Worcester Community Service Database

Transcription

1 r Community Database An nteractive Qualifyin Project submitted to the Faculty of WORCESTER POLYTECHNC NSTTUTE in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Deree of Bachelor of Science By: Scott Duncan Renee Walker Advisors: Fred Looft Hossein Hakim May 5, 2009 This document represents the work of WP students. The opinions expressed in this report are not necessarily those of the r.

2 Abstract The purpose of this project was to create a database for the r Consortium of s which would link nonprofit oranizations in the r area with collee students lookin to perform community service. Surveys and interviews were conducted with r community service oranizations and consortium students to determine the requirements and features of the database. As a result of this, the database included basic information about prospective volunteers, the types of community service the volunteers are interested in performin, and special skills students could offer an oranization. n addition, the database was desined to include a pae describin the mission, current needs, and volunteer opportunities, as well as special volunteer requirements for each oranization interested in workin with students. Usin a survey distributed to the underraduate student body at WP, it was determined that most students who were currently volunteerin in the area do so only because they are obliated throuh Federal Work Study rules, or for other reasons. While many students felt that their community service was a valuable experience, others felt that they could be more involved and contribute more to their community. A small number of survey respondents indicated that they hihly valued the volunteer positions they held, and found them to be amon the most rewardin experiences of their collee careers. The oal of this database was to enable every prospective volunteer the opportunity to find a position where they were valued and could contribute to the best of their abilities, and to provide local nonprofits with a resource that would enable them to find committed volunteers who were rateful for the opportunity to help, as well as row as an individual. Thus, the database helps oranizations to find volunteers who are passionate and dedicated, and enables volunteers to find oranizations at which they can contribute these skills. ii

3 Acknowledements We would like to thank Professor Hakim and Professor Looft for their uidance throuhout this project. We would also like to thank the s of r Consortium CEO, Mark Billota, his assistant Cynthia Youn and the Student Activities Office for their contribution and recommendations to the project. Finally we would like to thank Rahima Nouaase and Yasmine Bakrim for their assistance with the creation of the model database interface and the CCNET and Pro roup for providin the team with sample demonstrations of current databases. iii

4 Executive Summary The purpose of this project was to recommend a database solution to the s of r Consortium (COWC) based on primary research. This database would serve as a matchin tool between nonprofit oranizations in the r area and collee students lookin to perform community service. The research consisted of interviews with fifteen local nonprofit oranizations and surveys distributed to the underraduate student body at WP in the months of February and March of The interviews with oranizations consisted of twenty questions reardin the history of the oranization, their mission, their needs, and what they were lookin for in a volunteer. From these interviews with local oranizations, it was determined that: The majority of these oranizations are always lookin for youn, motivated volunteers The volunteerin positions available are reat learnin experiences The volunteer positions available were not bein effectively advertised Two surveys were distributed to the underraduate student body at WP; one for students who were currently volunteers, or had been volunteers in the past, and one for students who never volunteered. Over 140 students responded to the surveys, answerin questions reardin what they expect of community service, what types of service they are interested in, and the level of commitment they feel to their community service. t was determined from these surveys that: While many students are performin community service, they are not passionate about it Many students are unaware of the benefits that volunteerin can provide Many students are simply unaware of the opportunities that exist Based on the information obtained from the surveys and interviews, it was determined that in addition to matchin student volunteers with oranizations, the database would have to allow the oranizations to better advertise themselves, and also make community service more attractive to students. Because of the extent of desinin such a database, a ready-made database is recommended. iv

5 After reviewin several options for a database packae, it is recommended that the COWC uses Central Network for their community service database. While this database packae does not have some of the options of other packaes more suited towards community service, it is a better choice because of its advanced searchin options and that it is already bein used by the COWC for their internship database. n addition to creatin this database, the followin recommendations are made: Assin students from each collee to monitor community service options and the needs of oranizations in specific parts of the city. This will ensure cooperation amon the collees as well as keep the database up to date with opportunities for volunteers and the needs of oranizations. Advertise the database and volunteer opportunities to students Ensure continual contact between database administrators, students, and oranizations v

6 Table of Contents Abstract... ii Acknowledements... iii Executive Summary... iv Table of Contents... vi List of Fiures and Tables... x Chapter 1: r Community Database A National Problem Local Problem Rationale for Project Project Description Summary... 6 Chapter 2: Backround ntroduction History of Volunteerism Volunteerism on a National Scale n r Volunteerism in s Case Studies of Volunteer Oranizations Rules and Reulations of Volunteerism Summary Chapter 3: Project Statement ntroduction Goals and Objectives vi

7 3.3 Project Phases Measurable Outcomes Summary Chapter 4: Methodoloy ntroduction Phase1: Generatin list of r Community Aencies Phase 2: Analysis of Community in r Phase 3: Database mplementation Summary Chapter 5: Data Collection ntroduction Nonprofit Oranization nterviews nterview Questions Student Surveys Survey Details Summary Chapter 6: Analysis of Results ntroduction nterview Analysis Nonprofit Oranizations nterview Analysis- Other Oranizations Survey Activities of WP Students Community Opportunities and Appeal on WP campus Commitment level of Students to the Community Skills and s of WP Students Summary Chapter 7: Database mplementation vii

8 7.1 ntroduction Database Overview Consortium Student Surveys Requirements and Functionality Database Technoloy Database nterface s of r Consortium mplementation Chapter 8: Recommendations and Conclusions ntroduction Recommendations Recommendation 1: Discuss final interation of database with CCNET Recommendation 2: Divide oranizations into sectors and assin each sector to a collee Recommendation 3: Community Awareness Campain on campuses Recommendation 4: Redefine service cateories Recommendation 5: Continued communication between students and service oranizations Recommendation 6: Research Component Conclusion Appendices A. nterview Summaries Why Me 2/5/09 Anne Reardon Boys and Girls Club 2/9/09 Joseph Hunler Dismas House 2/11/09 Dave McMahon Compassion Prenancy 2/11/09 Jan McRae Hope Lode 2/13/09 Debra Aharonian United Way 2/17/09 Kerri Sandber Jeremiah s nn 2/18/09 Walter Spencer viii

9 Ecotarium 2/18/09 Betsy Maloney Abby s House 2/19/09 Edla Ann Bloom r County Food Bank 2/23/09 Luke Moore Massachusetts Veterans nc 2/23/09 Amanda Riik Boy Scouts 2/27/09 Matthew Conlon Girl Scouts 3/17/09 Thais Teixeira Frost Pernet Family 3/17/09 Stephanie Katz YWCA 3/18/09 Darlene Heywosz B. Contacts for Oranizations C. Community Placement of Consortium students in D. Community Placement for Consortium students in E. Community Placement for Consortium students in F. Community Placement for Consortium students in ix

10 List of Fiures and Tables Fiure 1.1: Number of US residents in Poverty and Poverty Rate: 1959 to Fiure 2.1: 2006 Volunteer Rate vs. Ae Adjusted Mortality Rate... 9 Fiure 2.2: Main Activities of r Volunteers vs. US Fiure 2.3: Areas of for r Volunteers Fiure 2.4: 2005 Rates Fiure 2.5: Frequency - Students vs. General Population in Fiure 2.6: Volunteer Rate by Paid Hours Worked Per Week - Students vs. General Population Fiure 2.7: Student by Type of Oranization Fiure 6.1: Locations of nterviewed Oranizations Fiure 6.2: Past Areas of nactive Volunteers Fiure 6.3: Areas of Current Volunteers Fiure 6.4: Sources of Community Opportunities for Non-Volunteers Fiure 6.5: Sources of Community Opportunities for Volunteers Fiure 6.6: Appeal of Community on WP Campus to Non-Volunteers Fiure 6.7: Appeal of Community on WP Campus for Active Volunteers Fiure 6.8: deal type of Volunteer Commitment for Non-Volunteers Fiure 6.9: deal Time Commitment for Non-volunteers Fiure 6.10: Current Time Commitments of Active Volunteers Fiure 6.11: Commitment Levels of Current Volunteers Fiure 6.12: Current Volunteer feelins about whether or not they are maximizin their volunteer service Fiure 6.13: Skills that current volunteers can offer to the community Fiure 6.14: Skills that nactive and Non-volunteers can offer to the community Fiure 6.15: ed Areas of Current Volunteers Fiure 6.16: ed Areas of nactive and Non-volunteers Fiure 7.1: Areas of to COWC Students Fiure 7.2: Skills of COWC Students Available to Oranizations Fiure 7.3: Availability of COWC Students Fiure 7.4: Screenshot of Oranization Profile Fiure 7.5: Screenshot of Volunteer Profile x

11 Fiure 7.6: Screenshot of Loin Screen Fiure 7.7: Screenshot of Home Screen Fiure 7.8: Search Volunteer by s Fiure 7.9: Search Volunteer by Skills Fiure 7.10; Search Oranizations Fiure 7.11: Search Volunteer Opportunities Table 1.1: Work Experience and Poverty Status for United States Residents: 1987 to Table 1.2: 2007 Poverty ncome Estimates of MA Counties... 4 Table 5.1: List of nterviewed Oranizations xi

12 Chapter 1: r Community Database 1.1 A National Problem Accordin to the United States Census Bureau, an individual is determined to be in poverty when their income is less than the poverty threshold. 1 This threshold varies throuhout the years and in 2008 raned from $11,201 for a sinle person under the ae of 65 to $41,624 for a family of nine people or more. 2 Perhaps more accurately, the Oxford dictionary defines poverty as the deprivation of common necessities that determine the quality of life. n the last fifty years the number of Unites States residents livin in poverty has fluctuated between twenty-two and thirtyseven million. This means that between 1989 and 2007, 12 to 22 percent of the population was at some time unable to find adequate shelter, food, clothin, health care or education. This point is further illustrated in Fiure 1.1 below which shows the number of people defined to be in poverty between 1959 and Fiure 1.1: Number of US residents in Poverty and Poverty Rate: 1959 to Source: US Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 1960 to 2008 Annual and Economic Supplements 1

13 The effects of poverty are serious and can alter the lives of individuals beyond immediate needs or problems. For example, statistics have shown that mothers in poverty are less likely to seek proper prenatal care, makin their children more susceptible to illnesses and severe health problems. As a result, infants born into poverty typically have lower birth weihts which can eventually lead to mental and physical disabilities. n addition, children raised in poverty tend to be more frequently absent from school because of illnesses. These children often receive a substandard education at the elementary level and o on to strule throuhout hih school, eventually limitin their prospects in the future. Table 1.1 below shows that the number of U.S. residents livin below the poverty level who were not employed durin any iven year is almost ten times as hih as the number of U.S. residents who were employed that are livin below the poverty level in that year. 4 Table 1.1: Work Experience and Poverty Status for United States Residents: 1987 to Worked full-time year-round Did not work durin the year Year Below Poverty Below Poverty Total Level Total Level Number Percent Number Percent ,617 2, ,417 16, ,734 2, ,448 15, ,876 2, ,735 16, ,495 2, ,066 15, ,700 2, ,868 15, ,659 2, ,595 14, ,357 2, ,534 13, ,353 2, ,532 12, ,197 2, ,757 12, ,772 2, ,211 13, ,631 2, ,381 13, ,252 2, ,181 13, ,173 2, ,999 13, ,764 2, ,485 14, ,386 2, ,812 14, ,828 2, ,002 14, ,396 2, ,451 13, ,932 2, ,681 12, ,117 1, ,662 11, ,627 1, ,352 11, ,015 1, ,780 12, Note: numbers in thousands 4 Causes and Effects of Poverty. 1 Apr 2009 < 5 Excerpted from: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Survey, Annual and Economic Supplements. 2

14 There is no doubt that the inability to obtain a job due to a lack of opportunities, which results in a lack of work experience, makes an individual more prone to a life of poverty. Livin in a state of financial instability is both emotionally and physically damain for any human bein. U.S. Poverty Studies from the Centre for Analysis of Exclusion, indicate that impoverished individuals suffer from hiher levels of stress than individuals with stable financial circumstances. 6 The frustration and depression associated with the inability to provide for one s family is often associated with violence in families, dru addiction and anxiety. Clearly, financial and emotional assistance is essential for families livin in poverty. As the recession of 2009 proresses, there is a serious lack of resources within society. Unemployment is risin; families are losin their homes as a result of their strule to meet housin expenses; and citizens with special needs are inadequately bein cared for. Community service oranizations have a sinificant service void to fill because every day more individuals are havin increasin difficulties in their attempts to make ends meet. Nonprofit oranizations have to extend themselves to their full potential, and be even more creative durin this period of recession, in order to rectify the retroression in the economic status of the society. 1.2 Local Problem n 2008, the lack of resources and adequate supplies that affected 12 percent of the United States population impacted r County. Locally, about 10 percent of the residents of Massachusetts live below the national poverty level 7 and accordin to the US Census Bureau estimates included in Table 1.2, 9.5 percent of r County residents are considered impoverished. v US Poverty Studies and Poverty Measurement: The past twenty-five years, Howard Glennerster, October U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Survey, Annual and Economic Supplements. 3

