Volunteering: A Prescription for Health
"It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Benefits of Volunteering at Heartland
There are many health and social benefits to volunteering. People who stay active as a volunteer often have a more optimistic outlook on life, experience increased energy and ambition, encounter less depression and pain, and in general live longer than those who don't volunteer.
In addition, volunteers can meet new friends while influencing generations to come, as well as keep their minds active while developing new skills. Above all, helping someone without asking for anything in return often produces a universal feel-good experience.
Make Heartland Your Home for Rewarding and Enriching Volunteer Opportunities
Coordinated by Alumni Relations and Outreach, the College's volunteer program invites you to donate your skills in one of a variety of ways at the College's Normal campus. Several volunteer options are available at Heartland, including helping out at one-time events or assisting with more long-term opportunities. They include:
Aides for "Hands on Math" and "Hands on Science" Events
"Hands on Math" and "Hands on Science" events were developed to make math and science approachable and fun for 4th and 5th graders.
Normal CornBelters
Heartland Community College is looking for volunteers to assist with greeting fans, ushering them to their seats and answering questions at home games for the Normal CornBelters Professional Baseball team. If you love baseball and have excellent customer service skills you're invited to become part of the volunteer force at the Corn Crib on the Heartland Community College campus. For more information, volunteer opportunity descriptions are available for download (volunteer descriptions available in PDF format, 1 page, 107 KB).
Conversation Partners
Conversation Partners learn about different cultures, brush up on foreign language skills, and help international students improve their English skills during weekly 30-minute meetings throughout the semester (16 weeks total).
Garden Tending
Volunteer to help maintain the Child Development Lab's garden by weeding, feeding and offering some TLC. Once-a-week and once-a-month opportunities are available during the warmer seasons.
Greeters at Special Events
Volunteer to be a greeter at information nights, open houses or workshops.
Information Desk Receptionists/Greeters
Receptionists/greeters in the Community Commons Building are often the initial point of contact for those visiting campus for the first time. Hours are available from 3 to 7 p.m. on weekdays.
Instructors for Self-Help Workshops
Volunteers are needed once a semester to lead a self-help workshop on topics including health, fitness and money management for Project RISE's College program devoted to assisting all eligible Heartland students improve their GPAs, and to graduate and transfer to a four-year college or university.
Life Skills Trainers
Life Skills Trainers are needed in the College's Business Essentials Program -- a college-level certificate program that prepares students to meet the challenges of office environments. As a volunteer, you can demonstrate office technologies, business communication, life and workplace skills and work ethics. Volunteers will prepare and host a two-hour class each semester -- once in the spring and once in the fall.
Note Takers for Disability Support Services
These volunteers will commit two to three hours per week and take notes for students with documented disabilities.
Speakers Bureau Participants
As a member of the Heartland Community College Speakers Bureau, you can share personal expertise in a particular subject, field or area of interest for a college classroom, potentially once or twice during a typical semester.
Students Involved with Technology (SIT) Conference Volunteers
This busy event can always use volunteers to assist with event preparations or help during the day of the event.
Study Group Leaders for Math and English for Project RISE
Volunteer to assist students with their understanding of math and English for one hour per week during a semester (16 weeks total).
Test Proctors for Disability Support Services
As a test proctor for Disability Support Services, you'll be responsible for administering tests to students with unique needs on an as-needed basis.
Who Can I Contact if I'm Interested in Volunteering?
For more information about volunteer opportunities at Heartland Community College, call (309) 268-8187 or use the Alumni Relations and Outreach contact form. Community members, Heartland alumni, current college or high school students, new retirees, active seniors, and those with physical restrictions or disabilities are encouraged to volunteer. Heartland staff members can help match volunteer opportunities with personality types or by area of expertise.
