The Application is LIVE for Volunteering: Next Round, April 15!

The first group of Lutheran Volunteer Corps applicants jumped into the Placement interviewing process this month. Sign up, or forward the application to prospective Volunteers you know. And remember, service is not just for college grads, and you need not have had college at all. Over 21, gap year, in between jobs, on sabbatical, retired… service advances discernment of vocation, exploration of intentional community, spiritual and leadership development at any life stage. FIND THE APPLICATION HERE.

Placements Surge

At the start of COVID-19, many Placements opted out due to financial uncertainty and anticipated instability.  LVC asked partners to withdraw if they were not sure they could maintain a Volunteer for the duration of the program.  In 2020, we had 38 Placements, and already for 2021, we have 60 positions.  The number of Volunteer applicants is up by about 10 from last year this time, and as usual, we’re monitoring trends for the term starting in August.  It’s a strong start that we hope will maintain.

Volunteering Continues During COVID-19

Thirty-eight LVC Volunteers are living in community in DC, Baltimore, Wilmington, Omaha, and Twin Cities. They stared COVID-19 in the face and said, let’s do this. Or, perhaps that will be the story when this is all over.  Volunteers entered the program with a range of emotions, trepidations, and uncertainty. They are weathering the pandemic with caution, care, and grace.  Each is serving based on their Placement’s COVID protocol, which could be remotely, a hybrid of remote and in-person, or completely in person if a position is considered essential and direct-service. The Volunteer year began with a Zoom orientation from their LVC houses, and continues with monthly program day Zooms bringing all Volunteers together to learn about a different social justice topic each month.  For the first time, we welcomed four virtual-only Volunteers, one whose five-month term completed and left her with an observation:

–-Marissa Clark, LVC ’21

“Even virtual, my time at LVC gave me so much more than my previous in-person service experience. I’ve felt closer to staff, more in community with other Volunteers, and feel I’ve grown to know others more intimately than when I served with another organization in person. Plus — I was hoping I could maintain my anger and discontent; but talking with other Volunteers and seeing LVC values in action has given me hope for our country.” 

— Provided by Lutheran Volunteer Corps