2008 Woodie Awards
Students lend hands
Volunteering: South Bay students use their spare time to help out
By: Laura Villalpando
Issue date: 4/22/04 Section: City News
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With an oversized yellow jumpsuit, a painted face and a red nose to match the color of his hair, a clown makes a cancer patient's face transform from grim to a smile. The gloomy hospital room at the Torrance Memorial Medical Center is now lit with laughter, thanks to this clown who gets no money in return. Instead, he volunteers at his own will.
Students can be an important part of their communities by contributing their spare time in the various volunteer programs that are offered throughout the South Bay.
The Torrance-South Bay YMCA for example, offers a wide variety of organized activities that are undertaken by more than 1,600 volunteers who are supported by career professionals and office staff.
"In each of our departments, the volunteers help us with many tasks, from filing to helping the swimming instructors, residential camps, child care and counseling," Martha Flor, YMCA membership director, said.
Volunteering in these programs helps keep children off the streets and also strengthens the youth's appreciation and responsibility to the environment, Flor said.
"We strengthen our relationship with the community. As more people become a part of the YMCA, they form a larger community and begin to feel that they belong to a place," Flor said.
Another place students may volunteer is at the Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance, which is a mission-driven organization comprised of various volunteer programs, including the Auxiliary of Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance.
The auxiliary focuses on fund raising and getting to know the patients on a personal level and helps in all ancillary and business office areas, including the off-site areas that are part of the hospital, Jill Schultz, director of volunteer services, said.
"We ask the volunteers about their schedules and interests, then the volunteers have to attend a four-hour orientation that involves confidentiality, initializing our core values and hospital safety procedures," Schultz said.
Students can be an important part of their communities by contributing their spare time in the various volunteer programs that are offered throughout the South Bay.
The Torrance-South Bay YMCA for example, offers a wide variety of organized activities that are undertaken by more than 1,600 volunteers who are supported by career professionals and office staff.
"In each of our departments, the volunteers help us with many tasks, from filing to helping the swimming instructors, residential camps, child care and counseling," Martha Flor, YMCA membership director, said.
Volunteering in these programs helps keep children off the streets and also strengthens the youth's appreciation and responsibility to the environment, Flor said.
"We strengthen our relationship with the community. As more people become a part of the YMCA, they form a larger community and begin to feel that they belong to a place," Flor said.
Another place students may volunteer is at the Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance, which is a mission-driven organization comprised of various volunteer programs, including the Auxiliary of Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance.
The auxiliary focuses on fund raising and getting to know the patients on a personal level and helps in all ancillary and business office areas, including the off-site areas that are part of the hospital, Jill Schultz, director of volunteer services, said.
"We ask the volunteers about their schedules and interests, then the volunteers have to attend a four-hour orientation that involves confidentiality, initializing our core values and hospital safety procedures," Schultz said.