Published: August 28, 2019
We all lead busy lives—no matter if you’re a military family member or civilian. But finding the time to volunteer and give back to those in your community comes with enormous benefits. And you know how the saying goes: We make time for the people and things that matter most to us.
So if you’re eager to make time for volunteering, here are the key benefits of serving as a Blue Star Families volunteer. (Yes, beyond the inevitable, which is providing you with a strong sense of purpose.)
1. You don’t need to live near a BSF Chapter to volunteer.
We currently have chapters in Washington, D.C.; Chicago, Illinois; Baltimore, Maryland; Jacksonville, Florida; Tennessee; New York City; Missouri; San Diego; and Salt Lake City. If you live in or near one of these areas, you can join one of our Chapter Volunteer Teams.
And if you don’t? Not a problem! You are in one of our Neighborhoods! As a Neighborhood Volunteer, you can participate in various Blue Star Families projects throughout the year like hosting Coffee Chats at Starbucks, thanking local partners like Macy’s, organizing Blue Star Families meetups at local parks and museums, and acting as the face of Blue Star Families in your community.
Blue Star Families Volunteers at a Kirtland movie night event
2. You can choose how involved you want to be.
The opportunities are endless, with time commitments that range from small to large. You won’t (at least you shouldn’t!) run out of options.
For example, as part of a Chapter Volunteer Team, you can serve as a volunteer alongside the Chapter Director and Careers Manager to plan, support, and assist with Coffee Chats, Blue Star Museums and Blue Star Parks events, Blue Star Books gatherings, and other local activities.
But you also have the option to take on a leadership opportunity! Each of our chapters needs a Community Engagement Manager, Social Media Manager, and Military and Civilian Leaders to shape Blue Star Families’ presence in our communities. Ultimately, you have the power to contribute to every single one of our programs.
Blue Star Volunteers preparing for a Blue Star Parks event in Alaska
3. Blue Star Families invests in & recognizes you as a volunteer.
We genuinely value your commitment to helping us carry out our mission! And for that reason, we provide training for all volunteers and volunteer leadership positions. That way, you learn the skills necessary to go out into your community and support and empower our nation’s military family members in the best way possible.
Plus, your service won’t ever go unnoticed. We regularly highlight the work of our volunteers on our blog and social media pages. And each year, we award many extraordinary BSF volunteers the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA).
Blue Star Families Volunteers
Ultimately, we couldn’t host local events, give books to military kids, gather military families at Starbucks or bring them into National Parks and local museums, and provide a sense of connection and community without our volunteers. Your service will be celebrated!
4. You can cultivate new friendships & weave yourself into your community while strengthening our nation’s military families.
Blue Star Families volunteers do amazing things in their communities while meeting new people and making new friends. In fact, this year alone, our volunteers have donated more than 4,000 hours of their time to support programs that help our military families thrive. As a result, collectively, our programs and resources have been shared with more than 69,586 military family members and Blue Star Neighbors!
You can make a difference. And whether you have one hour to spare or many hours each month, there is a volunteer opportunity with Blue Star Families that fits your interests and skills.
Blue Star Families Volunteers at a Blue Star Books event at Kirtland Air Show in May 2019
Ready to join our powerhouse team?
Click here to complete the registration form near the bottom of the page. You’ll then begin to receive monthly communications about all of the exciting opportunities near you. Or, if you live in one of our chapter locations, a Chapter Director will reach out to you directly to discuss your interests. Military or civilian, we can’t wait to welcome you to our team of volunteers!
Posted In: Volunteers