If your organization uses any kind of volunteer help – from stuffing envelopes to providing medical care at no cost – treat your volunteers like gold. We may not cost you money in terms of salary and benefits, but our time is still very valuable. Treat it as such.
For therapy dog visits, with prep time, commute time and visit time factored in, it’s at least a half day of a volunteer’s time that is suddenly impacted if a visit is canceled last minute. I understand that things happen, but if it happens more than once, I’m not likely to volunteer or visit your organization again.
If your organization has any special volunteer requirements such as background checks, training or medical tests (usually for volunteers in a hospital setting), communicate those from the beginning. If any costs are required of the volunteer to meet those requirements, volunteers do appreciate being reimbursed, if possible. This way the volunteer can make an informed decision if he/she is wiling to meet those requirements. I respect that an organization needs to have certain volunteer requirements in place. Likewise, I have declined to volunteer for certain organizations due to all of the hoop jumping that must be done.
Lately, I’ve noticed a number of organizations instituting a mask or negative COVID test requirement. Unless I’m volunteering at a hospital, no thank you. We’re now post-pandemic. If you spring a mask requirement on me last minute to visit at a hotel (true story), pardon me while I cancel.
If the visit involves a therapy dog, be aware that the therapy dog organization has certain requirements I’m expected observe during a visit. I’m my dog’s only advocate. Her well-being is my primary concern. If I sense she is truly uneasy during a visit, we will need to leave if the situation cannot be rectified.
Offer volunteers water, snacks and pay for their parking, if applicable.
Oh, and be sure to say, “Thank you.”
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