NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL BELMONT

Campus Ministry

Opportunities

Tips for Completing your CSP Hours

  1. Call agencies early in the semester.  Most agencies schedule volunteers well in advance, usually several weeks and sometimes even several months!  If you wait until a week or two before your hours are due, you may not be able to schedule your service hours. 
  2. Also remember that the rest of your classmates are calling the same agencies, so volunteer opportunities may fill up quickly, especially closer to the end of the semester.  It’s very important to plan ahead!!! 

When calling an agency, there are some basic questions you should ask.  Have your planner or a calendar handy.  Here is a sample conversation:

Suzie Sophomore: Hello, can I please speak with the volunteer coordinator (or name)? 
Volunteer Coordinator:Hello, this is Jan and I’m the volunteer coordinator.
Suzie Sophomore: Hi!  My name is Suzie and I am a student at Notre Dame High School.  I’m interested in volunteering for your organization and I’m wondering what opportunities you have available.  I’m interested in… (Be specific about what you’d like to do: work directly with the guests at a soup kitchen vs. sorting food or working in the office; working with patients at a hospital; tutoring kids; etc.)
Volunteer Coordinator:Well, we need volunteers to help tutor students after school once a week, and we also need help at a few evening events in March.
Suzie Sophomore: I’d love to come once a week after school for the rest of the semester. 
~OR~ I’d be interested in helping at the evening events- what are the dates and times? 
~OR~ I’m interested in tutoring, but I can’t come every week.  Is it possible to just come a few times? (Some agencies will allow this; others require a long-term commitment.)
Volunteer Coordinator: (Gives Suzie this information.)
 (They schedule the dates and times that Suzie will volunteer.  Suzie writes the dates in her planner.)
Suzie Sophomore: Great!  Do you require an orientation or any training?  Do you require a parent permission slip or any other paperwork?  Do you require a certain dress code, or is there anything else I need to know about volunteering at (name of agency)?
Volunteer Coordinator: (Gives Suzie this information.)
Suzie Sophomore: Okay, I’ll be sure to bring that paperwork with me.  Can you give me directions?
Volunteer Coordinator: (Gives Suzie this information.)
Suzie Sophomore: Thank you!  I’m looking forward to volunteering at (name of agency).  Thanks again for all your help! 

  • Consider scheduling your volunteer work with classmates or friends.  This can make the experience more enjoyable, plus you can carpool!
  • Consider making a long-term commitment to volunteer at an agency.  Go beyond your four required CSP hours and volunteer once a week or once a month for the rest of the semester or year.  Many agencies require this anyway, and it’s a great way to work towards your 100-hour graduation requirement!
    • If you’re having trouble finding a place to volunteer, please stop by Campus Ministry for more help.  We have several directories of local agencies that you can look through, and you’re also welcome to use our phone if it’s hard for you to call agencies during their business hours.