria.

We'll talk about EPIC in a moment, but welcome to the program.

- Thank you.

- [H. Wayne] And with us is the Development Coordinator for EPIC in Peoria.

And she is Katie Franks.

Katie, thank you for joining us.

- Thank you for having us.

- Let's start with a definition.

This may be the toughest definition.

What is volunteerism, Kris?

- I would say volunteerism is giving of yourself, of your talents that, in order to make somebody's life better, to help others.

- And let me turn over to Melissa, because when we talk about helping others, it's to create a change in other people.

But can it be a change in you, yourself?

- Oh, absolutely.

During COVID, when volunteers were isolated, we started a study on social isolation, and what that impact has on adults 55 and older.

And we found, we saw an increase in depression.

They weren't able to make it to medical appointments, get out of the home.

It just was not a safe time for them.

And so we've learned that since we're bringing those volunteers back in the community, those connections are just even more powerful than they were before.

So we've seen a decrease in depression.

We've seen more adults, 55 and older, be more physically active.

And then we all know the science behind being physically active.

It releases serotonin levels, increases your mood, and can just overall effect, and impact your health in a really positive way.

- You've pretty much covered just about everything.

(everyone chuckles) But I want to talk more in depth.

Katie, let's turn to the question of you improve your socialization when you are a volunteer.

- [Katie] Mm-hm.

- Have you seen that at EPIC?

- Yeah, we see it a lot at EPIC.

When we were shut down due to COVID, and a lot of our individuals were staying, you know, staying at home, they missed it.

They missed what they, you know, seeing other people, seeing other individuals, seeing friendly faces, familiar faces.

So getting back to that, and getting volunteers out there.

I mean, that's just done wonders for individuals.

- [H. Wayne] Shirley, how long have you volunteered at EPIC?

- [Shirley] Oh gosh, about eight years.

- [H. Wayne] So when COVID came, did it effect you?

- Oh, you should ask my husband.

I was actually depressed.

And one of the workers at EPIC knew that I was missing the individuals.

So she actually put some wheelchair folks on the bus, one of the little buses, and came out to my house.

They didn't get off the bus and I didn't get in the bus, but they were there just to wave, and tell me they missed me.

- [Panelist] How cool.

- So that was very special.

I think that one of the most valuable gifts any of us have is our time.

And if we give that to someone else it makes it even more special.

- You mentioned time, but I think too often we think in terms of, well I don't have a skill that will help this organization or that organization.

But at EPIC you can actually be trained?

- Right.

I asked if I could go through the direct support program, so that I could do a little bit more than just volunteer.

So I'm able to help feed and to give folks drinks, and take them for walks and different things like that.

So it makes me feel like I'm contributing a little bit more.

- Would we call that a jack of all trades?

- Yes, yes we would.

(Shirley laughs) - Master of none.

- So direct support program, could you explain that for us?

- Well, so those are our staff that work directly with our individuals in the classrooms, and sometimes even in the group homes.

But they actually went through the certification to get that, to be able to work with them independently.

Where most volunteers we just do kind of a volunteer application, and then we have them help out.

But there always has to be someone DSP certified with them.

- So what are the other areas where you can volunteer at EPIC?

- Anywhere, really.

Everyone will call and just say, "What up upcoming opportunities do you have?"

And I say, "Oh, we have volunteer opportunities every day."

You know, typically 9:00 to 12:00, kind of 9:00 to 11:30 I would say, but they can help out in the classrooms.

They can help whether it's with the seniors playing games, or it's helping with different, with other different programs we have.

But I mean we, there's just tons of opportunities.

- I know that during the summer you have a garden.

- We have the garden.

So with our harvest garden, that's where I would say we get a majority of our volunteers just because Trent is only one man.

But they'll help out there with our vegetables, with our plants.

But he does more than just, you know, tell them what things are, he's teaching them, you know, how to plant, all the things to do in a garden.

I mean, he's great.

- So another volunteer opportunity can be simply reading.

- Reading, we have different programs out there, our hub, so they can sit down with the individuals.

I believe, Shirley, you do some of that.

And help out making sure that they're entering, just checking over some of their work, which is also paid opportunities for our EPIC individuals.

So we have our hub area, our EPICasso which is our art room, where our individuals are able to express themselves creatively through art.

They actually sell their artwork that they make and they get a profit off of.

- [H. Wayne] And there are volunteers that help?

