• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • e-Catalog
  • Gift Catalog
  • Donate
  • Register Now
  • Contact Us
Call Us: 800-487-1074
Global Volunteers
  • Countries
    • International Partnerships:
      • China
      • Cook Islands
      • Cuba
      • Ecuador
      • Greece
      • Italy (Sicily)
      • Nepal
      • Peru
      • Poland
      • Portugal
      • St Lucia
      • Tanzania
      • Vietnam
    • USA Programs:
      • Aguadilla – Puerto Rico
      • Blackfeet Reservation – Montana
      • Española – New Mexico
      • Rio Grande Valley – Texas
  • Projects
    • Community Work Projects
      • Delivering Essential Services
      • Teaching Conversational English
      • Supporting Community Development
      • Supplementing School-Based Curricula
      • View All Community Work Projects
  • Dates & Fees
    • Seasonal
      • Spring
      • Summer
      • Fall
      • Winter
    • Monthly
      • January
      • February
      • March
      • April
      • May
      • June
      • July
      • August
      • September
      • October
      • November
      • December
      • All Service Program Dates
  • Give
    • Giving Options:
      • Donate Now
      • Changemakers Club
      • Gift Catalog
      • Ways to Give
      • Philanthropy
  • Impact
  • News
  • Request Information
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
Why I Give

Why I Give: Putting Service at the Center of My Life

A decade ago, California marketing manager Erin Woody was building her career and working excessive hours each week. She loved her job, but was missing a central element of her life: Community service. Determining that “weekend volunteering” didn’t satisfy, and long-term commitments such as mentoring at-risk teens exceeded her available time, she searched the internet for an alternative. When she found Global Volunteers, she was hooked. Read on to learn why Erin’s become a 4-time volunteer and monthly donor.


Erin was immediately drawn to Global Volunteers’ two-week itinerary, she said, because it was long enough to make a difference, but short enough to fit into her busy work life. “Moreover, I really felt that Global Volunteers had the kind of story that assured me that you were making long-term commitments, which was important to me.” The second and third draws were the wide range of project options and the support and guidance from staff throughout the registration process.

“The volunteer opportunities were tweaked in a way that I didn’t feel intimidated. I thought I could use my skill set. And, then after a lot researching, when I finally reached out, I thought that the (Global Volunteers) team was just really, really nice. They listened and genuinely wanted to help me find the right service option.”

– Erin Woody
  • With English students in Poland
  • Teaching preschoolers in Ecuador

After her first program in Poland, Erin said she was motivated to contribute to fundraising appeals as well. “I invest my time in the organization, and I know a lot of the resources I spend to go on the programs go to the bottom line, so why wouldn’t I also help another way?” She emphasized that through her monthly and annual donations, she feels “fully a part of Global Volunteers.”

“You know better than I do where the needs are, but I love the idea of being able to picture each month how I’m contributing to the long-term benefit.”

– Erin Woody
Erin tutors Uuniversity students in Kathmandu, Nepal

Knowing that $25 a month can make such as significant difference in students’ lives was a “powerful motivator.” She says seeing programs first-hand assured her that her contribution would be used where it’s most needed. “I understood where those monthly contributions would be going. I’d be spending that amount on who-knows-what each month,” she chuckled. “But I thought, of course I’d do that. It’s minimal, you know?”

“Global Volunteers was my first experience with a volunteer vacation. It was such a unique idea to me, because a lot of my friends think that your choices are the Peace Corps on one side, and spending a few hours on a Saturday on the other.”

“But, you were quite flexible and open, allowing me to come help so that my service has been utilized and valued. So, every year, I know my big trip will be with Global Volunteers because I’ve been able to confidently say, ‘Hey, I’m going to go and do something that’s great. What do you need from me? I’ll show up and be ready.”

“Hey, I’m going to go and do something that’s great. What do you need from me? I’ll show up and be ready.”

– Erin Woody

Read more stories about serving and giving:

Why I Give: Finding a New Home in Service

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Pocket
September 29, 2021/by Michele Gran
https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Why-I-Give-5.png 570 1500 Michele Gran https://globalvolunteers.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Michele Gran2021-09-29 11:16:262021-09-29 11:16:39Why I Give: Putting Service at the Center of My Life
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Partner Communities

  • China (62)
  • Cook Islands (44)
  • Cuba (112)
  • Ecuador (89)
  • Greece (70)
  • Italy (52)
  • Montana (50)
  • Nepal (20)
  • New Mexico (2)
  • Peru (110)
  • Poland (97)
  • Portugal (44)
  • Puerto Rico (2)
  • South Dakota (8)
  • St Lucia (56)
  • Tanzania (230)
  • Texas (5)
  • Vietnam (33)

Categories

  • Classroom Assistance (8)
  • Conversational English (94)
  • Cultures and Traditions (136)
  • Development Impact (121)
  • Family Volunteering (61)
  • Free Time Options (79)
  • Group Volunteering (19)
  • News and Updates (146)
  • Partners' Stories (16)
  • Projects for Professionals (23)
  • Reaching Children's Potential (237)
  • Ripple Effect (7)
  • Service-Learning (49)
  • Staff Worldwide (26)
  • Volunteer Voices (683)
  • Why I Give (18)

Tags

American Indian culture Care for children Caribbean island College groups Conversational English Cuba people-to-people development impact Earthbox gardens Essential Services food insecurity Funding your fee gender equality Health and nutrition High school groups Labor projects retiree volunteers Spring break student volunteer summer volunteer program support children Support women teaching children teaching english team leader things to do peru top places to visit peru tourism cook islands tours peru travel peru volunteer benefits Volunteer impact volunteer time off work on reservations Work with youth youth volunteering

Get Global Volunteers News Here!

Enter your email address to receive fresh new posts in your inbox.

  • About Us
  • Boards of Directors and Advisors
  • US and International Staff
  • Our Beginnings
  • Our Vision
  • Community Partners
  • Collaborators
  • Compare Us
  • Volunteer Vacations FAQs
  • Accountability and Agreements
  • Travel Risks
  • Impact and Outcomes of Service
  • Donate to Global Volunteers
  • Donate to a Volunteer
  • Money Matters – Explaining Your Service Program Contribution
  • Discounts & Fundraising
  • Alumni Center
  • Covid-19 Policy
  • News/Media
  • Privacy Policy
  • Agreements
  • Site Map
  • Contact
  • Podcast
  • Volunteer Portal
  • Employment
Global Volunteers
375 East Little Canada Road
St. Paul, MN 55117-1628 USA
(800) 487-1074 | toll-free
(651) 482-0915 | fax
globalvolunteers.org
email@globalvolunteers.org
Federal EIN: 36-3352680

JOIN OUR EMAIL LIST!

Subscribe to receive updates, new blog posts, and inspiring stories from our work around the world.

Global Volunteers - Partners in Development ® | © Copyright 2002 - Present Global Volunteers
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • Global Volunteers is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization. Our tax ID is 36-3352680. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent provided by the law.
  • Send feedback about this web site and its administration.
Students’ Futures Lie at the Center of Global Volunteers’ Greece...View of Heraklion, GreeceReaching Children’s Potential in Tanzania: Welcoming New Moms to the Program...
Scroll to top