April is Volunteer Appreciation Month

VOLUNTEERS, “WE SALUTE YOU”

Why Volunteer?

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month. Army Community Service will feature the 2021 Volunteer Appreciation week on Monday, 19-23 April 2021. This week-long campaign honors Volunteers in our organization, workplace, and community to let them know that we “Salute” their heartfelt dedication and commitment to our community. We recognize and appreciate those who volunteer at schools, hospitals, blood drives, thrift shops, food kitchens, fundraisers, and charity events, realizing they are an integral part of our organizations. The theme for this week-long celebration is “We Salute You.”

According to the UN Volunteers Inspiration in Action, more than 1 billion people volunteer globally. Volunteering is an essential expression of human relationships. It is basically about a person’s need to participate in their community and to feel that they matter to others. Volunteering incorporates such values as solidarity, reciprocity, mutual trust, belonging, and empowerment, all of which contribute to the quality of life.

What are some benefits of Volunteering? Networking, flexible hours, making new friends, learning new skills, enhancing current programs, showing what programs are valued, maintain skills, improving your resume, and earning promotion points.

 Modernized Volunteer Management Information System (VMIS) 2.0 has migrated to the Army Family WEB Portal on 11 January 2021. VMIS continues to be used to track volunteer hours, awards, training certificates, and applications. Volunteerism shows fiscal responsibility and community commitment. Army Regulation, AR 608-1, para. 5-9n states that all volunteers must use this program. Please note they are still working out the glitches as in any new program,

There are many volunteer opportunities for anyone. For a list of volunteer opportunities, please contact our office.

Some of our Volunteer Opportunities are event-driven and seasonal: some are on weekends, for FRG activities and meetings, thru Family and MWR such as concerts, run series, sporting events, Spring-Fall Fest, and Independence day celebration, FT Gordon Christmas House, the Community Garden, the Ft Gordon Dinner Theatre, FT Gordon Spouse and Civilian Club, Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS), Hilltop Riding Stables, Adopt a School Program and Red Cross Disaster Response.

The Impact of Volunteering is about community, Family, and self. Volunteers help transform people into communities by providing an unbiased view and validating the program’s constant need or service.

Family-volunteer involvement enhances the overall satisfaction with the Army lifestyle and sets the example for others to emulate.

Self-personal growth and professional development provide portable skills and experience. Lifelong friendships are often an additional bonus.

ACS has numerous Volunteer Opportunities as well as agencies, organizations on and off the post. Please let us know if you are interested in finding out more about the Volunteer program here on Fort Gordon.

Contact Ms. Pamela B. Rachal at 706-791-3579/8358 or at pamela.b.rachal.civ @mail.mil with any questions/concerns.