. . . Students Can Succeed as Summer Volunteers

Albert Einstein wrote: “There is no higher religion than human service. To work for the common good is the greatest creed.”

In this spirit, students with time on their hands during summer vacation may want to squeeze some volunteer service between going to the beach and paid employment. As a matter of fact, volunteer positions can offer vocational experience that may exceed that of the usual summertime job.

Opportunities to serve can be found in businesses, local museums, camp counseling, manning hot lines for crisis intervention, coaching sports, recreation, tutoring and in many phases of medicine and science. And in this election year, many campaign offices will welcome extra help.

Also, people who can speak a second language are in great demand as volunteers.

With so many options available, the savvy student will approach volunteering with the same care and preparation as applying for a job. (The same criteria for student volunteers apply to adults, whose services are always needed.)

While most agencies can be approached directly, a prospective volunteer may want to utilize the services of a local volunteer center, whose counselors put students in touch with opportunities that students might otherwise overlook.

Volunteer Center of California offices, located throughout the Southland, serve as clearinghouses for recruitment and placement.

A nonprofit agency, most of its centers offer services without charge, except in the case of court-mandated service.

Initial Interview

After an initial interview to assess the interests and skills of the prospective volunteer, a counselor will provide the individual with four or five places where these skills are particularly needed. This benefits both the individuals, who have the interest and zeal to perform well on the job, and the agency that receives volunteers.

While many agencies and hospitals require students to be 14 or 15 years old, there are some opportunities for students as young as 12. The centers will help these young students find volunteer experiences close to their homes or a parent’s job.

Sylvia Ramirez of the East Northeast Volunteer Center of East Los Angeles says her office and other such centers try to help students find positions that will enhance and focus their educational goals.

She says volunteering in a professional setting can actually help a student determine these goals through seeing what is actually entailed in the job before investing time and money in costly training.

For example, a student who expresses the desire to work with children may find this dream reinforced through a volunteer job as a camp counselor or preschool aide. On the other hand, he may find that this type of work really isn’t what the volunteer expected.

Ramirez also notes that students will learn job skills, such as interview techniques, telephone-answering protocol, proper work attire and punctuality through participation in the volunteer process. Sometimes a volunteer position will lead to paid employment in a business or industry where entry-level positions are hard to come by.

The volunteer is often considered as much a part of the team as are paid staff members. For this reason, students should take their commitment seriously. Ramirez says: “A volunteer is not a sometime thing. Many programs count on the volunteer as much as on paid staff, and if someone doesn’t appear, a program can be severely damaged. If you can’t come in, you should call just as you would if you were being paid.”

Students interested in various phases of medicine, dentistry, biological science and human services will find many opportunities to experience these fields directly through service in a local hospital. Numerous local medical centers have extensive volunteer programs, most of which require orientation and training. The specific requirements and needs of a local hospital may be determined by calling its volunteer office.

Nedra Firestone, coordinator of volunteer services for UCLA Rehabilitation Centers, a part of the UCLA Center for Health Sciences, says after orientation, volunteers may elect to work in such areas as emergency rooms, labs, surgical waiting areas, physical and occupational therapy, operating rooms or as patient escorts. Firestone says: “It is imperative for the success of the program that volunteers be satisfied with their areas of service.”

Because of the time spent training a hospital volunteer, UCLA asks for a commitment of 40 hours during the summer. Usually, volunteers donate four hours a week, although many people give more time. This requirement is fairly typical of most hospitals. At UCLA, volunteers are required to wear a uniform, which may be purchased at a nominal cost. Some medical centers provide the uniform free of charge. UCLA also offers parking at a reduced rate.

Volunteers Rewarded

After fulfilling the basic hours of service, volunteers are rewarded with recognition luncheons, certificates and letters of recommendation from their immediate supervisors on request.

Many schools give academic credit for student-volunteer time, if the job can be evaluated by school personnel. College and university admissions officers at both undergraduate and graduate levels look upon volunteer service as an indication of a student’s genuine interest in a chosen field.

Ramirez says: “In many ways, volunteer experience is more valuable to a student than school experience when it comes to finding a job or getting into college. Admissions officers and employers know that this kind of experience shows self-motivation. The student isn’t doing it just because it’s required.”

Ultimately, though, volunteer service is its own reward. Offering a little of oneself to others, as most volunteers will attest, not only benefits society, it also enhances self-worth.

As a start to finding a volunteer position, here are office addresses and telephone numbers of some volunteer centers in the Southland:

Los Angeles

Central--621 S. Virgil Ave., Los Angeles 90005, (213) 736-1311. Executive director: John F. Kern.

East/Northeast--4716 E. Brooklyn Ave., Los Angeles 90022, (213) 267-1315. Executive director: Sylvia Ramirez.

South Central--8812 S. Main St., Los Angeles 90003, (213) 753-3155.

Director: Alpha Williams.

Western--11646 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles 90064, (213) 478-8241, Ext. 270. Director: Tony Angel.

Other Volunteer Centers

Downey--11026 Downey Ave., Downey 90241 (213) 861-1712. Executive director: Norma Coffey. San Gabriel Valley: 3301 Thorndale Road, Pasadena 91107, (818) 792-6118. Executive director: Mancha Kurilich.

San Fernando Valley--6931 Van Nuys Blvd., 309, Van Nuys 91405, (818) 908-5066. Executive director: Jerri Spoehel.

San Diego--7510 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego 92111 (619) 292-0993. Coordinator of Students Actively Volunteering for You: Mary Arce.

La Mirada--12900 Bluefield Ave., La Mirada 90638, (213) 943-0131, Ext. 234. Executive director: Tania Rash.

South Bay/Harbor/Long Beach--3915 Spencer St., 208, Torrance 90503, (213) 370-6393. Executive director: Kathryn Joiner.

Whittier/Rio Hondo--7702 S. Washington Ave., Whittier 90602 (mailing address: P.O. Box 488, Whittier 90608), (213) 693-4023. Executive director: Bonnie Miller.

Greater Pomona Valley--375 S. Main, 109, Pomona 91766, (714) 623-1284. Executive director: Lenore Jacoby.

Riverside--2060 University Ave., Riverside 92507, (714) 686-4357. Executive director: Grace Slocum.

North Orange--2050 Youth Way, Fullerton 92635, (714) 526-3301. Executive director: Beverly A. Calton-Hoffman.(Louise Hennigan)

South Orange--1440 East 1st St., 301, Santa Ana 92701, (714) 953-5757. Executive director: Carol Stone.

West Orange--15055 Adams St., A, Midway City 92655, (714) 898-0043. Executive director: Shirley Walton.