Giving thanks, giving your time

It’s the season for giving thanks — and for simply giving.

The generosity of Southern Nevadans goes far beyond this long weekend’s gift shopping frenzy, which begins tonight for especially eager bargain hunters. The holidays compel citizens to reflect on their many blessings, to consider the plight of the growing number of people who are less fortunate, and to give their time to make this community a better place to live.

Volunteering is one of the most selfless and noble things a person can do. And there are literally hundreds of difference-making nonprofits in need of help.

But because so many Clark County residents wait until Thanksgiving or Christmastime to try to pitch in at charities, this outpouring of kindness can create a problem: many more volunteers than are needed at one time.

Pat Falvey, vice president for development at Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, recently recalled how one Thanksgiving, many hundreds of well-meaning Las Vegans showed up outside the nonprofit’s downtown dining facility offering to help however they could. Ms. Falvey said there were almost as many volunteers as people seeking a holiday meal. Even charities can have too many cooks in the kitchen.

“You really don’t want to have to ask people to leave, but that can happen,” said Phillip Hollon, vice president of Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada. “That leaves a really bad feeling in people — they believe that they’re not needed. But that’s not the case. We need people every day of the year.”

Robin Kelley, director of the United Way of Southern Nevada Volunteer Center, says she sees the same ill-timed surge of bigheartedness every year.

“We will get calls from people who are interested in having their family help out at the shelters and serve Thanksgiving meals to the needy, but those opportunities simply aren’t available,” she said. “The shelters will have lined up their Thanksgiving volunteers six months in advance, usually through their year-round volunteers or corporate groups.”

Indeed, Catholic Charities will have 175 volunteers on hand today to serve some 2,000 Thanksgiving meals. All 175 spots were filled long ago. (Full disclosure: Review-Journal Publisher Bob Brown serves on Catholic Charities’ Board of Trustees.)

The valley is four years into its economic slide, and throughout that time, providers have seen a steady increase in demand for social services and assistance. Mr. Hollon and Ms. Kelley say food is among the biggest needs. After all, the homeless, the poor and the jobless need to eat every day, not just around the holidays.

As important as food donations and cash contributions are to local charities — through agreements with area supermarkets, Catholic Charities can purchase more food with your dollar than you can — it takes people to get this food to the needy. Mr. Hollon says his organization hands out 180 large bags of food each day, with each bag holding a 30-day supply. Assembling each bag is extremely labor-intensive and requires several people — every single day.

It’s a good problem that so many Las Vegas Valley residents want to volunteer their time right now. The challenge is getting people to act on their holiday benevolence by promising to volunteer in January, April, September and the months in between.

The United Way of Southern Nevada offers prospective volunteers one of the valley’s best resources. At the Volunteer Center’s website, www.volunteercentersn.org, citizens can register to become a volunteer and search service opportunities by interest, date or organization.

“I always urge people to start volunteering throughout the year,” Ms. Kelley said. “Try different nonprofits, find one that rings bells for you and then stick with them the rest of the year. We work with 400 nonprofits in Southern Nevada and are pushing hard to get involved with the other 5,000.”

Those interested in volunteering with Catholic Charities should call 385-2662 or visit its website at www.catholiccharities.com (click on the “Volunteer” button down page).

Make a commitment to volunteer today. Confirm the need for your help. Recruit your friends and neighbors to join you. Then fulfill your promise — during the holidays and beyond.