Volunteer your time

Volunteer are essential to the YMCA!

“YMCAs are groups of people gathered together to serve the needs of all”. This definition unfortunately was obscured in the 1970’s and 1980’s, when the YMCA grew more to be characterized as a department store for social services. YMCA leaders grew to rely on part-time staff members, rather than volunteers, for help in delivering programs. “The voluntary associational character of the Y—of citizens coming together to creatively define and respond to problems—was replaced by the professionalization of staff roles as service agency providers. The YMCA became a place to buy services, rather than an association to belong to. "

Volunteers, by their very nature, help root the YMCA to its identity as a association of people motivated by an ethic of service. The types of YMCA volunteers include:

Policy Volunteers: The people who serve the YMCA as board members, committee members and those who at as trustees.

Program Volunteers: Those who have direct contact with YMCA members and people in the community. They help the YMCA deliver programs and services. They may also help with membership.

Fundraising Volunteers: Those responsible for the leadership and legwork that goes into successful fundraising campaigns and special events. 

Managerial Volunteers: Those who act as consultants for the YMCA, lending a special skill or talent in accounting, architecture, public relations and so on. 

Support Volunteers: The people who help out in the office, in the mail room, in the facility and on the grounds.