Volunteer Opportunities abound where ever you live. Here in Cortland, NY it is no different. At some point in time everyone needs someone else to help them. Volunteering provides a great way to give back to those who have helped you. The MOPPETS volunteers at the local MOPs group and the volunteers at the hospital Auxiliary remain my favorite opportunities. In addition to Cortland, you can find these groups almost anywhere else you might live.
MOPs (Mothers of Preschoolers) International started with one small group in 1973. Grown to an international organization, MOPs groups can be located world wide and include military MOPs and Teen MOPs. According to their website – MOPS International “exists to encourage, equip and develop every mother of preschoolers to realize her potential as a woman, mother and leader in the name of Jesus Christ.”
Cortland MOPs meets at Grace Christian Fellowship Church two Wednesdays a month during the school year. The Moms spend the time meeting in both a large and small groups. They provide each other with scrumptious brunches, great conversation and good parenting resources. While the Moms are meeting, the preschoolers have their special time as well. Ranging in age from newborn to homeschoolers, sixty children attend the MOPPETS. Every meeting, fifteen volunteers provide childcare, the biggest needs tending to be the 2’s and 3’s rooms. Volunteers are always needed. Background checks are run on all the volunteers. When MOPs begins each fall volunteers are plenty, but as the snow flies and some of the volunteers fly south they struggle to fill all the positions.
Another group that needs help can be found at your local hospital. “Cortland Regional Medical Center provides quality health care with skill and compassion, meeting the lifelong healthcare needs of all citizens of Cortland and the surrounding communities.” Their Auxiliary helps out in many ways, from cafe waiter to delivering patient mail to greeting in outpatient surgery. Volunteers from high school students to retirees, everyone is welcome and able to help in some capacity. Being a hospital volunteer is a rewarding way to give back to the community.
Volunteers give back to their communities, often by helping those who are currently unable to help themselves. There are many volunteering opportunities in Cortland, NY. MOPPETS and the hospital auxiliary offer only two possibilities.