Volunteer Program - "Make a Difference"

“One of the things I keep learning is that the secret of being happy is doing things for other people.” -- Dick Gregory - Volunteer

Volunteer Application Form (pdf)

What is On With Life?

On With Life at Ankeny is a 26 bed, CARF accredited, post-acute, comprehensive, inpatient rehabilitation program specifically designed to meet the needs of individuals who have experienced a brain injury, stroke, or other neurological incident.

On With Life’s volunteers can make a difference by:

●  One-to-One Companionship
●  Reading to someone
●  Providing Entertainment
●  Engaging others through Pet Therapy
●  Assisting with Group Activities
●  Becoming a Prayer Partner
●  Helping with Special Event Projects
●  Gardening & Outdoor Activities
●  Sharing Other Talents
●  Assisting with Clerical Tasks

Who can volunteer?

●  Anyone over 14 years old
●  Student
●  Homemaker
●  Retiree
●  Working Professional
●  Those that would like to brighten someone else’s life

What are the benefits of volunteering for On With Life?

●  Improving the quality of life of another person adds meaning to the lives of all involved. You can make a difference!

●  Volunteering provides an opportunity to meet new people and create lasting relationships.

●  Assisting persons served with brain injuries to “get on with their life” can provide a sense of satisfaction and self-fulfillment.

One-to-One Companionship

Provides an opportunity to make a difference for a person served by simply holding someone’s hand, reading to them, playing cards and/or games, or taking the person for a walk.

Reading

Just like you, our persons served have various interests. To meet these needs, On With Life has magazines and books available.

Entertainment

Music can be enjoyed in various ways. If you can sing, play the piano or other instrument, we have opportunities for you. Many of our persons served have shown they enjoy many types of music. You can volunteer by yourself or with a group or organization.

Pet Therapy

Pets bring out a special side in people that no other stimulus can achieve. Pets with up to date vaccinations and medical records are allowed in the facility, upon approval from the pet program coordinator. Groups or individuals are welcome to bring their pets.

Group Activity Assistance

If you would like to volunteer, but do not know where to start, a group activity may provide an opportunity for you to see the many different types of activities and allow you to get to know the persons served before participating in individual activities. On With Life staff members are present during group and recreational therapy activities.

Prayer Partner

We have many different spiritual backgrounds with our persons served. A prayer partner can be beneficial to helping the persons served focus on their spiritual needs during this time in their life.

Special Events

What better time to volunteer than when you can help celebrate the special times in someone’s life. You could help decorate, organize the games, and take pictures, or help cook, if that is your interest. Individual or group participation is welcome.

Gardening

Do you have a green thumb? Plants and flowers help brighten anyone’s day. You could show others how to care for plants, arrange flowers, or share other gardening techniques that help bring the outdoors inside. You could even accompany someone on an outdoor walk to rediscover nature’s beauty.

Special Talents

Volunteers can express themselves and reach out to our persons served in many ways. If you have a special talent we would love for you to share it with us.

Clerical

Would you like to help a non-profit organization, but would prefer to stay behind the scenes? On With Life offers opportunities for people to assist with filing, typing, data entry, and other office tasks.

For more information, please call or email:

Ann Lenaghan
Volunteer Coordinator
alenaghan@onwithlife.org