15 Table 1.2: 2007 Poverty ncome Estimates of MA Counties 8 County Poverty Estimate All Aes Poverty Percent All Aes Massachusetts 621, Suffolk County 131, Hampden County 72, Hampshire 15, County Berkshire County 13, Franklin County 7, Essex County 74, r County 71, Bristol County 49, Middlesex County 97, Dukes County 1, Barnstable 14, County Plymouth County 31, Norfolk County 40, Nantucket County The difficult job market and increasin home foreclosures are neatively influencin the lives of citizens of every race, social status and backround. This means that those who are already impoverished, sick or disabled in the r area will face even reater challenes when tryin to meet their special needs. Also bein influenced are the youth who are livin with a lack of inspiration to excel academically and a lower sense of perseverance when they see no uaranteed benefits at the end of the road. 9 Self-determination and motivation is difficult to attain for many r citizens, and this is why nonprofit oranizations play an important role in ensurin that the community needs are adequately accommodated. Within r there is a clear need for shelter and food pantries to serve low income individuals and those that have found themselves below the line of poverty due to the current state of the economy. There is also a clear need for continued support of the sick and disabled residents who are unable to adequately support themselves. Now more than ever, there is a need for 8 U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Estimates Branch Release date:

16 increased inspiration and enthusiasm amon the youth of r because they are livin in a society in which prosperity and stability are bein replaced by uncertainty within the household. t is essential that they are paired with role models, and are encouraed to excel academically and succeed professionally 10 for the betterment of society. 1.3 Rationale for Project Community service is essential for a community to thrive to its full potential. 11 Locally, nitiatives to strenthen community service awareness and publicity of the nonprofit oranizations in r are critical to the success of the community. f the community is enaed in service it would aid in makin r a more thrivin city. ncreased and efficient community service would strenthen the morale of the community. The need for charitable oranizations in r County is obvious 12, but these oranizations themselves also need assistance. Since they are often understaffed and unable to use the resources they have to their full potential due to time and fundin restrictions. Volunteers are the drivin force behind such aencies. They commit their time, knowlede, and skills without expectin compensation. n the r area, there is unrealized potential in the lare number of local collee students. Few collee students are volunteerin to their maximum potential, or volunteerin at all. Many student volunteers participated in community service because they have Federal Work Study, which requires them to perform community service in order to continue to receive fundin for the followin year. While this is undoubtedly ood for the community, it causes students to volunteer out of obliation instead of their own volition. An even reater reason why students do not volunteer is because they simply do not know the extent of the opportunities that exist, or how much they can learn and row from volunteerin Speech from WCAC Annual Meetin, James J. O Day, December 16,

17 1.4 Project Description The oal of this project was to provide a central and comprehensive medium for oranizations to advertise their needs, and to present it in a manner which would attract student volunteers who miht otherwise complete only the minimum fifteen hours per year, or no community service at all. To achieve this oal, our objective was to identify the needs of non-profit oranizations in the r area and connect them with on-campus entities seekin to provide assistance. The oranizations that would be tareted for this project were those that exhibit a need for sponsorship and have difficulties attainin basic assistance for their operation and public relations. The medium throuh which this would be accomplished was an online database interated into the r Consortium of s website. t was envisioned that the database would be easily updated to list the needs of oranizations in the area, and provide a link to roups and individuals on campus that wanted to help. Surveys and interviews were conducted to identify the talents and services of collee students in r and the data would be included in the database. The purpose of includin these talents in the database was to provide a matchin tool between collee students in r and nonprofit oranizations in the r area. n this way, volunteers could use the database to find service oranizations that matched their interests and oranizations can find students who are willin to be dedicated to their cause. 1.5 Summary This section outlined the issues in society that community service oranizations exist to address. t then describes the problems within r that need to be addressed and finally outlines why the r Community nteractive Qualifyin Project was developed and how the project will influence the community. n the subsequent sections an overview of the evolution of volunteerism will be provided in addition to information about volunteerism on a national and local scale. 6

18 Chapter 2: Backround 2.1 ntroduction The purpose of this section is to provide the backround foundation for the project. t will include information about the history and evolution of volunteerism; statistics on volunteerism nationally, reionally, and amon collee students; and also include rules and reulations for volunteers. 2.2 History of Volunteerism Volunteerism is deeply rooted in the history of America. The earliest founders and pioneers were responsible for implementin institutions and professions of service that reatly benefited America today. After America won its independence, teachers, police officers, doctors and post masters shaped American society and worked without compensation. The first American institution of tertiary education, Harvard, was started by John Harvard in 1636 throuh the donation of four hundred volumes of books from his personal library. 13 Museums and libraries were formed in a similar fashion from contributions from selfless members of society. Volunteerism has surely evolved over decades; for example, wars have been won as a result of volunteerism because armies were comprised completely of volunteers. The first volunteer center was formed durin the aftermath of World War in Minneapolis, MN in The purpose of this center was to link citizens affected and displaced by the war with members of society who could provide assistance. The anti-slavery movement had thousands of volunteers who dedicated themselves to the freein of slaves. The 50 s and 60 s were the political era of volunteerism with the creation of the Civil Rihts Movement which was powered by volunteers with a common oal for chane. The Nixon administration started voluntary oranizations such as: Retired and Senior Volunteer Proram (RSVP), Volunteers in to America (VSTA) and Foster Grandparent, some of which still exist today. By 1971, the federal overnment started inauuratin volunteer prorams. 14 Durin the 1980 s volunteer oranizations started to focus on issues such as huner, homelessness and dru abuse. The creation of soup kitchens, shelters and food drives came as a 13 We the People: The History of Volunteerism in America, Susan Ellis, We the People: The History of Volunteerism in America, Susan Ellis,

19 result of an increase in awareness of these issues. Aids oranizations and Habitat for Humanity were also started durin this time period, and relied heavily on volunteers for their success. With the advancement of technoloy in the later part of the twentieth century volunteerism became more visible than ever before. 15 Computers improved the level of volunteer work and made volunteer oranizations more oranized and reconized. n the current economic period, volunteerism is critical and has the ability to reatly impact the society at lare if implemented efficiently and executed successfully. 2.3 Volunteerism on a National Scale Fortunately, many people realize the effects that volunteerin can have on their community. n 2008, almost 61.8 million Americans volunteered, which is approximately 26.4 percent of the population. 16 This number has remained relatively unchaned over the past five years, but volunteerin has increased across demoraphics which previously did not have active volunteers. n the period from 2002 to 2005, volunteerin amon collee students increased by approximately 20 percent, more than double the rate of any other ae roup. 17 The steady rowth of volunteer rates over time is indicative of a reater feelin of social responsibility amon the community. Why would over a quarter of the population in the United States volunteer on averae 52 hours per year of their time? is an inherently selfless act since there is satisfaction in helpin others. However, volunteers also reap sinificant personal ains from their activities. n addition to the satisfaction of ivin back to the community, volunteerin is beneficial socially, mentally, and physically. Volunteers are more likely to feel a sense of fulfillment and personal accomplishment from their activities. 18 Hiher rates of volunteerin correlate with hiher self-worth, self esteem, happiness and lower rates of mortality. n 2005, The Corporation for National and Community compared data from each state comparin volunteer rates to mortality rates. The results were charted usin a scatter plot. When a linear reression was performed usin this data, it was 15 We the People: The History of Volunteerism in America, Susan Ellis, in the United States , United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, Students Helpin America, Corporation for National & Community, The Benefits of, Corporation for National & Community,

20 found that in eneral, a hiher volunteer rate correlated with a lower mortality rate. The plot is shown in Fiure 2.1. Fiure 2.1: 2006 Volunteer Rate vs. Ae Adjusted Mortality Rate 19 f the benefits of volunteerin are so clear, then why aren t the other three out of four Americans volunteerin? Fifteen percent of former volunteers interviewed in a study from in the United States reported or Medical Problems as their main reason for not volunteerin. 20 Approximately nine percent of respondents listed Family Responsibilities as their reason for not volunteerin. However, almost 46 percent listed Lack of Time as their reason. Volunteers are no less busy than non-volunteers, and make time to help others. n fact, volunteers on averae spend more time workin for compensation per week than non-volunteers (39 hours per week vs. 36 hours per week). Current volunteers spend more time carin for children than those who never volunteer, and watch on averae 436 less hours of television throuhout the course of a year. 21. t is therefore evident that more people would volunteer if they knew how much they could ain from the experience. 19 The Benefits of, Corporation for National & Community, in the United States , United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, How Do Volunteers Find the Time? Evidence from the American Time Use Study, volunteerininamerica.ov,

21 2.4 n r Massachusetts ranks 34 th out of the 50 states and Washinton, D.C. for volunteer rates. 22 Out of 75 mid-size cities in the state, r ranks 68 th for volunteer rates with 22.9 percent of residents volunteerin. 23 There are several reasons why r s rankins are so low. n particular, r has a hiher percentae of residents livin in multi-unit housin structures (40.2 percent vs percent nationally) and has a population density which is over six times reater than the national averae. These factors influence how connected and obliated residents feel to their community, and thus how likely they are to volunteer. 24 Despite these low rankins, r residents who volunteer continue to do so. Compared to the national averae volunteer retention rate of 64.3 percent, r volunteers have a retention rate of 81.4 percent. 25 There are approximately 88,000 volunteers in r, who contribute an estimated $207 million contribution per year, and donate 10.6 million hours per year of service. This results in approximately 28 hours per year per resident. However, this is only three quarters of the national averae. 26 Fiures 2.2 and 2.3 show the types of community service activities that r residents perform, and also what types of oranizations they serve. 22 in Massachusetts in r, MA Factors That nfluence Volunteer Rates - r, MA Factors That nfluence Volunteer Rates - r, MA in r, MA

22 Fiure 2.2: Main Activities of r Volunteers vs. US 27 r Volunteers - Areas of, Other al Civic Sports/Arts Reliious 9.7% 5.7% 9.8% 35.4% 27.1% 4.8% 7.6% Fiure 2.3: Areas of for r Volunteers 28 Fiure 2.2 shows that the main activities for r volunteers closely match the national averaes, with the exception of Reliious activities, in which r residents are almost twice as active. This is also reflected in Fiure 2.3, which shows that 35.4% of r volunteers participate in volunteerin of a reliious nature, which is also the most popular cateory of service. 27 in r, MA in r, MA

23 2.5 Volunteerism in s Volunteerism amon collee ae students has rown dramatically in the past few years. n 2005, approximately 30.2 percent of collee students volunteered compared to 28.8 percent nationally, and collee students were twice as likely to volunteer as those in the same ae roup who were not enrolled in collee. 29 This is illustrated in Fiure 2.4 below which shows the volunteer rates of collee students aed 16 to 24 compared to other demoraphics in Fiure 2.4: 2005 Rates 30 Fiure2.4 shows that students enrolled in collee are volunteerin more than the eneral adult population, and the only ae roups that are volunteerin more are from aes The fiure also shows that volunteer rates drop to their lowest immediately after the ae roup considered to be collee ae. An increasin trend is volunteerin on an episodic basis, where less time is committed to a specific oranization. The Corporation for National and Community defines episodic volunteerin as a commitment lastin from 0-2 weeks per year, occasional volunteerin as a commitment lastin 3-11 weeks per year, and reular volunteerin as a commitment lastin loner than 12 weeks per year. 31 Fiure 2.5 on the next pae illustrates the lenth of volunteerin commitments compared to the eneral population in Students Helpin America, Corporation for National & Community, Students Helpin America, Corporation for National & Community, Students Helpin America, Corporation for National & Community,

24 Fiure 2.5: Frequency - Students vs. General Population in t can be determined from Fiure 2.5 that collee students are more likely to enae in episodic or occasional volunteerin than their adult counterparts, and that they are less likely to enae in reular volunteerin, which is volunteerin for twelve or more weeks per year. Despite the transient nature of student volunteers commitments, collee students are still loin substantial hours of community service. A majority of student volunteers in 2005 loed between 15 and 49 hours per year, while the second larest roup of student volunteers performed between 100 and 499 hours. 33 students are similar to the eneral adult population in that they are more likely to volunteer if they are employed. Fiure 2.6 compares the volunteer rate for collee students vs. the eneral adult population per hours of paid work per week. t shows that collee students workin between one and twenty five hours per week volunteer at a hiher rate than collee students who are not in the workforce. 32 Students Helpin America, Corporation for National & Community, Students Helpin America, Corporation for National & Community,

