Ready for My Close-up Mr. DeMille (and some advice for non-profits and job seekers)

Returned to Canada a short time ago to visit family, take care of some business and see a family member who is having major heart surgery very soon.  While here I am staying with a younger sister who manages a non-profit nursing and health care agency. Times are difficult for non-profits right now. Their offices, which also contain clinical rooms were in dire need of painting. The current color I believe is called Harvest Gold (like the color on those old refrigerators) and is not standing up well after about 20 years. They convinced the landlord to reimburse them for new paint and they would supply the labor.

Free labor is not so easy to come by.  On a weekend my sister and one of the volunteers managed to get half the entry way and lobby finished. And then it sat for a couple of weeks as no one had time to continue with the effort. So I have taken up the task. Last week I finished the lobby and the better part of one of the walls in the central room. The ceilings are about 16 feet high so there’s a certain amount of aerial work on the ladder involved.  In the upcoming week I plan to get as much of it done as possible. It is a lovely light blue and much more appropriate for a nursing agency. The color really brightens up the office.

Recently the agency received a small grant to make a television commercial that the local station will run as a public service announcement meaning they won’t have to pay for the air time only the production of it and that at a discount rate since advertising is slowing down for a lot of the media right now.

The commercial will feature the services offered by the agency which are run on a cost recovery basis meaning people pay for them but not at commercial rates or they are paid by a Medicare or insurance type organization. One of the services offered is called foot care. It is mainly for elderly, disabled and diabetic people who require more attention to their extremities and in some cases have difficulty in mobility.  I was recruited to be the actor in the role of the foot care patient.  The only direction was to sit in a comfortable Lay-Z-Boy with my feet up while the nurse went through the routine. It was rather like getting a pedicure.

We chatted as the camera rolled. In about 10 minutes the cameraman said he had enough footage and my acting debut was complete.

Now Mr. DeMille I am ready for my close-up!

There are a couple of things I have learned in that contact with the agency that might be of benefit for other non-profits who are feeling the squeeze.

Here in Canada donations to non-profits are tax deductible. That is nothing new but there can be donations given in terms of goods and services for which a tax receipt can be issued. These goods can include such things as rent.

If your rent is high consider negotiating with your landlord to have a portion of it for several months “donated” and issue a tax receipt for the amount of that donation.  If there are teaching materials, books and the like that are needed consider approaching a bookstore for a donation and issuing then a tax receipt for the amount of the goods. If furniture or office supplies are needed consider approaching a business with this type of plan. You could offer to put their name on a “donor board” or make a mention of them in your newsletter or on your website.

The media is more approachable for fund raising endeavors with the downturn in the economy and there is room for negotiation there as well.

You will have to check tax laws in your jurisdiction for procedures and to find out what is and isn’t accepted but it is an idea that benefits all involved.

Another thing that came to mind is volunteer work. I am big on that and have made a couple of posts on it before.  What happened during my first week volunteering there was a small ongoing job opportunity. Though I am not staying here long enough it would have been good for one of the volunteers. The people who work for the agency are all licensed in various health care roles. Some are nurses, practical nurses, home care aides and the like. But occasionally they get a client who doesn’t require health care assistance but companionship since family is at some distance. This means simply visiting on a regular basis, having tea and conversation, going for walks and the like. The pay is about double minimum wage. In this circumstance one of the health care workers is going to  fulfill the role but were there enough volunteers in this agency one of them might have gotten the assignment for pay.

So that brings me to job seekers. Rather than sitting at home moping (or playing video games), check the phone book for non-profit or volunteer agencies in your area and offer your services. Even if it is only for one afternoon a week. You will feel better getting out and mixing with people. Your contribution will be greatly appreciated and you may find an opportunity that you would have otherwise missed.  And it will help fill a blank time spot on your resume.