- Volunteers will help with that as well, just because we have one teacher in there.

And she always needs help with assisting some of the individuals and the pieces that they're creating.

- And would that apply to music, as well?

- Yeah!

We have actually a chorus, a choir.

And so just helping with sheet music and different things like that.

I have some individuals, or some volunteers, if I find out that they have a skill in something, specifically music, you know, they may come out and play a musical instrument for our individuals.

They just, they love it.

The Peoria Symphony has come out before, and they have had... We had a violinist come out, and they just, they absolutely loved it.

- When I introduced you, I introduced you as the YWCA vice president.

And I imagine there were a few people saying YWCA volunteerism.

We wanna talk about the RSVP program.

- [Melissa] Sure.

- Which stands for?

- It stands for Retired Senior Volunteer Program.

And the reason why I help to oversee that is because there is an intergenerational educational component to it.

And so that's kind of where my expertise plays in.

Basically, we have found that when we pair an older adult, let's say 55 or older, with a young child that's displaying some behavioral concerns, that child will listen and respect that older mentor a lot more than let's say an 18-year old assistant teacher in the classroom.

- [H. Wayne] Really?

- And I think it's because there's just that air of that older adult.

They carry themselves differently.

There's a maturity, there's a confidence, and there's just a wealth of history, things that they've gone through.

There's so many untapped experiences that the kids can learn from.

And so I just love having those intergenerational activities because I do think it keeps older adults active, but it also gives that child another mentor.

Another adult in their life that they can learn from and grow with that's not necessarily the disciplinarian, in a sense.

- So the qualifications to become a volunteer through RSVP might be?

- So you have to be 55 and older.

We like taking retirees, but if you have never worked in your life, it doesn't matter.

We all each have passions.

So you have to be 55 or older.

And what you do is you just fill out a simple application.

We ask for proof of your age just because we're funded through federal funding.

So we have to make sure all of our volunteers are seniors.

And what we do is what we learn a little bit about you in that application.

We have folks that have worked in construction before.

And if that's their passion then we can link them with Habitat for Humanity, or other opportunities like that.

- But it doesn't have to be something, it didn't have to be your vocation, - Correct.

- That you would volunteer in.

- Right.

And we have some that are retired teachers.

You know, you sometimes need a break after 30 years of working with kids.

And so it's up to the volunteer to write, what are those passions?

And then we will find agencies in the community.

They're all non-profits.

So wherever we place you, we know that not only are you helping an individual by doing, you know, mentoring or whatever the activity is, you're also uplifting that non-profit organization that is in a hardship due to the staffing crisis.

And so it's just, it helps everybody involved.

But you do not have to necessarily volunteer for what you did in your professional career.

- So RSVP volunteers have to be 55 or older.

They are helping individuals of any age bracket?

- Correct.

And it's all filtered through the nonprofit.

So if you are a Habitat for Humanity group and you need a home built, you're gonna put an ask out.

And what we do is we email blast all of our volunteers.

We have about 400 of them.

And you can either sign up for an opportunity, or not.

And that's the best part is there's no commitment.

A lot of folks that have worked their whole lives need a break.

They don't like to be tied down too long depending on what the volunteer opportunity is.

So it's nice that they can cherry pick some meaningful opportunities, but they don't necessarily have to pick ones that they've done as as their career.

- You mentioned that RSVP is federally funded, at least in part federally funded.

So is there an umbrella organization that oversees RSVP?

- Yes.

So we are funded through AmeriCorps.

And RSVP is the Bloomington, Illinois branch.

And then YWCA McLean County is our sponsoring organization.

So throughout the country you'll see some AmeriCorps programs that are more crisis intervention, emergency disaster intervention services and support.

And then you'll see some that are more local like mine, which is just different types of programs that are individual based on their passions.

So there's that like crisis relief and then there's, "Hey what's your passion?

And let's see if we can get you plugged in."

- Let me turn to Kris, because Kris, you, I don't know how long you've been volunteering, but I know you volunteer in so many different arenas.

What drives you to be, to dedicate your life to helping others?

- I think it's in my genes.

My parents volunteered, and so I think that's just how I was made.

And I didn't really have enough time to do it while I was working.

And I retired in 2009.

And my parents were both gone by 2014.

So after that time I really started ramping it up.

I don't know, it just just makes you feel good to help others.