25 Volunteer Rate 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Students Paid Hours Worked Per Week Fiure 2.6: Volunteer Rate by Paid Hours Worked Per Week - Students vs. General Population Even thouh collee student who are employed are more likely to be volunteerin, the volunteer rate drops sharply for both collee students and the eneral adult population for those who work more than ten hours per week. For collee students, this downward trend continues, except for students who work thirty six or more hours per week. students participate in a wide variety of volunteer activities. Fiure 2.7, on the next pae, charts the different types of oranizations where collee students volunteer: 34 Students Helpin America, Corporation for National & Community,

26 Fiure 2.7: Student by Type of Oranization 35 al or Youth is the most popular type of oranization, with 31.6% of student volunteers participatin in this cateory. This is followed by reliious activities, with 23.4% of student volunteers participatin. n comparison, adult volunteers are more likely to volunteer are reliious oranizations, followed by educational or youth services Case Studies of Volunteer Oranizations The followin case studies are an overview of two community service oranizations in order to provide a eneral look into why community service oranizations exist, how they work, what volunteers do to support these oranizations, and what these oranizations do for the community. 35 Students Helpin America, Corporation for National & Community, Students Helpin America, Corporation for National & Community,

27 Habitat for Humanity Purpose: Habitat for Humanity nternational is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housin ministry. HFH seeks to eliminate poverty housin and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. 37 How They Work: Habitat for Humanity was established in 1976 with the purpose of buildin and rehabilitatin affordable houses for families in need. This is accomplished throuh volunteer labor, donations of material and money, and throuh the labors of the partner family purchasin the house. Partner families are able to obtain low-cost financin for the purchase of the house, and are required to pay a down payment. n addition, they are required to dedicate hundreds of hours of their own time to buildin their own house and the houses of others. The houses are able to be sold at a reatly reduced price because Habitat for Humanity makes no profit from the sale, and all mortae payments are used to build more houses. Results: n 2007, Habitat for Humanity built, rehabilitated, or repaired 49,039 homes, for a total of 279,723 since the oranization was founded. 38 Volunteer Activities: Volunteers participate in all aspects of buildin a home, all over the world. Volunteers as youn as 14 years old participate in non-construction activities, like landscapin or paintin under the supervision of their parents. Experienced volunteers can participate in tasks requirin a certain skill set, or can lead a team of lesser skilled volunteers. Not all volunteer opportunities are on a construction site. An individual can serve as an advocate for Habitat for Humanity, informin leaders to chane policies that will make housin easier to obtain for low income families. 37 Habitat for Humanity Website Habitat for Humanity Annual Report

28 Needs: Habitat for Humanity is in need of volunteers who can contribute the labor or materials necessary for buildin a home, as well as individuals who would be interested in advocatin on Habitat s behalf. r County Food Bank Purpose: To enae, educate, and lead r County in creatin a huner-free community. 39 How They Work: The r County Food Bank receives donations of food and rocery items from reional supermarkets, wholesalers, manufacturers, local farmers, restaurants, caterers, federal prorams and third-party food drives. The donated oods are inspected and sorted by volunteers and staff at the WCFB warehouse, and then distributed to 188 partner oranizations that have feedin prorams for the hunry. Results: n 2008, over 4.6 million pounds of food and rocery products were distributed by the r County Food Bank. The 188 oranizations within their network served over 82,000 people in the same year. Over 50 million pounds of food and rocery products have been distributed since the Food Bank was opened in Volunteer Activities: The majority of volunteers at the WCBF sort and inspect donated food and rocery products, but other volunteer opportunities are available, includin food drive assistance and other special events. Volunteers can be as youn as 13 years old (volunteers aed require parental supervision), and all volunteers are encouraed to commit for two to three hours per week. 41 Needs: The r County Food Bank needs donation of food, rocery products, and money. Volunteers are also needed to sort and inspect product as well as oranize their own food drives for the Food Bank accordin to suestions the oranization has outlined on their website. 39 From WCFB nterview - Data Sheet - 2/23/09 40 WCBF Website WCBF Website

29 2.7 Rules and Reulations of Volunteerism Most oranizations require that volunteers be above the ae of sixteen and that the volunteer obtain a Criminal Offender Record nformation (COR) Backround Check. 42 The reason for this stipulation is to ensure that their volunteers meet the ae of consent and have the ability to make their own decisions. t is also to ensure that they will not cause any harm to the clients of the nonprofit oranizations. ndividuals under the ae of sixteen who want to volunteer are required to be escorted by their parents whenever duties are performed. n addition, some oranizations require more details from their volunteers and implement an application process with interviews and backround checks from multiple states. This is expected of oranizations that provide services of a sensitive nature and have to maintain strict client confidentiality. 43 Other requirements are more specific to the volunteer job description, but some expectations are standard. f a job involves transportin individuals, the volunteer is required to have a valid driver s license and an incident-free drivin record. Likewise, jobs in which volunteers tutor in special areas such as computer raphics and media development would require transcripts or credentials from the volunteers statin that they are qualified in the area of study. f a volunteer is to lead a lare roup or interact with vulnerable clients, it is expected that they receive special trainin from the oranization. Trainin is essential for these positions because an insensitive remark or un-thouhtful comment can severely impact the proress of a patron and hinder their development. Oranizations that cater to ender specific roups require that their volunteers be of the same ender, aain this is due to the vulnerability and sensitivity of their clients. 44 Volunteer positions typically require recurrin volunteers; especially nonprofits whose mission involves introducin individuals back to the society and whose oals are to build community throuh their prorams and activities. As such, their ideal volunteer would be students who could visit with patrons on a weekly or bi-weekly basis and interact with them while contributin to the enrichment of the patron s character. 42 Excerpted from United Way nterview, February 17, Excerpted from Why Me nc interview, February 5, Excerpted from Hope Lode nterview, February 13,

30 Another common volunteer expectation for oranizations that focus heavily on roup development is that the volunteer meet on a reular basis. The nature of their service requires tasks to be completed on a step by step basis, and so it is essential that the volunteer meet with the clients reularly. 45 Specialty volunteers have limited obliations and would be more welcomed by smaller oranizations that want assistance with eneral labor. Annual fundraisin and social events are another opportunity in which oranizations can utilize one time volunteers. Assistance with set-up, clean-up and other loistic operations are ideal opportunities where student volunteers who participate at these events would only need to be present for at most two days and would rarely need to complete applications, COR checks or have future attachments to the oranization. 46 Requirements could be even more flexible in the event that an oranization does not need volunteers to be physically present in their buildin when volunteerin their time and service. Their volunteers would only be required to travel to the actual location on rare occasions and could either carry out their task at once or on a continual basis. Groups of volunteers would be more useful than individual volunteers for lare scale projects such as food sortin, landscapin or clean-up. Volunteer prorams that sponsor and serve a meal or simply raise awareness of an oranization would be most ideal for a flexible individual volunteer. Volunteerism requirements and needs vary amon the oranizations, and so it is essential to have oranizations distinuished by these requirements and needs in order to efficiently assist and provide service to them Summary This section briefly overviewed the history of volunteerin in the United States and also examined national and local volunteerin trends. on a national level was compared with volunteerin in r, and reasons why people choose to volunteer were presented. Finally, statistics reardin volunteerism amon collee students were presented, as well as basic requirements required to become a volunteer. 45 Excerpted from Boys Scouts nterview, February 27, Excerpted from Why Me nc nterview, February 5, Excerpted from Massachusetts Veterans nterview, February 23,

31 Chapter 3: Project Statement 3.1 ntroduction The purpose of this section is to outline the steps the team decided to take to fulfill its oals and achieve its objectives to ensure that the project was completed successfully in the desinated amount of time. 3.2 Goals and Objectives The oals of this project were as follows: Research community service in the r County Use this research to effectively implement a database for the s of r Consortium which would: o o o o o List the specific needs of oranizations in the r Area Facilitate the connection between student volunteers and oranizations that needed assistance Raise awareness of the needs of aencies in the r Area Make community service more attractive to students Provide community service oranizations with a resource that would connect them to passionate and dedicated volunteers 3.3 Project Phases The r Community Database project was carried out over the span of twenty one weeks. To ensure successful completion of the project, the team split the project into three sements, each with a major milestone that was to be accomplished durin intervals of seven weeks. By dividin the project into three phases, the roup members were able to choose and focus on oranizations and their contribution to the database in an oranized manner. Durin the first phase of the project the team s major objective was to compile a eneral list of nonprofit oranizations that serve r County. To do this, they anticipated usin online searches from a number of nonprofit resource websites in addition to recommendations from knowledeable advisors involved in the community and project collaborations. The oal of the second phase was to identify the views and thouhts of the students and oranizations on community service. The team conducted interviews in order to identify the unique 20

32 needs of many of the oranizations and ain an in-depth understandin of how the nonprofit oranizations were manaed and oranized. n addition, the team created and distributed surveys to the eneral student body to identify the attitudes and level of community service awareness that existed within the WP Community. The results would assist the team with the third phase which was to implement the community service database. The database would match the needs of students and nonprofit oranizations, while increasin public awareness of community service opportunities within r County. 3.4 Measurable Outcomes Listed below are the measurable outcomes that the team set out to accomplish: The team souht to create a list of all nonprofit oranizations in r County. This list was to be divided into descriptive cateories to facilitate ease of identification in the database. The team intended to interview ten oranizations, with at least one from each service cateory. Durin interviews the team wanted to et learn about the day to day operations of the oranization with the oal of assessin the oranizations efficiency. The team intended to survey at least fifty percent of the WP underraduate student body to accurately ain insiht into the attitudes and feelins towards community service. The results of these outcomes are listed in the Conclusion chapter of the report. 3.5 Summary This section defined the oals that were developed by the team members for the project and introduced the three staes in which the project was completed. These staes will be discussed in further detail in the subsequent chapter. 21

33 Chapter 4: Methodoloy 4.1 ntroduction The purpose of this section is to describe in detail the three sements into which the project was separated. The phases were created to ensure that objectives were met before movin on to other milestones. The details of this are described below. 4.2 Phase1: Generatin list of r Community Aencies To complete the first phase of the project, the team searched online for community service oranizations usin: and which were suested by community advisors. We hoped that the search would reveal popular nonprofit oranizations in r, and planned to record the mission statement, descriptions and contact information for each oranization. The roup would then sort the oranizations by service areas to ensure ease of distinction for further analysis. The anticipated service areas were: Adult Advancement, Youth Outreach,, Arts and Huner and Homelessness. Some oranizations provided services that fell under more than one cateory and would be listed in the table under multiple headins. 4.3 Phase 2: Analysis of Community in r n phase two the team planned to interview fifteen qualifyin oranizations to ain a closer look at the overall structure and eneral state of oranizations in r. The team developed a list of requirements to determine the oranizations to be interviewed. The first requirement was to have at least one oranization from each service cateory. By selectin one oranization from each cateory, the team would be able to ensure that information was comin from every aspect of community service within the community. The oranizations were then contacted, introducin them to the roup and requestin permission to participate in the study. Preference durin the selection was iven to oranizations that responded to the and showed interest in the project. The team also wanted to create surveys in conjunction with the WP Student Activities Office (SAO) to obtain thouhts and feelins about community service from students. Once the team desined a series of questions, SAO would then make recommendations and the team would then distribute the survey to the WP student body via the Student Government Association alias. The final factor in the decision process was the location of the oranization. n order to conduct the 22

34 interviews, it was necessary to travel to oranizations within a fifteen minute drivin distance from WP. This resulted in the exclusion of several oranizations in towns surroundin r. 4.4 Phase 3: Database mplementation The final phase of the project was to implement a database. The team corresponded with the Central Network and Pro roup to determine a feasible database desin implementation. The team would use the suestions and needs that were communicated by the fifteen interviewed oranizations and interests from fifteen Consortium students to create a demonstration version of the database. This database would then be presented to the s of r Consortium Community Enaement Committee for future implementation. 4.5 Summary The phases of the project were determined in a way to allow the team to naturally proress throuh their oals and objectives. Failure to meet the requirements for one phase would hinder the team from successfully completin the followin phase. t was therefore in the best interest of the team to plan accordinly to ensure that they completed all the oals that were set in this section. 23

