Articles

Connecting to a Mission - Volunteers as a Critical Component

“Older Adults Living Life to Fullest!” This is our mission at Lutheran Senior Services (LSS), where we provide housing and services to more than 13,000 older adults across greater St. Louis, Mid-Missouri, and central Illinois. Those six words do not only apply to the older adults we work with, our mission includes our staff and volunteers as well.

Volunteers are a critical part of what we do at LSS. Nearly 8,000 volunteers donate more than 80,000 hours of service to help our organization annually. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, we welcomed volunteers into our communities to visit with residents, help with special events, and participate in other in-person opportunities. COVID-19 changed how we do many things and one of those is our volunteer program. in early 2020 when we were all learning about the severity of COVID-19, especially in senior living, our volunteers helped us fill an important need for personal protective equipment (PPE). They made masks for our staff in non-clinical roles and learned how to make face visors and gowns out of everyday materials so we would have plenty in stock for staff to protect themselves and our residents. This dedication is something we can never thank our volunteers enough for, and we are very happy that we are welcoming them back in a more normal capacity now.

When considering the many impacts volunteers can have within an organization, a good starting point is to identify the needs of the organization. A Human Resources Department can partner with leaders to brainstorm volunteer opportunities-- large and small. Could a part of the workplace benefit from some organization or filing assistance? Is there a way volunteers could support client services? Where does your organization find itself stretched thin and could there be a volunteer opportunity there?

Be sure to consider the confidentiality and regulatory impacts as you brainstorm potential opportunities. Once you’ve identified the volunteer opportunities available within your organization, leverage community resources to recruit volunteers. Many schools require volunteer hours and corporations often use group volunteering for team-building events. Within LSS, our employees often enjoy taking time to volunteer in different ways in our communities.

Using recognition and appreciation events to honor volunteers can help build rapport to keep your volunteer program strong. As we learned this past year, our volunteers were able to pivot and adapt to our drastically changing needs. This amazing response was due largely to the relationships we have built with our volunteers over the years – they are as much a human resource as our staff! With the right time and attention, a well-cultivated volunteer program can have a tremendous impact on your organization’s culture and success.

We have many opportunities for volunteers at LSS and welcome groups and individuals to volunteer with us. If you are interested or if you have a group that is interested in volunteering at LSS, visit www.lssliving.org/volunteer/.

Stephanie Meyer
Lutheran Senior Services

Lutheran Senior Services (LSS) is a mission-driven, not-for-profit network that specializes in housing, care, and supportive services for older adults 62+. With 21 locations in Missouri and Illinois, LSS serves more than 13,000 seniors a year through options that include Senior Living Communities offering all levels of living, Affordable Housing for those with limited incomes, and Home & Community Based Services. LSS builds upon more than 160 years of excellence in living out its Christian mission of Older Adults Living Life to the Fullest.