You know, it just sounds so simplistic, but that's what drives me.

And plus you get to meet fun people, and learn different things.

Like oh, you're talking about not having the necessary skills already to be an RSVP person.

You go to Women Build for Habitat, they'll teach how.

I can side a house now, you know, we put windows in, put shingles on a roof.

You know, all this stuff that they just teach you.

So you learn just some fun stuff doing that.

And then in the end, you know, it's a purpose for helping people.

So you really win either way.

I mean, they win 'cause they get something, and we win 'cause we just, I dunno know, did something good.

- When I need shingles on my roof I'm calling you.

(everyone chuckles) - Yeah, really, really.

- So some examples of the satisfaction that you get when you're helping other individuals.

What can you cite, not the name of the individual but what projects have you worked on?

Some of the maybe continuing projects where you turn around and you say, "Gosh I made a difference in the community."

- Well, I mean it's easy to tell with Habitat, because you know these people didn't have a house now they have a house, so that's a concrete thing.

But like even today, I volunteered this morning at a food pantry in Bloomington.

You know, you get to chat with the people and hopefully just make their day a little happier.

And I always like to tease everybody, so that's just fun for me to do.

Like we're starting to pass out stuff for Thanksgiving dinners to people, so they they leave with stuff they need to make their Thanksgiving that they may not have had, you know if they didn't come to see us.

I also volunteer at the McClean County Museum of History, and I greet people when they come in.

So again, that's fun for me, 'cause I get to chat with people.

And you get to meet people from all over the country 'cause they're driving on Route 66, and that's a big thing.

And you know, it's fun to hear people's accents from different parts of the country.

Or people coming from Europe.

I've had Russians come in before, so that's always really fun.

- And you volunteer at your church.

- Mm-hm, yeah, a lot of stuff with that.

Like just yesterday I recorded a liturgy 'cause we still do some online services for people that don't wanna get out of their houses yet.

So I sing in the choir.

I'm a mentor for an eighth grade student in confirmation class.

So yeah, it's nice.

It makes you feel good.

- You, mentioned that.

Now, I wanna turn to Shirley for a moment.

You're dealing with individuals of all ages.

Do you get, I mean I'm sure you get satisfaction from helping an older individual, as opposed to a younger individual.

What do you see?

How do you know that, oh, I did, I struck a chord here?

When do you know that?

- Well, honestly, sometimes I feel selfish volunteering, because I get so much more back than what I could possibly give.

And I always say that, you know, maybe you're feeling a little down, or things aren't going well.

And you go into EPIC and you feel the love, and just the hugs and it just makes it all worthwhile.

And I would encourage anybody to give it a try.

- You can feel a hug.

Following up on her remarks, when someone volunteers at EPIC, do you hear from the individuals who are being helped?

I mean, do they say to you, "Gee whiz.

Shirley really made a difference," or you know whoever the volunteer is.

- I hear it more I think from our staff.

Like, "Wow, thank you.

We really could we use, could have used the help and that came in huge."

You know, 'cause we are, we're short staffed.

So a lot of times when I get volunteers I'll find out, okay what classrooms need the most help?

And then we'll find out where we can place them.

But I would say, I mean you go in and you can see it in their faces, you know, when the individuals are talking to the volunteers, they enjoy their company.

And so that right there is enough for me to know that they're, you know, they're having a good time and they appreciate the volunteers that come in and help.

- Do you get feedback, I mean you of course, are with the YWCA, but you oversee RSVP.

Do you get feedback?

- Yeah.

- Along those lines?

- Yeah, every time we get a request in from a station which is just one of the 75 nonprofits that we place volunteers at, typically we have to follow up afterwards, just to ask how was that experience?

If there's anything we need to change as far as like training that volunteer, then we'll make an adjustment for next year.

So we do, we pop around and visit, and just ask, "How are things going?"

Especially now with the staffing crisis there's just been a lot of turnover at nonprofits.

So just making sure they remember who we are.

Is there anything different we need to do?

But overall, I can't remember a bad experience from a volunteer.

Usually it's just always positive, and fills their heart with joy.

And let me tell you, the two-year-olds love them.

Miss Karen is our reader.

She comes once a month and reads to the two-year-olds and they just love her.

So I can't even remember a bad comment.

But overall, we work very close with them to make sure that nonprofits have what they need, because we're their hub.

We wanna make sure that who we're sending is going to help them, and is effective, and that it's beneficial to both parties.