35 Chapter 5: Data Collection 5.1 ntroduction Data was collected from oranizations and students throuh a combination of interviews and online surveys. This section details the methods of data collection, the aency selection and the expectations of the team members when desinin these methods. 5.2 Nonprofit Oranization nterviews Over forty local oranizations were researched before decidin which oranizations would be contacted for interviews. To reduce the list to approximately fifteen oranizations, only oranizations meetin a certain criteria were contacted. The criteria are listed below: At least one oranization from each of the service cateories must be interviewed. This ensured that every sector of community service was represented in the interview data. The oranization showed interest in the project once contacted. Several oranizations contacted for interviews did not respond to the request. However, many oranizations were excited about the project and were willin to provide additional assistance and information. The oranization was inclusive and beneficial to the eneral community. Oranizations with extremely specific needs were beyond the scope of this project. The oranization was within a fifteen minute drivin distance from WP. Because the database links oranizations with collee students in r, only oranizations within a reasonable drivin distance were included. The oranizations listed below were contacted, but ultimately did not fit the criteria required for an interview, or did not respond to the interview request: Girls nc. r Art Museum Horizons for Homeless Children Rachel s Table Easter Seals Community Link Southern Rehab r Fihts Back Mustard Seed Bi Brother/Bi Sister Seven Hills First Friends 24

36 nterviews with interested and cooperatin aencies were conducted in February and March of The fifteen oranizations that were interviewed are listed in Table 5.1, alon with the date of the interview: 5.3 nterview Questions Table 5.1: List of nterviewed Oranizations Oranization Name Date of nterview Sherry s House/Why Me 2/5 Boys & Girls Club 2/9 Dismas House 2/11 Compassion Prenancy 2/11 Hope Lode 2/13 United Way 2/17 Jeremiah s nn 2/18 Ecotarium 2/18 Abby s House 2/19 r County Food Bank 2/23 Mass. Veterans nc. 2/23 Boy Scouts 2/27 Pernet Family 3/17 Girl Scouts 3/17 YWCA 3/18 A list of twenty eneric questions was created and used at every interview. Every question did not apply to every oranization, but the questions served as a uide to collect consistent data at each oranization. The questions were focused on three main topics: The structure of the oranization itself; e.. its history, fundin sources, mission, etc. What the oranization needed from the public and expected from volunteers Community service in the r Area in eneral. Question 1: What is the purpose of your oranization? The purpose of this question was to learn about the backround of the oranization bein interviewed. The mission statement alone was not enouh to determine what the oranization was providin to the community and how it benefitted the people it was servin. This question also provided insiht into the prorams that the oranization was offerin and ave concrete examples of the services the aency provided. 25

37 Question 2: What are the reasons your oranization exists? The purpose of this question was to learn about the history of the oranizations and the issues that caused its formation, and also to learn about the sement of society that the oranization was servin. Question 3: How many people does your oranization serve? n addition to describin the scale of the operations of the oranization, this question determined the influence the oranization had on the community. Question 4: Where does your fundin come from? By determinin the oriin of the oranization s fundin, the team could better analyze the needs of the oranization. A well-funded aency has different needs than an oranization that needs to obtain fundin in addition to providin for the community. Question 5: How efficient is your oranization? This question determined how oranized the oranization was and what success rate it had in achievin its mission. This question was only asked at lare oranizations due to its potentially invasive nature. Question 6: How many employees does your oranization have? Question 7: How many are paid employees? Like question 5, this question provided insiht into the scale or the operation, how well it was funded, and also what kind of volunteer opportunities were available. Question 8: How many volunteers does your oranization have? Question 9: Are most volunteers reular, or one-time? This question also determined what kind of volunteer opportunities were available, and what level of commitment the oranization expected. Question 10: Would you prefer reular or one-time commitments from volunteers? 26

38 This question was pertinent to the database structure because not all volunteers were lookin for an onoin commitment. This question also served as a seue into the activities that volunteers performed at the oranization. However, it was expected that most oranizations would prefer onoin commitments from volunteers. Question 11: Do you provide any incentives for your volunteers? The purpose of this question was to find out if the oranization had any additional methods of attractin volunteers aside from community service itself. Question 12: What percentae of your volunteers are collee students? This question served as a measure of how closely the oranization was already workin with collees in the r area and also how attractive it was to student volunteers. Also, it provided insiht into the tasks entrusted to collee students by the oranization, what kind of volunteer the oranization was seekin, and what level of commitment was expected. Question 13: Do you currently have any volunteers from WP? The purpose of this question was to find out if the oranization was workin with the Student Activities office at WP, and also determined what schools student volunteers were comin from. An oranization that had existin connections with WP was substantially easier to interate into the database. Question 14: s there anythin that a WP student with a technical backround could provide your oranization? This question was related to a question asked in the student survey. Many students expressed interest in providin technical support as a volunteer activity. This question also determined what the oranization needed outside the realm of traditional community service activities. Question 15: What is your idea of an ideal volunteer? This question allowed the oranization representative to explicitly describe what was desired in a student volunteer. Question 16: What requirements do your volunteers have to meet? 27

39 The purpose of this question was to find out what kind of restrictions an oranization had for it volunteers, e.. ae requirements, backround checks, ender, etc. Question 17: What type of assistance do you need most? This question was asked with the intention of determinin what volunteers or the community could provide to the oranization. Question18: What other needs do you have? This question allowed the oranization representative to describe any additional needs that the oranization had in addition to the major needs determined in question 17, or describe potential activities that a third party could conduct to benefit the oranization. Question 19: What are the unique needs of nonprofits in the r Area? This question was asked to ain an understandin of community service in the r Area as a whole, as well as open up discussion to other oranizations in need aside from the one bein interviewed. Question 20: Where can we find more information on nonprofits in eneral? The oal of this question was that the representative bein interviewed would be able to provide the team with resources related to nonprofits or community service on a national scale. 5.4 Student Surveys Two community service surveys were created by the team in conjunction with the Student Activities Office. One was desined for volunteers who were currently involved in community service and another for individuals who had no volunteer experience and non-volunteers who may have done service in their community in the past, but were currently not active volunteers. The purpose of the surveys was to ain insiht into the thouhts and opinions of students towards volunteerism. The surveys were desined with a oal of atherin interests and skill sets of students to be included in the database. Each survey had ten questions, each of which was deliberately chosen to provide the team with the foundation upon which to build the database. The survey consisted of two open ended questions and eiht multiple choice or multiple answer questions. The first sections of the survey addressed the types of service that students are involved 28

40 in, how they became aware of service opportunities and the reasons why they perform this service. The next questions served to obtain the talents of the volunteers, their interests and the type of commitment they prefer. The final questions evaluated the commitment of current volunteers and asked for ways to increase awareness of community service opportunities on campus. The survey was distributed usin Goole Documents after three revisions by the team, the advisor and the SAO. 5.5 Survey Details Students were iven the option to complete one of two surveys. Current volunteers were asked ten questions pertainin to their current service opportunities and past volunteers or nonvolunteers were asked ten questions pertainin to service they have or have not completed in the past. Some questions were common to both surveys and the purpose of each questions and expected result are explained below. Volunteer: What community service activities do you currently participate in? Non-volunteer: What type of community service have you participated in the past? The oal of the first question was to ain a broad overview of the types of community service activities that students currently and previously participate in. More importantly, in the nonvolunteer survey the question was also eared towards identifyin and quantifyin the number of students that have never participated in any form or community service. The expectation was that the answers would contain more hih school service involvement than service durin the years of tertiary education. The averae hih school student completed a reat deal of service within the community durin hih school with the intention of buildin their resume for collee. t was therefore believed that most students both volunteers and non-volunteers would list some form of service durin their secondary education. Volunteer and Non-volunteer: How do you find out about non-profit oranizations in need of volunteers? The purpose of this question was to identify and quantify the sources from which collee students become aware of community service opportunities. By identifyin the most reliable source, the team would be able to make recommendations to nonprofit oranizations and use it to promote the database. Since on-campus Community Offices were underutilized, the team assumed that students found out about volunteer opportunities directly from the nonprofit oranizations. 29

41 Non-volunteer: would be more likely to participate in community service activities if they were sponsored by WP: This question souht to determine in further detail whether the lack of student involvement in community service was because there were not many WP-sponsored events. This question allowed the team to determine if students were more willin to participate in community service activities if they were oranized on-campus. The team expected most students to state that they would be more inclined to be involved if service activities were sponsored by WP because it would be more convenient in location and would most likely be more oriented with their interests. Volunteer and Non-volunteer: Which of these volunteer cateories interest you the most? What type of skills can you offer to a community service oranization? These two questions were asked with the intention of direct use for the database. The team wanted a eneral idea of what types of oranizations to contact but also to know and quantify the type of skills, talent and interests that existed within the campus community. The team expected technical and mentorin skills to be prominent in the WP community and predicted that a majority of the students would be more comfortable with mentorin and children services as opposed to aidin the homeless and abused. Volunteer: What type of time commitment do you currently make at your community service activity? Non-volunteer: What type of time commitment did you make at your community service activity? What would be your ideal time requirement per month? The aim of these three questions was to cateorize the type of volunteers that collee students are based on their time commitment. The team wanted to quantify the most common availability and time commitments that collee students make to community service oranizations. Usin this information, the team would be able to determine the ideal type of volunteer services for collee students and taret and include oranizations that were receptive to this type or commitment. Based on the heavy workload of the averae collee student, the team expected that many of the surveyed students would prefer to be episodic volunteers, volunteerin for less than five hours per week. 30

42 Non-volunteer: What do you think the Community Office at WP can do to more effectively make students aware of community service opportunities? The question was asked to obtain suestions and recommendations from the student body on ways to improve the awareness of community service on campus. The team simply wanted to determine ways in which to improve the already established methods of publicizin service opportunities. The team expected students to suest usin more online service such as mywp or discussion boards to post service opportunities to the eneral campus. Volunteer: How committed are you to your service in the community? Do you feel that you are maximizin your volunteer service? The purpose of these two questions was to clarify whether students who were currently volunteerin felt that they were performin to the best of their ability, and whether it was out of enuine dedication to the service. Accordin to the WP Community Office, a lare number of their students that are involved in community service are either work study or belon to a fraternity or sorority, and were expected to fulfill strict service requirements. The team therefore predicted that many of the student s response would indicate that they were not very committed to their service and were not dedicatin themselves to their full potential. Non-Volunteer: Do you believe volunteerin is important? Why or why not? This final question for the non-volunteer survey was open ended and served as an indicator of the sincere sentiments of a non-volunteer towards service in the community. From this the team wanted to determine whether or not students were aware of the importance of community service and more accurately determine where the root of the problem with community service involvement lies. The team predicted that most students would state that service in the community was important, and hoped that many would take the time to elaborate on their enuine reasons for this. Volunteer: What is the drivin force behind your volunteer commitment? Why do you volunteer? This question served to identify sincere sentiments just as the final question for the non-volunteer survey. With this question the team hoped to determine with justification why students were enuinely volunteerin and the motivation behind their continued service to the community. Once aain, with the knowlede of the work-study majority of volunteers the team expected most of the results to reflect some form of obliation to service out of requirement. 31

43 5.6 Summary Every interview and survey question was asked with the intention of obtainin a specific piece of information. The format and flow of questions were desined with the oranizations and students in mind to ensure that the questions were easy to follow and to limit as many erroneous answers as possible. n the followin chapter the team will discuss the results from the interviews and surveys. 32

44 Chapter 6: Analysis of Results 6.1 ntroduction The purpose of this section is to present the results of the second phase of the project, in which local nonprofit oranizations were interviewed and local collee students were surveyed reardin community service. 6.2 nterview Analysis Nonprofit Oranizations Fifteen local oranizations were selected and interviewed in February and March of The oranizations interviewed are shown in Fiure 6.1. The results from each interview are included in the section below. Fiure 6.1: Locations of nterviewed Oranizations Note - Shown on the map are the locations of the interviews. Some oranizations had multiple locations, which are not shown. 33

45 Why Me Mission: Why Me is dedicated to providin love and support for families with childhood cancer. Why Me was founded by 13 year old Sherry Shepherd durin her four year strule with cancer with the purpose of easin the pain felt by children cancer patients and their families. Provided: Why Me is a unique oranization in that it is willin to do whatever it takes to ensure the emotional and financial well bein of the families it serves. Why Me holds a wide variety of events to brin its families toether and to allow the children of these families to feel like kids aain. Why Me is a tihtly rouped oranization and has a hih rate of volunteer loyalty. Eihty seven percent of all families served since 1985 are still active with the oranization. 48 One of the most important services that Why Me provides is the use of a house specifically desined to support its 465 member families. Sherry s House serves as headquarters for Why Me, and also as the center for many of Why Me events. Sherry s House also has eiht bedrooms where families can stay completely free of chare durin their child s treatment, as well as numerous activity and ame rooms where family fun events are held. Needs: The needs of Why Me were as lare as the scope of the services they provided. Many of the oranization s needs were simple household items: toiletries, food, cleanin supplies etc. because of the domestic nature of many of the services they provided. Why Me maintains a list of these items on their website. Volunteers were also needed; however the most valuable services that volunteers could provide were oranizin fundraisin events because Why Me received the majority of its fundin throuh internal and external fundraisers. Additional Details: Why Me is an acronym which stands for r Help for Youth Memories Everlastin that was created by Sherry Shepherd. They work closely with the of Massachusetts and Boston Children s Department of Oncoloy; the volunteers from Why Me reularly volunteer with the patients at these hospitals and inform them about the services of Why Me and Sherry s House. Althouh Why Me is affiliated with these hospitals they receive no form of 48 Why Me nterview, February 5,

