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42 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, November 26, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend November 24, 2004 Medford Gospel Mission kitchen manager Jason Bull pulls four turkeys out of the oven, cooked in preparation for today�s holiday meals. Local nonprofits say they have plenty of help for Thanksgiving, but the need for volunteers is year-round. Mail Tribune / Roy Musitelli Cornucopia of volunteers Nonprofits fill Thanksgiving slots easily and hope those turned away will return By JONEL ALECCIA Mail Tribune When the holiday spirit strikes, local nonprofit agencies absorb the blow. Phones have been ringing constantly this week with Thanksgiving volunteers eager to carve turkey, dish pie and pour coffee for the poor. At Medford’s Salvation Army, three dozen people had called by Tuesday, offering to serve dinner on Thursday. At the Medford Gospel Mission, director Bill Gourley had fielded a host of calls for his two dinners today. At St. Vincent de Paul, three people stopped volunteer Kathy Morgan on her way to her car last week, wanting to know how they could help. Most would-be aides are like Joy Stevens, a 53-year-old Medford woman whose oldest daughter is away at college. She thought she’d see if someone could use some Thanksgiving cheer. "It just turned out that my sister’s working graveyard and my mother’s ill and can’t eat turkey," explained Stevens. "I’ve always thought that volunteering would be a great thing to do." Advertisement Trouble is, the agencies that host community dinners have long since filled their rosters with willing cooks, waiters and dishwashers. Stevens said every agency she tried offered some version of "thanks, but no thanks" this week. "That’s what I’ve run into," she said. The situation is a sticky one for nonprofit agencies who simply don’t have enough tasks for those eager to help. On one hand, they want to encourage community generosity. On the other hand, overscheduling doesn’t do anyone any good. Two Wednesday dinner shifts at the Medford Gospel Mission will provide work for about 25 volunteers — and most of those slots have been filled for weeks, Gourley said. "You don’t want them showing up and then standing around," he said. "You don’t want them saying, ‘We’re not needed.’ " Nonprofit organizers recognize that the volunteers’ generosity shouldn’t be squandered. "We don’t have a great need for the volunteers right now, but we know they have a great need to help," Gourley said. Most agencies tread that delicate balance with diplomacy. At the Salvation Army, development director Carrie Hanson said her staff encourages people to sign up to serve at a different time. "We have just been blessed abundantly," Hanson said. "We try to find other ways for them to get involved. People would be amazed. Four hours a month makes a big difference at the food pantry." Many of the holiday callers say they’ll be back to donate time later. Some do, Hanson said. "We do talk to some after the holidays, but then life takes over and they get busy," she said. The holiday glut can be frustrating, some agency organizers say. "We’re happy to have volunteers, but it’s a 365-day-a-year-job," noted Morgan, of St. Vincent de Paul. "It’s hard to have to say no." Part of the problem is that accommodating volunteers takes time, energy and money — and most local nonprofits are short on all three, said Arnie Green, director of Medford’s Community Works. "I think what many people don’t understand about the wonderful world of nonprofits is that it takes resources to manage the volunteers," he said. "You’re left with this crazy decision: Do you cut direct services to clients or do you cut the volunteer coordinator who provides the means to provide direct services to clients?" A decade ago, the Jackson County Volunteer Services Bureau offered a single source to match local volunteers and opportunities, Green recalled. But the nonprofit, like others, was funded through state and county funds and grants, all of which were redirected to direct services. Green thinks the timing and technology might be right for an enterprising social worker to start an electronic volunteer matching service. Until that happens, however, nonprofits will be faced with the annual cycle of volunteer feast or famine. And last-minute volunteers like Joy Stevens will have to seek another outlet for their generosity. "It’s OK, I will be fine," said Stevens, who planned to call a couple more agencies before Thursday. "I’ll just find something else to do." These meals are scheduled Nonprofits and their volunteers will be providing the following holiday meals this week: TODAY MEDFORD GOSPEL MISSION: Traditional holiday meals are planned at 12:30 and 5:30 p.m., 125 W. Jackson St. Call Bill Gourley at 779-1597. THURSDAY ASHLAND COMMUNITY DINNER: Caring Friends Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be from noon to 4 p.m. at the National Guard Armory, 1420 E. Main St., Ashland. Call Cori Thye-Couch at 245-6980. LIGHTHOUSE CHURCH: The church will provide dinner at 2 p.m. at 520 N. Holly St., Medford. Members also will deliver free home-cooked meals to home-bound elderly people starting at about 10:30 a.m. Thursday. For delivery reservations, call 773-7064. SALVATION ARMY: A community meal will be served starting at 2 p.m. at the Hope House transitional shelter, 1065 Crews Road, off Table Rock Road in Medford. WORD OF LIFE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP: Dinner will be available from 1 to 3 p.m. at The Ministry Center, 1025 Court St., Medford. Call 608-WORD. VITALITY CENTER: The 25th annual Thanksgiving Day Luncheon of turkey and ham with all the trimmings and live entertainment will begin at 1 p.m. at Fourth and L streets, Grants Pass. Reservations are required; call 474-2202. Cost is by donation. Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities