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The article examines the legal provision of volunteering in Ukraine. The problem of defining the forms of charitable activity is being studied, because consensus among scientists has not yet been reached regarding their scope. It is established that the Law of Ukraine «On Charitable Activities and Charitable Organizations» dated 07/05/2012 No. 5073-VI does not establish the forms of charitable activity, although the term «form of charitable activity» appears in ot her legislative acts. It is proven that volunteer activity is precisely the form of the latter. However, given the relatively recent adoption of a special law in this area -- the Law of Ukraine «On Volunteering» dated April 19, 2011 No. 3236-VI, it is still too early to assert the perfection of the legal framework. In addition, the legal provision of volunteering in special literature is insufficiently developed: individual problems are covered fragmentarily, there is no unity among scientists regarding the legal nature of this phenomenon. Based on the analysis of the legislative definition of the concept of volunteering and the study of the terms «non-profitability», «gratuitousness» and «selflessness», we propose to make changes to the definition enshrined in Art. 1 of the Law of Ukraine «On Volunteering», replacing «non-profit activity» with «selfless» in the definition of volunteer activity and «free» in the definition of volunteer assistance with «selfless». The experience of some foreign countries was also studied. The Law of the Republic of Moldova «On Volunteering» dated June 18, 2010 No. 121 and the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan «On Volunteering» dated December 30, 2016 No. 42-VI ZRK were analyzed. Conclusions were made about the expediency for Ukraine to borrow some of the legislative de velopments. The work also concludes about the correlation between the concepts of charity and volunteer activity, namely that it is incorrect to equate them, because they are a whole and a part. It is also proposed, for clarity and to avoid unnecessary discussions, to supplement the Law of Ukraine «On Charitable Activities and Charitable Organizations» with a separate article with a list of forms of charitable activity, among which to enshrine volunteer activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volunteer retention is critical for the sustainable functioning of faith-based organizations (FBOs). This qualitative study examines the interplay of two distinct streams of Human Resource Management (HRM) within FBOs: traditional HRM practices and religious HRM practices. Drawing on data from 33 interviews conducted across four Indonesian FBOs, we explore how the integration of these practices influences volunteer retention. Our findings reveal that FBOs employ traditional HRM practices, including recruitment, task design, training, supervision, rewards systems, and managing diversity, to retain volunteers. Additionally, strategically designed religious HRM practices, encompassing spiritual individual development, spiritual leadership, shaping organizational religious culture, and managing volunteers' relations, augment volunteer commitment. This research contributes novel insights into the nexus between secular and spiritual dimensions in volunteer retention, offering a holistic framework for FBOs to optimize volunteer management strategies and sustain their impactful missions. PRACTICAL POINTS: Integrate traditional and religious HRM practices effectively to boost volunteer retention in faith-based organizations and other non-profits. Prioritize values alignment and organizational culture to enhance volunteer satisfaction and commitment, fostering an engaging environment. Emphasize values-based leadership to cultivate an authentic culture reflecting the organization's core values, maximizing volunteer engagement. Extend the research principles beyond faith-based organizations to environmental, social welfare, and humanitarian sectors, optimizing volunteer management approaches for greater impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AimsMethodsResultsConclusionTo investigate what it is about community-based perinatal mental health peer support from trained volunteers that works, for whom, in what circumstances, in what respects, and why; and build a change model that includes positive and negative mechanisms and outcomes.Realist evaluation methods based on semi-structured interviews were used to create a change model for a third sector programme in England.Mothers who received peer support (n = 20), peer support volunteers (n = 27), and programme staff (n = 9) were interviewed. Positive impact on mothers was primarily based on feeling understood and accepted, social comparison (including normalisation, hope, and gaining perspective) and sharing non-directive information from experiential knowledge. Negative impact on mothers was based on negative social comparison, or absence of key peer support mechanisms. Mothers were affected in different ways, depending on individual contexts: their backgrounds, personalities, social situations, resources, experiences, beliefs, and needs. Some different mechanisms were present in one-to-one and group situations. All participants considered the benefits of peer support to greatly outweigh the risks.Individual contextual factors affect the multiple mechanisms through which mental health peer support can improve mothers’ emotional wellbeing and social participation. Peer support has potential risks as well as benefits, which can be mitigated. Programmes could use this understanding of how contexts and mechanisms interact to produce peer support outcomes to improve training for peer support volunteers and to design future evaluations that take into account diversity of peer support experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To validate active human body models for investigating occupant safety in autonomous cars, it is crucial to comprehend the responses of vehicle occupants during evasive maneuvers. This study sought to quantify the behavior of midsize male and small female passenger seat occupants in both upright and reclined postures during three types of vehicle maneuvers. Volunteer tests were conducted using a minivan, where vehicle kinematics were measured with a DGPS sensor and occupant kinematics were captured with a stereo-vision motion capture system. Seatbelt loads, belt pull-out, and footrest reaction forces were also documented. The interior of the vehicle was 3D-scanned for modeling purposes. Results indicated that seatback angles significantly affected occupant kinematics, with small female volunteers displaying reduced head and torso movements, except during emergency braking with a upright posture seatback. Lane-change maneuvers revealed that maximum lateral head excursions varied depending on the maneuver's direction. The study concluded that seatback angles were crucial in determining the extent of occupant movement, with notable variations in head and torso excursions observed. The collected data assist in understanding occupant behavior during evasive maneuvers and contribute to the validation of human body models, offering essential insights for enhancing safety systems in autonomous vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the identification of crisis situations has been one of the major social issues in Korea, the approach to addressing this issue is biased toward a government‐centric system, and consequently, there is limited research exploring the significance of a community‐driven crisis identification model. Focus group interviews were conducted among local volunteers and project managers actively engaged in the “Good Neighbors Project.” The exploration of the significance of community‐driven crisis identification, the challenges associated, and strategies to strengthen the community‐driven crisis identification model led to the identification of a total of eight sub‐themes. Based on the findings, to effectively identify individuals and families in crisis within the local community, it is necessary to expand the concept of crisis beyond its definition within the public sector, increase opportunities to communicate the significance of community‐driven crisis identification involving volunteers from the local community, and emphasize the need to enhance volunteers' competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managing Volunteer Engagement Non-profit organizations that provide food, shelter, and other services to people in need, rely on volunteers to deliver their services. Unlike paid labor, non-profit organizations have less control over unpaid volunteers' schedules, efforts, and reliability. However, these organizations can invest in volunteer engagement activities to strive for a steady and adequate supply of volunteer labor. The paper, "A Dynamic Model for Managing Volunteer Engagement", models the volunteer management process. The paper derives a dynamic control policy that judiciously uses the non-profit's resources for volunteer engagement activities depending on explicit congestion thresholds, thereby lowering the overall cost of the non-profit operation. Nonprofit organizations that provide food, shelter, and other services to people in need, rely on volunteers to deliver their services. Unlike paid labor, nonprofit organizations have less control over unpaid volunteers' schedules, efforts, and reliability. However, these organizations can invest in volunteer engagement activities to ensure a steady and adequate supply of volunteer labor. We study a key operational question of how a nonprofit organization can manage its volunteer workforce capacity to ensure consistent provision of services. In particular, we formulate a multiclass queueing network model to characterize the optimal engagement activities for the nonprofit organization to minimize the costs of enhancing volunteer engagement, while maximizing productive work done by volunteers. Because this problem appears intractable, we formulate an approximating Brownian control problem in the heavy traffic limit and study the dynamic control of that system. Our solution is a nested threshold policy with explicit congestion thresholds that indicate when the nonprofit should optimally pursue various types of volunteer engagement activities. A numerical example calibrated using data from a large food bank shows that our dynamic policy for deploying engagement activities can significantly reduce the food bank's total annual cost of its volunteer operations while still maintaining almost the same level of social impact. This improvement in performance does not require any additional resources—it only requires that the food bank strategically deploy its engagement activities based on the number of volunteers signed up to work volunteer shifts. Supplemental Material: The e-companion is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/opre.2021.0419. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study's aim is to explore the experiences of nursing home residents and their next of kin related to interacting with volunteers in daily life and when the resident's death is imminent. Qualitative data consisted of 130 hours of participant observations in three nursing homes and 13 interviews with five residents and eight next of kin. A thematic analysis identified three themes: (1) Social everyday activities - a frame for responsiveness and meaningful everydayness - reflecting the existential dimension of these activities; (2) Time - contrasting volunteers' time for care activities and bedside support to dying residents with professionals' time for similar activities; and (3) Valuable relief when death is imminent - inherent ethical dilemmas - reflecting potential tension between the valuable relief volunteers provide and the preferences of residents and their next of kin. Volunteers can promote and improve a holistic palliative care approach for residents in nursing homes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Christian mission hospitals provide critical assistance to communities that need their services the most, yet they often lack the financial and human resources needed to realize their full potential for community impact. Existing charity rating organizations rate few charities and lack transparency for donors, and limited resources exist to help volunteers find organizations that would benefit from their services the most. The objective of this article is to develop a transparent Transformational Impact Rating System (TIRS) that can be used by funding agencies and volunteer directing agencies to assess the potential for transformational impact of any hospital anywhere in the world. Methods: Research to inform the rating system was conducted via a comprehensive review of existing charity rating systems and literature, in-depth interviews, and surveys. TIRS was developed by identifying, selecting, categorizing, and allocating weights to variables. TIRS was implemented via a custom-built website to enable future testing and evolution. Results: A rating system was developed that generates an overall hospital score and scores in each of five categories (regional impact potential, financial health, operational performance, external relations, and volunteer experience) based on data collected from the hospital and surveys of donors, volunteers, staff, patients, and the local community. Discussion: TIRS in its current state is a proof of concept that demonstrates data-driven decision-making for funding and staffing hospitals with high potential for transformational impact. TIRS can be modified for future applications. Conclusion: TIRS provides a proof-of-concept system through which all hospitals in low-resource settings can make their impact potential visible to donors and volunteers. If TIRS (with suggested modifications) is used by those interested in helping mission hospitals, invisible hospitals that are struggling in remote areas will be more likely to receive much-needed resources. TIRS can help direct declining funds and manpower to hospitals that have the highest potential for transformational impact.

When a crisis happens, the affected region is very often culturally and linguistically diverse,with complex linguistic mapswhich are further complicated by the linguistic diversity of the rescue and humanitarian responders. Lesser-used languages often have fewer resources for provision of professionaltranslators. Thus, the speakers of these languages depend on autonomous and civic solidarity (Agustín & Jørgensen,2019), including support in translation and interpreting. For example, during the recent earthquake in Türkiyelanguage supportwas provided by volunteer translators serving many national rescue teams and relief aid workers. In addition, during the 2015 refugee crises in Europe citizen groups used cultural activities to show solidarity. This article examinesthe act of translation as a prosocial activity that showssolidarity with the victims in crisis situations. It raisesawareness about the linguistic challenges faced by communities in crisissituations and identifiesstrategies to overcome these challenges usingvolunteer translation. By narrating individual translator motivations, it identifiessolidarity as a form of advocacy and empowerment, while showing empathy towards the crisis-affected people.

Residential green spaces in cities can make a significant contribution to urban conservation. To engage urban residents in conservation, we need to understand what influences participation. We interviewed leaders of community conservation groups and surveyed members of the public in Auckland, New Zealand using an anonymous questionnaire. We investigated whether environmental attitudes differ between those who do and do not participate in conservation actions (volunteering in a community conservation group and/or controlling pest mammals), and the motivations and barriers to participating in conservation actions. We found that conservation leaders often founded their conservation groups with a biodiversity motivation, whereas many of their group members subsequently joined and continued to participate for social reasons. Conservation group members were more likely to be in favor of pest control and had more positive environmental attitudes than non-participants. They found group work more motivating and productive than working alone. For people already participating in conservation (controlling pests, leading a group, or volunteering), the most common barrier to increasing participation was opportunity, most notably a lack of time. We found that people tended to control pest mammals for self-interested reasons, such as preventing damage to their homes (67%; n = 358), whilst biodiversity motivations (protecting native species) were secondary (53%; n = 283). For people not participating in pest control, the primary barrier was a lack of interest in participating (26%; n = 109). Although people were supportive of conservation, biodiversity motivations alone are unlikely to be a sufficient motivator for participation. Given the range of different motivations and barriers, targeted messaging (e.g., promoting social connections) could increase participation in urban conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the aftermath of the devastating Palu disaster in September 2018, communities, especially children, suffered deep psychological trauma. At the request of faith leaders, local NGO Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI), in partnership with Krida Wacana Christian University (UKRIDA), conducted a psychosocial support training program for volunteers, including Qur'an recitation teachers and Sunday school teachers in Palu. These trained volunteers then initiated a psychosocial support initiative for children in the area. Years later, WVI and UKRIDA conducted a reflective study of the program, collecting data from 40 volunteers through focus group discussions and surveys. The study identified key themes, including the effectiveness of the training, reflections on program implementation, lessons learned, and recommendations for future programs. The study underscores the importance of multi-stakeholder involvement, particularly that of faith-based organizations, in providing psychosocial support in disasteraffected areas. Given the recurring threat of disasters in the region, the study advocates for transparent collaboration among various social stakeholders. To build community resilience, disaster management strategies need to be widely disseminated, and the need for continuous training to strengthen community preparedness is emphasized. In addition, the development of culturally sensitive training modules tailored to the community's language, age, and religious background is essential. Such a comprehensive commitment will ensure the community's ability to deal effectively with future disasters. Detailed findings are discussed further in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Aphasia impacts significantly on a person's communicative confidence, mood, and well-being. Speech-language pathology clinical practice literature has previously reported positive outcomes for people with aphasia who have received peer support, and positive outcomes have also been reported by caregivers and supporters. An aphasia peer support volunteer program was collaboratively developed and implemented by Speech Pathology and Volunteer Services at Gold Coast Health. The program offers support to people with aphasia by facilitating visits with volunteers who provide an example of living a quality life with aphasia; assist with emotional, social, and practical support regarding living with aphasia; and provide strategies for maximising communicative independence. Evaluation of this program was undertaken using quality improvement processes specific to Gold Coast Health. Qualitative findings were overwhelmingly positive, with 12 patients (from a total of thirteen) reporting that they found the experience motivating and enjoyable. The program continues to be implemented at Gold Coast Health to promote communication independence and successful living with chronic aphasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the effect of online behavior activation therapy(BA) on the psychological intervention of nursing college student volunteers participating in public health emergency, and to provide reference for improving the mental health education of college students' emergency volunteer service. Methods From November 14 to December 25, 2021.42 college student volunteers with a total score of symptom self-rating scale(SCL-90) greater than 160 points or a factor score greater than or equal to 2 points were selected as the research subjects, and divided into the intervention group and the control group by random number table method, with 21 cases in each group. The volunteers of intervention group received 6 weeks of online BA individual intervention, once a week, each time for about 60 minutes. The volunteers of control group received online group mental health guidance, did not receive online BA individual intervention during the study period, and received the same online BA individual intervention after the study. SCL-90 and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used to evaluate the mental health status and sleep quality of the volunteers in the two groups before and after the intervention. Results After the intervention, the total score of SCL-90 and the scores of somatization,compulsion, interpersonal