John Schooler is a longtime member of the San Diego community who has partnered with Navigator Ministries as a volunteer for 24 years. He offers faith-based instruction and prayer leadership to recruits in boot camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) and Camp Pendleton. John Schooler’s work has earned commendations from commanding generals at both locations. From 1976 to 1993, Mr. Schooler was an advanced first aid instructor with the American Red Cross. He delivered targeted, life-saving educational resources to community members. His experience extends to a role as a lifeguard lieutenant with the city of Del Mar, California. As the operations officer for a decade, he managed five community service department divisions and beach services. Supervising the training of rookie lifeguards, he taught ocean, river, and cliff rescues. Mr. Schooler has also worked in ski patrol with the Copper Mountain Ski Area in Colorado and Incline Village, Nevada. Operating snowmobiles and rescue toboggans, he coordinated mountain rescues and helped ensure sign safety and properly marked trails. As a former avid surfer, Mr. Schooler enjoys sailing, scuba diving, saltwater fishing, and fly fishing.
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What Is Virtual Volunteering?
As the term implies, virtual volunteering is when volunteer work is done over the Internet from a computer, smartphone, tablet, or any other device that can access the web. This can be done from any location, such as a home or workplace. It is also known as online volunteering. This kind of volunteerism started with the birth of the Internet during the 1990s, but it took off at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. A report published by the Corporation for National and Community Service noted that about 25 percent of Americans volunteered remotely in 2020. There has been an increase in the number of people volunteering to become online tutors and mentors, grant and proposal writers, graphic designers, call center agents, and telemedicine agents.
Becoming a virtual volunteer is relatively easy. A computer and Internet connection are all that are needed to join an international online volunteer network. There are also many motives for becoming a virtual volunteer apart from helping others.
Virtual volunteering gives room for corporate social responsibility. Regardless of location, opportunities to contribute to society will always be available. Participating in virtual volunteering is a great way for firms to show their dedication to corporate social responsibility. It enables firms to advance their social initiatives and foster community growth. For instance, an organization might offer free telemedicine services to people within a specific location to underscore their commitment to giving back to the community. As a result, many firms around the world have achieved meaningful results that align with their goals and values.
Virtual volunteering is also cost-effective. A successful volunteering plan draws in, involves, motivates, and retains a dedicated workforce. Currently, engaging in virtual volunteering has proven to be more financially efficient compared to traditional volunteering that takes place in person. The Stanford Social Innovation Review has also pointed out that compared to the conventional method of volunteering, virtual volunteering has the capacity to help nonprofit organizations cut approximately 40 percent of their overhead costs.
Another benefit of virtual volunteering is its flexibility. Over 50 percent of Americans express a desire to volunteer, but a tight work schedule is a major obstacle for many. However, with the availability of virtual volunteer platforms, people can contribute their time without fixed schedules, offering the flexibility to adjust commitments as often as they wish, whether daily or weekly.
Many people in the United States wish to offer their time to help others, yet find it difficult to frequently or easily leave their residences. According to the Journal of Community Health Research, participating in virtual volunteering can help decrease discrimination and health disparities among volunteers. Virtual volunteers thus have opportunities to assist individuals they would not otherwise have if they were required to leave their homes. In today's digital age, where virtual services frequently surpass in-person services when it comes to accessibility to both volunteers and beneficiaries, virtual volunteering enables individuals to assist a wide range of people in need.
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