By Christine Graf
Volunteering is vital to the economy, the estimated economic value of volunteer work in America exceeding $120 billion. With volunteer rates and hours on a steady decline for the past 20 years, local non-profits are relying more than ever on the 50-plus demographic.
Family Services Association of Glens Falls, a non-profit agency that provides services and support to families in crisis or in an emergency situation, relies heavily on a small team of volunteers, most of them retired. The agency serves Warren, Washington and Northern Saratoga counties.
“We help people that are in situations that are beyond their resources,” said Executive Director Kimberly Sopczyk. “We pride ourselves on being kind and offering assistance and support. Our volunteers play a large role with that.”
Volunteers staff the agency’s full-service food pantry, one that operates Monday through Friday.
“We consider it an emergency food pantry because you don’t need an appointment,” said Sopczyk. “You can either call that day and arrange a visit or stop in.”
According to Sopczyk, the agency also relies on volunteers to help with Feet First, an annual event that takes place in August.
“We assist low-income families with purchasing new school shoes for their children to return to school in the fall. Our tagline is that we want all children to put their best foot forward. Our goal is to serve 450 this summer,” she said.
Participating families receive a $50 Famous Footwear gift card for each school-aged child in their household. They also receive books donated by the Benjamin D. Osborn Memorial Fund and Literacy for Little Ones.
Feet First is funded by grants as well as by generous support from the Glens Falls Lions Club and local churches and organizations. An estimated $25,000 is necessary to purchase gift cards for the program.
Family Services of Glens Falls also collects new socks, ones distributed to families in need. Socks are sourced from Bombas (a sock company that donates one pair of socks for every pair sold) as well as through community donations. Grace Desjardins, a student at Queensbury High School, recently donated 700 pairs, ones collected during a sock drive she organized.
When Christmas approaches, the agency gears up for its other annual event, Adopt-A-Family. Fifteen volunteers are needed each year to oversee the event, one that provides Christmas presents for families in need. Last year, 200 community members stepped up, purchasing gifts for adopted families.
“It’s much easier to find volunteers for annual programs because it’s just one or two days that they are giving to us,” said Sopczyk. “The regular volunteers for Monday through Friday is a little harder because it’s a regular schedule.”
With a staff of just three employees handling 3,000 cases a year, the non-profit relies heavily on their regular volunteers, some of whom did not return after the pandemic. Regular volunteers work designated shifts in the office or food pantry, and spots are currently available in both capacities.
For those who don’t want to commit to a regular shift, volunteers are always needed to pick up food from the Regional Food Bank or to shop for diapers or other items that are out of stock in the food pantry (shoppers are reimbursed for the cost of the products they purchase). Opportunities are also available for anyone who wants to spend a few hours sorting and tagging donated clothing.
Family Services of Glens Falls also has two positions open on its board of directors. The job doesn’t require a significant amount of time or heavy fundraising.
The Franklin Community Center in Saratoga Springs is another local agency that relies on volunteers, utilizing them in a variety of ways. Each year, the center’s programs and services positively impact over 12,000 individuals. Core to its mission are the Franklin Free Store Donation Center, a food pantry, and Project Lift, an after-school program focused on bolstering self-esteem for children in grades 1-5. The center also operates Franklin Community Manor which has 17 single-occupancy efficiency apartments for low-income adults.
“We are a family services organization,” said Meg Monthie, operations and volunteer coordinator. “We also do referrals, so anything we can’t provide, we refer out to someone else in the area.”
According to Monthie, the center has a large contingent of dedicated volunteers, the majority of whom are in the 50-plus demographic. Some of them work in the Franklin Free Store, sorting donations and assisting customers on shopping days.
Located at 101 Washington Street, the store is open Wednesday-Friday from 9a.m.-12 p.m. Donations are accepted on Mondays and Tuesdays by appointment only. Clothing, household goods, toys, games, and small baby items are accepted. All items are offered free of charge, but the store does have a two-bag limit.
“We have things like dishes, sheets, towels—basically anything you can think of to start up apartment,” said Monthie, noting that they do not accept furniture.
Volunteers are also utilized in the food pantry, with two shifts available (9a.m.-12p.m., 12:30p.m.-3:30p.m.) Mondays-Thursdays, the days that the pantry is open. The food pantry offers a wide selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, canned goods, and personal care items. Clients place orders through an online ordering platform, and those without access to online ordering can call to place an order. Walk-ins are accommodated in emergency situations only.
For those who enjoy working outside, volunteers are always needed in the center’s vegetable garden, one located behind the food pantry.
“That’s more flexible, and if you are interested in gardening, you can help with weeding or watering,” said Monthie.
She also mentioned that the center is seeking volunteers to organize donation drives to collect personal hygiene products, diapers, paper products, and gift cards.
“Our biggest need right now is for donation drives, so we’re always looking for anyone who wants to put together a drive” said Monthie.