46 financial assistance from these oranizations and are funded solely from the donations and fundraisers put on by the oranization and their volunteers. Why Me is overned by a board of directors and has approximately ten employees and a reular volunteer base of 230 individuals. Volunteers have very little requirements: an approved COR check and a minimum ae of fourteen. The Why Me oranization has never had to turn any volunteers away and do not have a required time commitment. Why Me nc has been active members of the r community since the eihties, helpin and have been affiliated with WP for the past few years and currently attend the yearly Community fairs that are held in the fall. Althouh they receive a fair amount of feedback from WP students durin the fairs their volunteers are still enerally retired citizens and hih school students. Conclusions: What sets Why Me apart from other oranizations is that it is flexible in the services that it provides and does not have to follow strict uidelines in the support it provides families. n addition to hostin events and brinin families strulin with childhood cancer toether, Why Me will o as far as payin every day bills of families in financial distress. The services provided by this oranization were boundless and representative of how truly dedicated and compassionate its volunteers, employees, and member families are about supportin those in need. Boys & Girls Club of r Mission: To help youth, especially those who need us most, develop the qualities needed to become responsible citizens and community leaders, throuh carin professional staff who fore relationships with our youth members and influence their ability to succeed in life. 49 Provided: The Boys and Girls Club of r was formed in 1889 after a need for a safe place for boys to han out instead of on the streets was realized. The Boys and irls club is open to children between the aes of eiht and eihteen from all demoraphic and financial backrounds and serves over 300 children per day in its r club houses. Today however majority of the 49 Boys and Girls Club website

47 members of the Boys and Girls Club live below the National Poverty Line. As such many of the members are from impoverished communities with limited resources. The club functions as a place where their voice can be heard 50 and a place where many of the pressures from their communities are alleviated. The Boys and Girls Club provides a safe place for children durin their development so that they will reach their full potential as adults. The Boys and Girls Club offers a wide rane of services, but enerally it serves as a location for children to come after school to participate in sports, arts, or receive academic assistance. The Boys and Girls Club also provides reduced cost daycare for children under the ae of eiht. Needs: The Boys and Girls Club is a nationwide oranization and needs qualified volunteers who can help to utilize their resources to its full potential. For example, the oranization was able to purchase equipment for a recordin studio, but needed volunteers to show them how to use it properly. The oranization was also lookin for a volunteer to start a raphic arts proram in its computer lab, and was also in need of basic computer maintenance services. n addition to this, they expressed a need for students in math and science to dispel the stereotypes of science students. Additional Details: The purpose of the Boys and Girls Club is to awaken a sense of possibility in the lives of the youth to become responsible citizens and leaders and positively impact their communities. Children pay an annual fee of twenty five dollars to be able to use the facilities and services. This fee in no way covers the costs of runnin the club house and only accounts for about ten percent of the expenses. As such the center receives additional fundin from outside donors such as local businesses, as well as umbrella oranizations such as United Way. A fair amount of fundraisin is done to supplement club expenses. The Club attains volunteers by contactin collees and attendin community service fairs in the Consortium. They have worked with few WP students in the past and would love to build a stroner relationship. The club currently has approximately sixty five paid employees that are both full time and part time; a reular volunteer base of one hundred and fifty per year. 50 Joe Hunler, Boys and Girls Club nterview, February 9,

48 Conclusions: The Boys and Girls Club is a lare oranization in constant need of volunteers. Because of its size, the oranization was well oranized and needed little assistance with administrative activities or fundraisin, but was eaer to have volunteers desin new prorams or show them how to make their existin prorams better. The Boys and Girls Club has a tremendous amount of resources that are bein underutilized because of a lack of volunteers. This oranization has laid the foundations and need students such as ourselves to volunteer so that the youth of r can reap its benefits. Dismas House Mission: Dismas House is a supportive community that provides transitional housin and services to former prisoners and real-life educational opportunities to students from area collees, and from throuhout the US and the world! The men and women of Dismas House live and work as a family, helpin each other row towards the oal of reinteration into society. Dismas House provides a consensus-based, sober alternative to a return to the streets, and a return to incarceration. Our cooks, donors, board members and other volunteers help make reconciliation a reality. 51 Provided: Dismas House is part of a three stae proram desined to reinterate exprisoners with society, and also to introduce society to its clients. Dismas House provides a place for twelve ex-prisoners to live durin their reinteration, but they are required to pay for part of the operatin expenses of the house. They are also required to perform chores, stay sober, and be an active participant in the proram. Dismas House also provides internships to local collee students seekin a career in nonprofit manaement. Needs: Dismas House has a total of ten employees that vary as full and part time as well as a therapist, case manaer and lawyer. They receive most of its fundin from overnment rants and third party donations. They also had a volunteer base of reular volunteers. What Dismas House needs most are reular volunteers who can prepare meals for its residents. Most of their current volunteers are professionals and students and they have standard volunteer requirements. t is important for the volunteers to be a reular presence at the house because part of the Dismas 51 From: What is Dismas House?

49 proram is to create a sense of community, which makes reinteration easier for the residents and society. Also needed was technical support and assistance with computer maintenance. Conclusions: Dismas House was unique in that it expected both its residents to reinterate into society, but also expected society to play an active role in their recovery. This two way street ideal was reflected throuhout the oranization. Dismas House provided a place for ex-prisoners to live, but it was expected that their residents would pay for it. t was also required that the residents had to be enthusiastic about their reinteration, and assist other residents as well. Because of the sense of community that is built at Dismas House, their success rate ranes from percent 52. When compared to the 75 percent of the prison population who return to jail after bein released, it is obvious that Dismas House is hihly successful. 53 Dismas House was one of the smaller oranizations interviewed and did not have a national counterpart from which they received fundin. This was evident in the upkeep and appearance of their surroundins and facilities. The execution of their mission was clear to us durin our interviews as we observed their residents. One helpful resident assisted us at the door and another was busy with the classifieds of the newspaper tryin to secure a job. Dismas can benefit from volunteers of every skill set: administrative assistance for their rant writin, technical assistance for their website or interpersonal assistance with interactin with the residents would be welcomed and well received by the staff and patrons. Compassion Prenancy Resource Center Mission: The Compassion Prenancy Resource Center exists to to provide accurate information, education and service to women and men facin unplanned prenancies. 54 Provided: The Compassion Prenancy Resource Center provides free prenancy tests, options counselin, referrals and resources, abortion recovery support, abstinence education proram and material aid for mothers and babies. The oranization exercises strict confidentiality with all of its operations and noted very importantly that they are not a medical facility, and do not facilitate abortions. 52 From: What is Dismas House? From: What is Dismas House? Excerpted from Compassion Prenancy nterview - 2/09/09 38

50 Needs: Due to the confidential nature of the oranization, student volunteers are not needed. Their volunteers are trained peer counselors who are certified to provide support to their clients. They have three paid members of staff who are paid throuh rants and outside fundin when available. The oranization needs assistance with raisin awareness of their oranization so that students know that their services are available. The oranization received the majority of its fundin throuh donations from individuals, churches and businesses, and will be pursuin more rants as an additional fundin source. in a volunteer to help them write rant proposals and volunteers to advertise their services were expressed, but the oranization did not otherwise require volunteers. Conclusions: The Compassion Prenancy Resource Center was a tihtly run oranization with strict volunteer requirements due to the confidential nature of its activities. Compassion Prenancy stood out above other oranizations because of the level of dedication and selfless commitment of their members. t is safe to say that the oranization is 99 percent sustained by volunteers. The director and two administrative members of staff are not uaranteed salaries, in fact only receive small stipends when donations and rant fundin is left over after coverin other operational costs. Generally, each interviewed oranization had at least 5 main staff members that were paid to ensure that the oranization was able to be run at all times. Their workers of Compassion Prenancy offer their services with or without a salary and this is a truly commendable quality of its workers. Hope Lode Mission: The r Hope Lode serves a home away from home for patients underoin active outpatient cancer treatment outside their own communities. 55 Provided: The r Hope Lode provides a place to stay for patients underoin cancer treatment in the r area. Althouh they do not cater specifically to entire families, there are nine bedrooms for patients and their careivers to stay free of chare. Hope Lode also provides other services sponsored by the American Cancer Society to help cancer patients and their families cope with the challenes that cancer presents. 55 From Hope Lode r website

51 Needs: When asked what the oranization needed the interviewees responded with everythin. Hope Lode is in need of volunteers to prepare meals for their residents and to provide basic computer trainin for some of their residents. They would also welcome volunteers who could assist them with their computer hardware maintenance and uprades. n addition to this they would also welcome donations whether monetary or ifts of food and household supplies. Additional Details: Hope Lode is a small component of the American Cancer Society that exists to provide temporary housin for adults in active cancer treatment. They are 30 Hope Lodes within the US and Puerto Rico and they are funded by the ACS and third party fundraisin. They have a reular volunteer base of sixty students with tasks that rane from shuttle drivers to fundraisers. Hope Lode is also sustained by donations from enerous friends in the form of ifts and payment of bills. Their volunteers are of all types: youth roups, hih school students, collee students and retied individuals. A volunteer is required to complete a backround check, and application. Patients are accepted into the service after receivin written consent from a doctor and are referred by social workers or coordinator from hospital. They have three full time employees, five part time employees and would welcome volunteers to assist with everyday administrative and patient related tasks. Conclusions: Hope Lode is one of the many support services offered by the American Cancer Society. The facility was well maintained and the atmosphere was very relaxed and orderly. Hope Lode was the most oranized oranization that was interviewed. The staff job descriptions were clearly defined and they had several systems in place to make the resident experience a hassle free one. Some of these were: daily shuttle service to the hospital, marked shelves for storae, notice boards with pictures of all their residents with names and local activities for the weekend. United Way - Volunteer Center Mission: The United Way of Central Massachusetts inspires and mobilizes the carin power of our community to ensure that children, youth, families, and those in need have the 40

52 opportunity to become self-sufficient and successful members of society. 56 Provided: The Volunteer Center at the Central Massachusetts branch of the United Way provides a portal for volunteers to find oranizations to serve. Needs: The United Way has an impressive volunteer base about five hundred of which 25% are collee students and are currently not lackin in any area of their basic needs. They would however like to encourae students to reister with them if they would like to maximize their volunteer experience. They are open to providin students with any information they made need about nonprofit oranizations in Central Massachusetts and are willin to connect students with nonprofit oranizations that they may be interested in. Additional Details: The United Way is a lare oranization with a purpose of brinin people toether to solve the problems in the community. t was started out of a need to provide a portal to et information and connect with nonprofits. The volunteer portion of the United Way was started by an oranization formerly known as the Volunteer Center and was adopted by United Way in the 1960s.The majority of the fundin for the Volunteer Center is acquired throuh rants and a small portion comes from the United Way administrative budet. The United Way supports approximately two hundred and fifty oranizations and raised an estimated six million dollars last year to donate to the community. Volunteers are the drivin force behind the Volunteer Center, which only has a total of four employees Conclusions: The United Way is an excellent resource for nonprofit oranizations of every size because they have the ability to provide fundin and can assist oranizations that may have difficulties with advertisin and stayin ahead of technoloy. The United Way is well established and is currently workin on projects to increase sporadic volunteer activities in Central Massachusetts similar to the Boston Cares proram. The United Way can be described as the sinle most important nonprofit oranization in the community because throuh them other oranizations 56 From United Way of Central Massachusetts Website - Who We Are