- And RSVP is, like you said, there's an umbrella organization.

You do get some federal funding.

- [Michelle] Correct.

- So there are RSVP chapters across the country - Correct.

Yes.

And so what we do is the funding we receive pays for coordinators, because it does take a lot of time to, you know, manage the volunteers, follow up.

Some do not like email, so, you know, it takes time to call, make sure they're doing okay.

And we plan two volunteer appreciation events each year just to thank them for giving back to the community.

- So you deal with McLean County specifically?

- [Michelle] Correct.

- And there are other RSVP chapters?

- Yes, there is one in Peoria, Illinois.

So if you're looking to volunteer and you live in Peoria, that is an opportunity.

I suggest you call them up.

Their forms may be a little bit different than ours, but overall both communities have a lot of nonprofits.

And so you just have to figure out how you wanna spend your time, and any RSVP can help make that time meaningful.

- Katie, I'd like to... Several times we've talked about staffing shortages.

There's staffing shortages at EPIC, likewise at RSVP, and at YWCA.

Volunteerism, all the more important now?

- Oh definitely.

I mean, Shirley volunteers quite a bit.

I think they've asked her several times if she wants to get on staff.

(chuckles) But she just wants to do it for, you know, just for fun and 'cause she enjoys it.

Yeah, I mean we are struggling with finding staff just like any other, I think agency out there.

- Likewise?

- Correct, yes.

- Sometimes I think, you know, I've gotta make a long term commitment here.

And I've gotta be there every Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

How often do you volunteer?

- I volunteer on Tuesdays.

- [H. Wayne] Just Tuesdays.

- Mm-hm, well, if there's a party, or if there is an outing where they're going to take a lot of individuals on a field trip, so to speak, of course, they need people to go along with.

So whatever the situation is.

- I'd like to ask the same question of Kris, but I know better than to ask that question, (chuckles) because she volunteers all the time.

A volunteer doesn't have to volunteer at a dozen different organizations, or doesn't have to make a commitment to 20 hours a week at a particular organization.

- No, they're just glad that they get you in to help.

Although there is a sense of continuity if you do it on a regular schedule, or certain number of times a month or something.

Just you stay sharp on what you're doing.

- Thus, the training that both your organizations have your volunteers go through.

That you want that that continuity, and you want them to, if one person comes in to volunteer on Mondays and Thursdays and another on Tuesdays and Fridays you want some sort of continuity there.

So you have the the direct services.

- Well, I think too, I think now that Shirley's coming in on Tuesdays, some of the individuals look forward to her coming in every Tuesday, right?

Because they're used to coming in and helping out.

- [H. Wayne] So the individuals at EPIC are expecting that continuity.

- Yeah, yes.

(laughs) They are.

(Shirley chuckles) I mean, I mean quite a bit.

I think I see you helping with feeding, and you've become familiar with the individuals, so they look forward to it.

- It takes a while to get to know know everybody's needs and wants.

But once you do and settle in, it's- - A sense of trust, a sense of- - Oh, exactly, exactly.

- Yes.

Confidence.

- One final word from from Kris is to, what would you say to somebody who's been thinking about volunteering and say, "You know what?

that's not my cup of tea."

- You don't have to like put all your all your energy into it.

It's not like you have to like go into your 40 hour a week job.

You just work the number of hours that you wanna work, find something you like to do.

And honestly, it makes you feel good to know that you're you're helping out.

It's just real simple, I know.

- You wanted to add to that.

- Yeah, have fun with it.

I wanna make sure that the volunteers are having fun.

So we definitely always try to get feedback from the volunteers.

But you want them to come and have a good time, 'cause you want them to keep coming back.

- [Melissa] That's right.

Yeah.

- And with that we encourage you to look into volunteering if you haven't already.

And say thank you to Kris Williams who is a volunteer in McLean County, to Shirley Dust, who is a volunteer at EPIC in Peoria.

Thank you to both of you.

- Thank you.

- Thank you for having us.

- [H. Wayne] And also to Katie Franks who is a development coordinator at EPIC in Peoria.

And to Melissa Breeden who is the Vice President of the YWCA, but more specifically looks over the RSVP program.

- Yes.

- So thank you to all four of you for the conversation.

And thank you for joining us on "AT Issue."

Please join us again next time when we'll be discussing another important topic here in central Illinois.

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