“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.”

—Elizabeth Andrew

By Linnea Borland

Crime Victim’s Resource Center

A volunteer is defined as a person who voluntarily offers himself or herself for a service or undertaking without pay. According to the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, 62.6 million people in the United States volunteered through or for an organization at least once in 2015. Of these 62.6 million people, 41.2 percent became involved after being asked by an organization to volunteer and 41.6 percent became involved on their own (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016).

Crime Victims Resource Center (CVRC) in Austin has been working with victims of crime in Mower County since 1977. In the last fiscal year, we provided 1,951 services to victims of crime – 44 percent more than the previous year. These services include crisis counseling, assistance with an Order for Protection or a Harassment Restraining Order, accompaniment to court proceedings, notification of victim rights, and referrals to other agencies. We provided these services to 361 victims of crime.

Among the many services we provide, our 24-hour crisis line is an essential piece of our victim support services. This crisis line is answered by trained victim advocates during typical work hours. After business hours, and on weekends and holidays, we rely on volunteers to staff the crisis line. We ask for a commitment of taking the after-hours cell phone once per month, but that could vary depending on the number of volunteers available.

Crime Victims Resource Center provides the advocacy training needed to staff the after-hours crisis line. There is no previous education, training, or experience required in order to become a volunteer. This advocacy training encompasses topics such as domestic violence, sexual assault, harassment, general crime, and the resources available to victims in Mower County.

To continue providing this service to all victims of crime in Mower County, volunteers are needed. Where you are located does not necessarily affect your ability to volunteer for CVRC – as long as you can visit our office and pick up the after-hours cell phone before your scheduled week, and return it the following Monday, we can work with any interested volunteers.

Be a part of the solution in Mower County and help contribute to a positive experience for all victims of crime.

For more information regarding our services, or if you’re interested in learning more about volunteering for CVRC, please call 507-437-6680, or visit our website at www.crimevictimsresourcecenter.org.