53 of every service cateory are sustained and so they touch the lives of individuals in need of a variety of services. Jeremiah s nn Mission: The mission of Jeremiah s nn has three parts: Residential Recovery Proram - Jeremiah s nn has 28 transitional beds for homeless men. This is part of their social model recovery proram where each resident ives and receives help in reachin their oals. The men must be sober, mentally stable, and willin to chane their lives. n addition, there are two rooms available for emerency boardin. Emerency Food Pantry - Jeremiah s nn operates an emerency food pantry which in 2003 served over 16,000 individuals. - Jeremiah s nn works to increase public awareness of homelessness and huner. Provided: The residential recovery proram at Jeremiah s nn serves 28 homeless men at a time, uidin them out of homelessness by providin food, shelter, clothin, and also access to case manaers and lawyers. The residents are chared $10 per day for this service. There are two emerency beds available at all times for non-resident homeless men for up to seven days, which allows them access to the services available to lon term residents. The food pantry is open to families on a once per-month basis. The food pantry serves four to five hundred families per month. Needs: Jeremiah s nn needed material oods to pass on to their residents and food bank patrons. Because the men in the proram had to be active participants in the house, the oranization did not need volunteers for staff positions. The larest need was non-perishable items for the food pantry. Additional Details: Jeremiah s nn is not affiliated with any larer oranization, and is funded by the State Department of and Bureau of Substance Abuse. They are also funded by rants and private donations from their annual appeal. They have ten employees and about 150 reular volunteers that prepare meals, donate to the food pantry, bake birthday cakes and adopt rooms for renovation. The oranization serves about four hundred to five hundred families a month in the food pantry and the food is supplied by federal and state aencies as well as the r County Food Bank. About forty percent of their volunteers are collee students and the only requirements 42

54 for volunteers are COR checks. They do not currently receive any volunteers from WP, but are lookin for lon term volunteers because there are few opportunities for episodic prorams, and their oal is to build community for their residents. Conclusions: Jeremiah nn did not need many in-house volunteers because of how active their residents are in runnin the house, but they did need assistance in creatin food drives. This interview also allowed the team to ain perspective on volunteerism from a nonprofit s point of view. The executive director of Jeremiah s nn noted that most donations came from lower-income individuals, because they were more likely to have experienced homelessness or huner in their life. Jeremiah s nn appeared to be a very independent oranization receivin very little overnment fundin with the exception of their emerency food pantry and no fundin from umbrella oranizations such as United Way. The director noted that the oranization enjoys their freedom to execute their prorams in the best way they see fit and so try to seek fundin independently as opposed to by followin federal uidelines. t was also mentioned that the staff is very dedicated to service beyond their cause and will almost never allow an individual to leave throuh their doors without a solution or reference even if it is not related to their area of service. Ecotarium Mission: To contribute to a better world by inspirin a passion for science and nature throuh discovery. 57 Provided: The Ecotarium fosters educational rowth by providin science and naturethemed exhibits. n addition, the Ecotarium also provides homes to animals who could not otherwise survive on their own in the wild as part of their animal care proram. The Ecotarium also maintains several trails on its rounds which inform visitors of the native New Enland environment. Needs: The Ecotarium needs volunteers to fill a variety of positions. The Ecotarium uses its 130 volunteers to perform tasks from directin visitors in the parkin lot to rounds maintenance, research, and proram development. volunteers were desired because they could use their knowlede to better inform visitors, and their creativity to desin new exhibits. 57 From Ecotarium website - About the Ecotarium

55 Additional Details: The Ecotarium has about forty staff members and one hundred and thirty reular volunteers. They are funded by rants, endowments and fundraisin. They receive about two hundred uests per week and about four hundred durin volunteer week. Many of their volunteers are hih school students, senior citizens and retired professors/scientists. Volunteers are extensively trained and expect ted to make a commitment of six months and be a minimum of sixteen years old. Currently they have eiht students from WP and believe that WP students would be particularly fit for their MicroDiner where they showcase demonstrations of wind enery, and work with microscopes and different functions. They are also open to WP students brinin demonstrations from classes to put on display. Conclusions: The Ecotarium is a lare and well funded oranization, but still depend on volunteers. The size of the Ecotarium allowed it to offer a lare number of excitin and enain volunteer opportunities which were attractive to student volunteers who could commit for a minimum of six months. Abby s House Mission: The mission of Abby s House is to provide emerency and lon-term housin, as well as woman-centered advocacy and support services to homeless, battered and low-income women, with or without children. n addition, we provide education to the community about the issues with which our uests and residents strule each day. We fulfill our mission by empowerin women to lead self-directed lives filled with dinity and hope. By offerin warm hospitality, we seek to be in relationships of carin and support. n namin the oppression that exists in women's lives, we strive to create chane From Abby s House Website

56 Provided: Abby s House provides a number of services for women: Emerency Shelter - The emerency shelter at Abby s House provides emerency housin, food, and clothin to 300 women and children each year. 59 Permanent Housin - The core of Abby s House is their residency proram in which 78 apartments are available for women in need. Women receive counselin as part of this proram throuh a personal advocate to ensure that each resident is makin steps towards independence. The proram chares rents well below market rate, and althouh the housin is considered permanent, most residents stay for an averae of two years. Women s Center - The Women s Center provides a place where women can ather to partake in prorams to reduce the mental and social effects felt by women in poverty. Thrift Shop - The thrift shop provides free clothin to Abby s House residents, and offers clothin at reatly reduced costs to the eneral public. Needs: Abby s House needed fundin assistance, as well as one-time volunteers for small projects and to provide computer trainin to residents. Additional Details: Abby s House has only 7 full time employees and is supplemented by volunteers who assist with administrative tasks on a daily basis. Their volunteer base consists of approximately 200 individuals and enerally prefers female volunteers due to sensitivity of some of their patrons. The majority of their volunteers are collee students.volunteers are expected to remain clean and sober and be respectful to their patrons and sensitive to their needs. Conclusions: Abby s House demonstrated how a rassroots movement can turn into a lare and successful nonprofit oranization. Abby s House was created in 1976 and has since served 11,000 individuals. Althouh proceeds from charin rent and the thrift shop help to offset some of the cost of runnin the oranization, Abby s House still needed fundin assistance. Abby s House received no overnment fundin as a result of their strict residency requirements, but despite bein the only shelter in r to claim this, 93 percent of residents enrolled in the residency proram remained in stable housin after leavin the proram From Abby s House Website Abby s House Website

57 r County Food Bank Mission: To enae, educate, and lead r County in creatin a huner-free community. Provided: r County Food Bank is one of twenty food banks nation-wide from the National Feedin America Foundations. They enae the community by distributin food to a number of aencies. The r County Food Bank works with 180 partner oranizations, 88 of which are emerency food pantries such as Jeremiah s nn and 35 of these prorams are riht within r. n 2008, the WCFB distributed over 4.6 million pounds of food and rocery items. 61 n addition, the WCFB also provides nutritional education prorams and serves as an advocate for huner-relief services. Needs: The r County Food bank needs donations of food, rocery items, and fundin, as well as lare roups of volunteers willin to commit to a one-time volunteer opportunity. Additional Details: The r County Food Bank receives over five hundred million pounds of food per year. The food is provided free of cost with the exception of a small maintenance fee chared to the aencies to alleviate the cost of freiht shippin. Much of the food is donated from local wholesales and supermarkets and some from household volunteers. Donations from the community are still substantial despite the economic hardships that we are currently facin. The r County Food Bank has approximately twenty employees that are either full time or part time. They have about two hundred reular volunteers per year whose main responsibility is to sort the food that they receive. Their volunteers are mostly roups as opposed to individuals and have to submit applications and receive special trainin. They expressed a lack of youner volunteers with physical strenth and stamina that would be very beneficial to the food pantries. Most of the aid they receive is from individual donations, state fundin and rants. Conclusions: t was noted durin the interview that the r County Food Bank did not receive many collee ae volunteers. t was suested that the reason behind this is because many collee students do not know how satisfyin volunteerin can be, and also do not understand the 61 Excerpted from WCFB interview - 2/23/09 46

58 manitude of social problems like huner. This oranization served over 82,000 individuals in 2008, and provided many volunteer opportunities for collee students lookin for either one-time or reular volunteerin commitments. WCFB was one of the more oranized nonprofits with specific detailed tasks for their volunteers. The requirements and commitments were also well defined and so it did not offer a reat deal of flexibility for collee students. This combined with the distance from the central collee area could also be reasons why their collee student volunteer percentae is so low. Massachusetts Veterans nc. Mission: Massachusetts Veterans nc. (MV) provides housin services to local homeless veterans and also provides transitional services to veterans who proress from the shelter. The averae lenth of stay is between 2 and 2.5 years, and veterans who proress throuh the shelter are encouraed to take advantae of the other services that MV provides. Provided: MV provides housin to 79 homeless male veterans and 6 female veterans in a safe, dru and alcohol-free environment. n addition to housin, MV also provides three meals per day, on site health and leal assistance, and prorams for personal and professional development includin GED trainin, computer trainin, and onsite addiction counselin. Needs: MV was in need of volunteers to provide and prepare meals for veterans takin advantae of the meal prorams, and encourae lare roups of volunteers to participate in this proram. Additional Details: The Massachusetts Veterans nc was started in 1992 because of a lack of residential and wellness facilities for veterans. The oranization has two locations: r and Devens, Massachusetts. Mass Veterans are not connected to any other nonprofit oranizations and is currently workin on openin an outreach center with a food bank, classes for the community, housin and daycare. They have forty-one paid employees and about eihty volunteers per years. Volunteers are required to complete applications, interviews and a COR check. Many of their volunteers are one time committers who return and turn into reular visitors. They currently receive volunteers from the WP Air Force proram. They are funded by the state and federal fundin, private donations and from rants. They do a sinificant amount of fundraisin with yearly events such as olf tournaments and fundraisin balls. 47

59 Conclusions: MV had a lare number of paid employees, and did not need assistance with administrative tasks. at MV would be a ood opportunity for a roup of students lookin to perform a one-time service. The team had the pleasure of visitin durin a meal that was sponsored by a local bank. t was surprisin to see the number of individuals who once defended our country and are now unable to provide for themselves. The volunteers and staff members all seemed happy to be ivin back to people who risked their lives for them. This oranization has a clear cut mission and should have very little trouble findin volunteers to support them. Boy Scouts of America - Mohean Council Mission: The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare youn people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instillin in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. 62 Provided: The Boys Scouts of America provide a proram for youn people desined to build character and leadership throuh fun educational activities. The Mohean Council of the Boy Scouts of America, which is active in the central Massachusetts area, serves 4700 children and 3600 adults. Needs: Boy Scouts of America is a lare, national oranization and were not actively seekin collee ae volunteers. Most volunteers are adults who have children in the proram, but the oranization was open to one-day educational prorams desined by a collee students. Additional Details: The Boy Scouts exist to instill value in scouts that serve to help these youn men in makin ethical decisions throuhout their life by ivin them the opportunity to lead at a youn ae. The oranization has seven employees and over two thousand volunteers throuhout the country. Many of their volunteers are adult parents whose children are involved in the proram. Most of their aid comes from rant fundin with a small portion from United Way and the volunteer families involved. The r Boy Scouts serves approximately three hundred youth and are in need of after school prorams, summer camp leaders and volunteers for day projects. Volunteers 62 BSA Website

60 are required to have backround checks and trainin in youth protection. Boys Scouts prefers reular volunteers and currently receive volunteers from the APO fraternity of WP. Conclusions: The Boy Scouts were lookin for a particular type of volunteer; ideally a volunteer would be someone who had been previously involved with scoutin and wanted to stay active in the oranization. One would assume that this oranization is well manaed since it has been in existence for so many years, but the dilapidation of the buildin and very small number of employees led the team to believe that there was a need for more than just troop volunteers. The Boys Scout council would be an ideal opportunity for students who could evaluate their operation and assist with makin it more efficient and makin their technoloy more streamline. Pernet Family Mission: n the tradition of the Little Sisters of the, Pernet Family supports the physical, social, psycholoical and spiritual development of individuals and families by providin home based health and social services that lead to lonterm strenthenin and enhancement of family and community life. Provided: Pernet Family has a number of prorams desined to strenthen family and community bonds. Data excerpted from Pernet Family nterview - 3/17/09 Early ntervention - Provides developmental services to families of children who are at risk of developmental delay. Maternal Child Nursin - Home care for mothers who are prenant or parentin youn children. Youn Parent Support - Pernet teaches parentin skills to new parents under the ae of 23. Emerency Assistance Proram - n addition to offerin advice on lon-term huner solutions, Pernet operates an emerency food and infant supply pantry. Patrons can obtain two day s worth of supplies once per month. Neihborhood Events - Pernet hosts neihborhood events such as block parties and ice skatin trips. Youth Prorams - Pernet s youth proram includes homework help sessions with local collee students, mentorin prorams, and summer jobs for low income youth. Father s Support Group - Provides support to new fathers. Homemaker Proram - Provides shoppin and assistance with liht chores to those who are unable to perform them on their own. 49

