Thursday, March 04, 2010
USI volunteers: Making a difference for Whirlpool employees
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Contact for more information:
Brandi Schwartz Marketing Coordinator Outreach & Engagement 812/464-1854 Kira Vaal, assistant director of Alumni and Volunteer Services, notified individuals in the Volunteer USI program that WorkOne was in need of volunteers to help with numerous on-site orientation sessions at the Whirlpool plant. The sessions required volunteers to proctor tests and help distribute information about unemployment benefits. "I had time available to volunteer and I really felt like this was a way I could help USI and the people of Whirlpool," said Bippus. "It's a sad situation that they are losing their jobs. There isn't anything I can do about that, but at least I can do something to help them advance somewhere else." Over 45 volunteers dedicated more than 220 hours to the Whirlpool sessions. Bippus and Musgrave put in more than 40 of those hours. "Cindy and Don are the first to step up when there is a need," said Vaal. "They lead by example and I am grateful for their dedication, not only to USI, but to the community." For Bippus and Musgrave, the act of volunteering is personally satisfying and fulfilling. "When you put your head on your pillow at the end of the night, you feel good about what you have done," said Musgrave. "We volunteer because we enjoy it. We believe in giving back." Bippus summed up her volunteer experience at Whirlpool by describing how the reality of the situation has impacted her. "I have read about the 1,100 Whirlpool employees who will lose their jobs due to the closing of the plant. Now I see the faces and the shear number of it. You can read about it, but until you put faces with it, you don't really get the full impact. I am putting faces with the numbers now." Since the volunteer program′s inception in 1996, more than 4,800 volunteers have donated over 957,000 hours of service to the University. If you are interested in future USI volunteer opportunities, contact Vaal at knvaal@usi.edu or 812/465-1215. |
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