61 Needs: Pernet Family was in need of volunteers lookin for unpaid summer internships in the social services field, and also lookin for volunteers for their after school prorams, parentin support roups, and for participants for the Walk For Huner in Boston. Additional Details: Pernet has between twenty to thirty employees, five of whom are paid throuh state contracts with Community Foundations. Their monthly volunteer base consists of 50 individuals of which fifty percent are collee students. Volunteers are required to complete a COR check and be willin to make a time commitment of one semester. The oranization is funded throuh private donors, rants and state and federal rants. Conclusions: Pernet Family had a lare number of prorams and was already workin with several r collees. There were numerous volunteer opportunities with both one-time and recurrin commitments, and also opportunities for those pursuin a career in community service. The Pernet staff was very involved in number of community activist oranizations throuhout r and the team believes that Pernet would be ideal for a volunteer who is interested in the social issues of the community. Girl Scouts Mission: Girl Scoutin builds irls of courae, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. 63 Provided: Girl Scouts participate in field trips, community service activities, cultural exchanes, and other activities to demonstrate to irls the values of self-worth and personal strenth. Needs: The r area Girl Scouts has very few collee aed volunteers and is seekin adult volunteers to coordinate troops. Like the Boy Scouts, interest was expressed in activities desined by collee students that could earn a merit bade, particularly an enineerin demonstration at WP. 63 Girl Scouts Website

62 Additional Details: The Girl Scout Association has a total of twenty employees in three offices within Central Massachusetts. Ninety nine percent of the oranization is run by volunteers and the oranization is known for their impressive volunteer base. A very small percentae of their volunteers are collee students. Volunteers are required to undero special trainin, complete a standard application, COR check and submit three references. The majority of their fundin comes from the cookie sale proram and membership fees. Other sources of income are rants and private donations. Conclusions: Like other national oranizations, the Girl Scouts were not in major need of volunteers or material oods, but provided opportunities for volunteers lookin to desin their own prorammin. The Girls Scout office was very well oranized and buzzin with activities. The oranization is currently oin throuh merers and restructurin; the team believes that volunteers would be helpful to aid them with optimizin their operation and strateically plannin for their new union. YWCA of Central Massachusetts Mission: The YWCA USA is a women's membership movement nourished by its roots in the Christian faith and sustained by the richness of many beliefs and values. Strenthened by diversity, the YWCA draws toether members who strive to create opportunities for women's rowth, leadership, and power in order to attain a common vision: peace, justice, freedom, and dinity for all people. The YWCA will thrust its collective power toward the elimination of racism, wherever it exists, and by any means necessary YWCA Website

63 Provided: The YWCA provides services in the followin cateories: Housin & Supportive - The YWCA of Central Mass. provided 79 women with housin and supportive services and provided days of shelter in Youth Development - The YWCA offers prorams to help youn people learn leadership, motivation, and social and mental independence. n 2007, 458 youn people participated in youth development prorams. & Wellness - The YWCA promotes physical activity, wellness, and a healthy lifestyle. n 2007 the YWCA of Central Mass served 681 fitness plan members. Children s - The YWCA provides early childhood education prorams for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Domestic Violence - The YWCA provides domestic abuse prorams and is sensitive to the needs of those affected by abuse. n 2007, the YWCA of Central Mass provided court advocacy to 4,000 domestic violence victims, provides 4,373 days or emerency shelter, and provided counselin services to 2,500 women and children. Career Development - n 2007, the YWCA helped 652 individuals with employment services. Teen - The YWCA provides support to teen parents, and prepares them for independent livin. Data from YWCA of Central Massachusetts Annual Report Needs: Like other oranizations of its size, the YWCA did not require many volunteers but did express interest in implementin prorams desined by students. Additional Details: The YWCA has an estimated ninety employees who vary between fulltime administrators and part-time coaches. The oranization has volunteers involved in every aspect of their operation, from collee students who assist with manual labor to special committees made up completely of volunteers. As such, they do not have a specific count of their volunteers and are fairly flexible with volunteer requirements dependin on the area of interest. Volunteers are enerally required to complete COR checks, and only interns are allowed to work with victim patrons. They are mainly funded by the overnment rants and receive small private donations as well as assistance from United Way. A small amount of income is obtained from their childcare and fitness services. Conclusions: The YWCA was a lare oranization with well developed prorams and sources of fundin. Because of this, they did not have many available volunteer opportunities but did express a 52

64 need for interns in their offices. The YWCA offers a wide rane of services, much of which were unknown to the team prior to the interview. The team believes that it would be beneficial for the YWCA to invest in volunteers who could increase awareness of their services in the community. The buildin was also one of the more outdated ones seen durin the interview process and it is believed that if their buildin was renovated they would attract more patrons. Volunteers could be useful for sourcin fundin from rants to make this a possibility. 6.3 nterview Analysis- Other Oranizations Throuhout the course of the project the team had meetins with the WP Student Activities Office and s of r Consortium Office to aue the feasibility and sustainability of the project. WP Student Activities Office The team met with Emily Perlow and Jonathan Sparlin of the Student Activities Office. The purpose of this meetin was to determine what resources were bein used to inform students of community service opportunities and to determine whether or not this database could be incorporated into the WP Community Office. The team was informed that currently there is a paper database that lists the available community service opportunities that is created at the beinnin of the school year and updated as needed. Opportunities are also publicized throuh s and posters around campus. The SAO website lists a few opportunities, but is hihly unused because it does not cater to the cateories of interest of students. t is known that students prefer one-time commitments as opposed to weekly service, and so it is a challene to make students aware of their opportunities when they suddenly present themselves. The SAO was open to a database that could function as a matchin tool for students and oranizations, but did express a concern for maintainin a homerown WP database. They recommended investin in a website module that could be purchased with a yearly license and maintenance. Suested recommendations were: and n the event that the team did opt to use a WP database, the SAO ave the team the contact information for the appropriate WP database personnel. n the second meetin, the SAO critiqued the first draft of the student survey questions and assisted the team with enhancin the survey desin. The third meetin was with Jonathan Sparlin 53

65 only, and was for the purpose of requestin time the aenda of the r s Community Enaement Committee monthly meetin to present the teams recommendations. s of r Consortium The team met with the Chief Executive Officer of the COWC, Mark Billota and his Executive Assistant Cynthia Youn of the s of r Consortium on February 25 th of The purpose of this meetin was to inform the of r Consortium roup of the project and determine its feasibility for the Consortium. The attendants found the project very interestin and believed that it would be very useful for the Consortium and easy to interate into their current database. They recommended assessin their current database technoloy which was provided by the Central Network and ave the team the contact information for their liaison. They suested that the team submit a proposal to the Community Enaement Committee of the consortium collees. 6.4 Survey Activities of WP Students Two surveys were sent to the WP underraduate student body and one hundred and sixty responses were received. This was less than 10 percent of the WP population and was not an ideal sample from which to draw firm conclusions but was analyzed for the purpose of the report. One hundred and twelve of these students were active volunteers and forty eiht were either non-active volunteers or individuals who have never volunteered in the past. t would appear that a reater number of WP students are active volunteers than inactive volunteers, but in actuality the team believes that the survey title, which included the words Community, was more appealin to students who currently volunteer and as such the majority of our sampled students consisted of current volunteers. Thirty percent of the students who completed the non-volunteer survey had never volunteered in the past, and sixty percent were volunteers that were currently not active. Fiure 6.2 on the next pae illustrates a breakdown of the areas of service that inactive volunteers participated in by percentae. Non-volunteers who had no prior experience in community service were not included in the raph. 54

66 Fiure 6.2: Past Areas of nactive Volunteers Mentorin/Tutorin and Disabled/ cateories were the most popular service areas that inactive volunteers assisted with in the past. Those cateories require a reat deal of interpersonal skills and it is believed that this is why they were more appealin to collee students. The second most popular service area for non active volunteers was Huner and Homelessness. This area of service frequently receives aid from student roups, especially durin hih school, and as expected many of the students that listed these areas mentioned hih school volunteer involvement. Other cateories, listed by hihest popularity, were: Families and Elders, Arts and Environments, Children and Abuse (domestic, children, substance). The team was unable to predict the hih level of participation in the areas of Arts and Environment because it appeals to small roups of students with special interests in this area. The Abuse cateory had the smallest percentae of inactive volunteers and this is due to the trainin requirement for individuals who work with abuse victims. On the contrary, volunteerin with families and children tends to be very flexible and it was surprisin to observe that many non active volunteers did not participate in those cateories. activities that did not fall in the above cateories were included in the Others cateory which was made up of fifteen percent of the inactive volunteer responses. Some of the activities that were listed under this cateory were fixin computers for students, clean-up service in Africa, and library assistant 55

67 Similar results were not obtained for active volunteers with current service commitments. About five students misunderstood the instructions and listed no current involvement in service even thouh they took the active volunteer survey. This could have been avoided if the survey titles were more distinct specifyin Active Volunteer Survey and Past and Non-Volunteer Survey. The responses from these students were not included in the results. The areas that were serviced by active WP volunteers were included n Fiure 6.3 below with percentae involvement. Fiure 6.3: Areas of Current Volunteers The most popular service cateory was Mentorin and Tutorin at local schools and Bi Brother Bi Sisters club houses. students are ideal for motivatin and inspirin the youth and have the ability to share their knowlede with youner peers in a way that older individuals cannot. t was no surprise that this cateory was the most popular amon students. Almost fifteen percent of the responders mentioned an affiliation with Greek oranizations and also involvement in fundraisin for lare research funds, two of which were Relay for Life and Juvenile Diabetics. Greek oranizations are required to adopt a charity and as such the team predicted that many Greek students would be involved in fundraisin activities. Fundraisin events tend to occur on a sporadic basis, which makes them appealin to student volunteers. Therefore, it ranked second amon activities for active volunteers. Children services follows behind these two cateories because 56

68 collee students can easily identify with youner peers and more inclined to assist and help to shape youth as opposed to assistin adults. Arts/Environment, Huner/Homelessness and Disabled/ service were ranked similarly with either seven or eiht percent of student participation. These service areas were also ranked low and had fifteen and nine percent participation amon inactive volunteers. The team believes that it is because that these types of service do require either extensive trainin or a special interest. The least popular areas of service were Families/Elders, Reliious and Abuse. Servin the abused would also require a reat deal of trainin, and reliious service would require a personal conviction and so had expectedly lower number of participants. The team was surprised by the low level of participation for assistin families and the elderly because this type of service is fairly flexible, and would be expected to be more appealin to collee students. 6.5 Community Opportunities and Appeal on WP campus Volunteers and Non-volunteers were both asked to communicate the source from which they learnt about community service opportunities. The results for non-volunteers are included in Fiure 6.4 and those of volunteers are illustrated in Fiure 6.5. Fiure 6.4: Sources of Community Opportunities for Non-Volunteers 57

69 Fiure 6.5: Sources of Community Opportunities for Volunteers Almost 50 percent of the students who filled out the non-volunteers surveys were unaware of where to find nonprofit oranizations in need of volunteers. At first lance it would seem that students do not volunteer because they are uninformed of the service opportunities in the community, however, non-volunteers were also asked if they would be more inclined to participate in community service if it was sponsored by WP. Only 43 percent of the students said yes, 42 percents of the students were neutral and the other 15 percent said no. t is therefore evident that while some students do not volunteer because of the lack of knowlede of service opportunities, almost the same number of students would not volunteer if opportunities were more effectively publicized on WP s campus. The team believes that this is due to the demandin schedule that the averae WP student has. As important as community service is, students find it challenin to participate while balancin their scholastic and non-academic activities. Nearly 40 percent of active volunteers and 20 percent of non-volunteers learned about service opportunities from their friends; this was the hihest and second hihest response for volunteers and non-volunteers respectively. Approximately 25 percent of the volunteer respondents and only 6 percent of non-volunteers were made aware of opportunities throuh the WP Community 58

70 Office. Althouh the Community Office was the least prominent choice for non-volunteers it was the second most selected response for active volunteers. Volunteers and non-volunteers were then asked whether they found community service on WP s campus to be appealin and the majority of students in both roups were neutral. These results are illustrated in the Fiures 6.6 and 6.7. Do you think community service at WP is appealin? Disaree 13% Stronly Disaree 9% Stronly Aree 2% Aree 21% Neutral 55% Fiure 6.6: Appeal of Community on WP Campus to Non-Volunteers Do you think community service at WP is appealin? Disaree 11% Stronly Disaree 2% Stronly Aree 10% Neutral 42% Aree 35% Fiure 6.7: Appeal of Community on WP Campus for Active Volunteers 59

71 The second larest response for both roups was in areement with this statement and this sinifies that while the public relations may not be reachin majority of the students, they are still makin an impact in an estimated 28 percent of the students surveyed based on the fiures from both roups. When asked what the Community Office can do to more effectively inform students of opportunities, the most popular responses were in them out to students and postin them on the mywp website. The Community Office does some opportunities to students but does not do this on a reular basis because it may be appear as spam to those members of the student body that are not interested. Postin service opportunities on mywp would be a very effective way of communicatin to selected interested students especially by usin the Groups and Discussion Board features of mywp. This recommendation will be discussed in further detail in Chapter Commitment level of Students to the Community Non-volunteers were asked whether they would prefer reular or episodic volunteer commitments and were asked to list their ideal time volunteer commitment per month. The results are illustrated in pie charts of Fiure 6.8 and 6.9. What type of volunteerin commitment would you prefer? Onoin 30% One-Time 70% One-Time Onoin Fiure 6.8: deal type of Volunteer Commitment for Non-Volunteers 60

72 Number od Students Seventy percent of non-volunteers stated that they would prefer to make one time commitments rather than continual obliations. This is to be expected based on the level of involvement on campus and the constantly chanin term-based schedules of the averae WP student, it would be difficult to commit to a service activity for extended periods of time. students also have a reat deal of flexibility in their collee lives and so do not readily welcome demandin tasks they are compelled to complete. What would be your ideal time requirement per month? Less than five hours/month Five hours/month Ten More than ten hours/month hours/month Preferred Time Commitement Fiure 6.9: deal Time Commitment for Non-volunteers The distribution of non-volunteer students for preferred time requirements was fairly close. Forty percent of non-volunteers stated that they would prefer to volunteer for five hours per month while 36 percent would prefer less than five hours per month. The other 24 percent would volunteer ten hours per month and no students selected to volunteer for more than ten hours per month. Active volunteer time commitments were somewhat similar in that eihty percent of the students volunteered for less than 5 hours per week (less than 20 hours per month) and no students volunteered for more than 15 hours per week (60 hours per month). This can be seen in Fiure 6.10 on the next pae. 61

73 Fiure 6.10: Current Time Commitments of Active Volunteers These time commitments are extremely small, especially those of non-volunteers, when compared to the needs in the r community. These time commitments, however, were honest answers about how willin students would be to ive of themselves to the society while balancin their other activities. Current volunteers were asked how committed they were to their service and if they were maximizin their volunteer service. The majority of students stated that they were only fairly committed and were not maximizin their volunteer service. These results are included in Fiures 6.11 and 6.12 on the next pae. 62

74 Fiure 6.11: Commitment Levels of Current Volunteers Fiure 6.12: Current Volunteer feelins about whether or not they are maximizin their volunteer service t is evident from these results that that volunteers are not extendin themselves to their full potential in their current volunteer service and that non-volunteer do not know the value and level of fulfillment that they can ain from community service. Efforts must be made to stimulate students interest and increase participation and knowlede of the benefits of community service. This will be discussed in further detail in Chapter 8 recommendations. 63

75 6.7 Skills and s of WP Students Finally, both sets of students were asked to list the skills that they could offer to community service oranizations and what would be their ideal oranization based on their interests. These results are included in Fiures 6.13 and Fiure 6.13: Skills that current volunteers can offer to the community Fiure 6.14: Skills that nactive and Non-volunteers can offer to the community 64

76 Area Unsurprisinly, the most common skill listed by both sets of students were Tutorin followed by nterpersonal. Fundraisin and Administrative were the third and fourth most popular response respectively for volunteers and Administrative and Website Development were for non volunteers. Technical Support and Website development were the least common response for Volunteers while Fundraisin was the least common response for non-volunteers. Both roups of students had the reatest interests in Mentorin/Tutorin, Children and Arts/Environment. This is illustrated in Fiures 6.15 and The ideal interest cateories and current services areas that students volunteered in were similar and from this the team concluded that majority of the students were volunteerin in cateories that they enjoyed. These results would aid the team in desinin the database and determinin the oranizations to be included in the website based on the skills sets and interests of collee students. Which of these volunteer cateories interests you the most? Children's Arts and Environment Families and Elders Mentorin/ Tutorin Adult Huner and Homeless Abuse (substance, domestic, child) Disabled and Number of Student Responses Fiure 6.15: ed Areas of Current Volunteers 65

77 Area Which of these volunteer cateories interests you the most? Children's Arts and Environment Families and Elders Mentorin/ Tutorin Adult Huner and Homeless Abuse (substance, domestic, child) Disabled and Number of Student Responses Fiure 6.16: ed Areas of nactive and Non-volunteers The final open-ended question for both surveys asked for the drivin force behind the commitments of current volunteers and whether non-volunteers thouht community service was important. The responses were enerally similar; approximately 80 percent of students expressed a enuine desire to ive back to the community and that ivin of yourself ives one a sense of satisfaction. A few students mentioned that while it is required for their work study they enjoy helpin others and even fewer stated that their reason for volunteerin was because of their fraternity. Overall, students know that volunteerin can be fulfillin and is essential for the community but knowin this and experiencin this are two different thins. f more student volunteers experience the true enjoyment and passion for volunteerism they would be more likely to ive of themselves in a reater capacity to the community. 6.8 Summary Valuable information was acquired throuh the surveys and interviews. Much of which was described in this section, however, it was a reat challene to recollect every minute and detail of interviews. These results will be directly applied to the desin of the website by includin the needs, popular service cateories and common skill requirements based on the responses from the students and oranizations. 66

78 Chapter 7: Database mplementation 7.1 ntroduction The purpose of this section is to describe the database that was implemented in the final phase of the project. n this section the features, technoloy and overall interface of the database will be described in detail. 7.2 Database Overview The purpose of the Community Database is to connect the non-profit oranizations in the r County with on-campus individuals and oranizations. The database will make public the ever-evolvin needs of the non-profits, and also will provide a way for community oranizations to see the types of assistance the students of the r can supply. The database will be interated in the s of r Consortium website similarly to their current internship database. The database will be easily updated to list the needs and information of oranizations in the r area, as well as the interests and volunteer capabilities of roups and individual on campus that want to help. Each collee will have a student worker whose main task is to contact each participatin nonprofit oranization. The student worker will work directly via phone or in person with a volunteer coordinator from each oranization to update their needs and volunteer availability on a quarterly basis. Students will be able to create and update profiles as individuals or roups and list their talents and contact information for oranizations to view and contact them. The purpose of includin the skills and interest of students in the database is to provide a matchin tool between the r community and the r nonprofit oranizations throuh which roups and individuals can easily determine which oranization will best benefit from its service and vice versa. Students and oranizations will be able to search for each other based on the information listed in their profile. 7.3 Consortium Student Surveys n order to better desin the database around the needs and interests of consortium students, a short survey similar to the survey distributed to WP students was sent to a small samplin of COWC students. This survey sample was extremely small because the sole purpose of this three question survey was to obtain data for the demonstration version of the database that would include fifteen 67

79 oranizations and fifteen students. The three questions were identical to questions asked in the WP-only survey, and were reardin students areas of interest, the skills they could provide, and the time they were willin to commit to community service. Fiure 7.1, below, shows the service cateories that the respondents were most interested in. Fiure 7.1: Areas of to COWC Students The results are similar to the results obtained from the WP survey, with a lare amount of interest in the Mentorin/Tutorin cateory and very little interest in adult education. Fiure 7.2 shows the skills that COWC students could provide to non-profit oranizations. Fiure 7.2: Skills of COWC Students Available to Oranizations

80 Like the results from the WP survey, there is a lare interest in providin Tutorin and nterpersonal skills to oranizations, with a reater interest in assistin with fundraisin. Fiure 7.3: Availability of COWC Students 7.4 Requirements and Functionality Usin the feedback and results from the COWC Student Survey and nonprofit oranization interviews the team developed the database to consist of the followin: 1. There will be multiple oranizations in the database that will each have a name, cateory of service and available - if any - transportation for volunteers. A screen shot of the Oranization Profile pae is included on the next pae. 69

81 Fiure 7.4: Screenshot of Oranization Profile 2. There are also volunteer positions that are offered only by oranizations. Each volunteer position will be defined by a name, a description, the skills required, and the time requirement. 3. A volunteer will enter a name, their time availability, multiple fields of interest and skills. Volunteers will have to supply contact information in the form of an address, local address and phone number. A volunteer will also have to aree to have their information shared with nonprofit aencies. Some of these features are shown in Fiure 7.5 on the next pae. 70

82 Fiure 7.5: Screenshot of Volunteer Profile There will be three user roups and their functionality is as follows: Administrators will have the ability to view all data that exists in the database as well as add and delete any oranization or volunteer. Volunteers can upload and edit data into their profiles as well as search oranizations based on various criteria. Oranizations can upload and edit data into their profiles as well as search volunteers based on various criteria. At loin a user will be asked to identify their user type on a screen similar to that in Fiure

83 Fiure 7.6: Screenshot of Loin Screen 7.5 Database Technoloy The team analyzed two database software providers: Pro and Central Network. Pro Overview: Pro is a software solution desined to serve as a sinle point of manaement for connectin client schools with service needs in their communities. The software allowed different user roups to have different levels of control. This was particularly well suited to the COWC project because the software allowed a roup of client schools, called a domain, to share the SLPro Database. Below the domain administrators were site administrators, who controlled the database at one school, and proram administrators, who controlled the updatin of different volunteers, projects, and oranizations. t was this level of control and how well suited SLPro was to community service that made it a stron possibility. 72

84 Pros: Data sharin amon different schools Well-structured administration Extensive control over volunteers, schedulin, volunteer projects, etc. Specifically desined for community service Cons: nitial cost of $6000, yearly fee of $1250 o However, there was a $2000 dollar discount available until May 2009 Poor customizability Matches are performed by administrators, not students Conclusions: SLPro matched the database requirements exactly, and had support for multiple collees built in. SLPro also had an extensive feature set that allowed for elaborate volunteerin schedules to be desined, which was somethin other companies were not willin to provide. SLPro allowed the administrators to control and track every aspect of the database, but because of this the students who would be usin the database had limited access. SLPro was an ideal database solution; however the purpose of the database was to allow students and oranizations to have some deree of control, which was not a possibility with this software packae. Central Network Overview: Central is a lare provider of career services oriented web solutions. The product bein evaluated was Career Central, which is in use by over 500 collee campuses. 65 Career Central is desined to be used by career-services offices at a sinle university or at a consortium of collees to allow employers to post job openins and students to find jobs. The software had a volunteerin component built in, but it was larely suited to findin employment since that was the oriinal intent of the software. The company also proved to be somewhat difficult

85 to deal with. n addition, the menus were complex and the interface more confusin than other software packaes. Pros: Already in use by COWC Stron search feature User access available to oranizations and students Cons: More suited to paid employment than community service Somewhat confusin interface Poor customer service Conclusions: Despite the poor customer service and unwillinness to customize the software, CCNET ultimately proved to be the best solution for the COWC. The search feature allowed both students and oranization to search based on criteria that would determine a proper match. Another stron factor drivin the choice to recommend CCNET was that the COWC was already a lare customer of CCNET. 7.6 Database nterface The preferred raphical user interface will be as follows: The first screen to be displayed to the user is the homepae screen which will have similar features to Fiure 7.7, on the next pae. 74

86 Fiure 7.7: Screenshot of Home Screen t will contain a welcomin messae in addition to linked buttons titled as follows: Sin in tabulation: Opens a window that asks the user to identify by enterin his status (volunteer, oranization, or admin), username, and password. After identifyin the user, a window will appear enablin them to view and update his or her profile or simply view or add and delete oranizations and volunteers in case the user is an administrator. Create Account tabulation: A window that will allow the user to create a password/volunteer D, a username/name of volunteer, and classify as a volunteer, an oranization, or an administrator. After the new end user s password and username have been accepted and loaded to the database, a screen will appear askin the user to enter the required information in the appropriate text fields in order to complete their profile that will be stored in the database after clickin the submit profile button. Search tabulation: A screen that contains sub tabulations (the default sub tabulation will be the Search Volunteer tab). The sub tabs are: 75

87 o Search Volunteers tab: allows searchin for volunteers usin specific criteria. Fiure 7.8: Search Volunteer by s Fiure 7.9: Search Volunteer by Skills 76

88 o Search Oranizations tab: allows searchin for oranizations usin specific criteria. Fiure 7.10; Search Oranizations o Search Jobs tab: allows searchin for jobs posted by oranizations usin specific criteria. Fiure 7.11: Search Volunteer Opportunities 77