relationship, depression, anxiety, hostility, paranoia, psychosis, and other factors and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index in the intervention group were significantly lower than those in the control group, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05); There was no significant difference in the score of SCL-90 terror factor between the two groups after the intervention(P>0.05). Conclusion Online BA individual intervention can improve the mental health level of nursing college student volunteers and improve their sleep quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Volunteering in the community is thought to provide unique benefits to people who experience limited engagement in society. In the global South, volunteer programs are often framed as empowering women and benefiting the poor, without empirical evidence or systematic investigation of what this means from a local perspective. For this reason, it is critical to represent stakeholder knowledge, understand how change happens systemically, and reduce cultural bias in scientific inquiry and public policy. As such, efforts to respect diverse narratives and problem-solving approaches are key to science diplomacy - they help us understand cultural relevance, program efficacy, and for whom a program is considered transformative. Methods and results: This study shows how Syrian refugee and Jordanian women, living in resource-poor families, articulated (i) concepts of empowerment and life satisfaction and (ii) the benefits of engaging in community-based volunteering programs. Through engaging in a participatory methodology known as Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping, women generated visual representations of these constructs and cause-and-effect reasoning. They identified several dimensions of empowerment (e.g., cultural, financial, and psychological empowerment) and several meanings of life satisfaction (e.g. adaptation, acceptance, and contentment). They also mapped connections between variables, identifying those that might catalyze change. We were specifically interested in evaluating understandings of We Love Reading, a program that trains volunteers to become changemakers in their local community. In simulations, we modelled how employment, education, money, and volunteering would drive system change, with notable results on cultural empowerment. Discussion: Through visual maps and scenarios of change, the study demonstrates a participatory approach to localizing knowledge and evaluating programs. This is key to improving scientific enquiry and public policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past 10–15 years, the Volunteer Program at the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County has undergone an immense transition. This program overhaul tackled historical methodology that had been creating barriers to participation, addressed the changing needs of modern volunteer audiences, and worked to highlight access and inclusion in all aspects of program offerings. Today, the Volunteer Program is one of NHMLAC's largest and most successful community engagement programs, centering the needs and interests of a diverse volunteer cohort by crafting accessible, learning-centered service offerings, while also providing quality support for museum projects. Through this sometimes difficult process of change, NHMLAC partnered closely with longtime docents and other stakeholders to ensure that all parties could move into this new future together. This article outlines the steps of this transition, highlighting the changes, challenges, and opportunities experienced along the way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As with many Volunteer Programs, volunteerism at Filoli began in support of a fledgling organization in 1975. Initially a separate nonprofit, Friends of Filoli was created with the purpose of fundraising and other support, but was dissolved in 1989 as it was not self-sufficient. The leadership structure, however, remained and later merged with the Board of Directors, creating confusion and discontent. The program peaked at 1,500 volunteers, and was outsizing service needs, not aligned with Filoli's strategic direction, and a considerable investment of time and management. Volunteers were largely self-managed, but were not following industry best practices and were unsupportive of needed changes for the organization to be viable. As staff implemented best practices, volunteers responded negatively and publicly. Based on staff investment, diminished returns, and negative culture, the model was unsustainable, so the organization took action to assess the needs through a professional consultant to reframe volunteerism. In 2022 Filoli launched Service Learning, a new project-based program that provides an opportunity for learning and volunteerism. Now, Filoli has no dedicated volunteer coordinator, no docents, and no dedicated volunteer database. Yet there is still a robust program for volunteerism, with 650 participants and 2,400 service hours in 2023 alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to measure the sociodemographic, economic, physical, psychological, and social characteristics of volunteers and the salient factors of their motivations for voluntary participation. The study employed a cross-sectional design and convenience sampling. Data were collected from 1046 volunteers working in eight non-governmental organizations in the field of child welfare. Specifically, a scale with ten factors of volunteer motivation was used to predict volunteer motivation within structural equation modeling. Questions were also asked to understand the relationship between volunteers' sociodemographic, economic, physical, psychological, and social characteristics and volunteering. The results show that the primary factors of recognition, reactivity, and understanding have the most significant positive effects on volunteer motivation, while social interaction has the least significant effect. Additionally, the diverse characteristics of volunteers were found to be an important source of motivation for them to volunteer. In conclusion, this research extends the existing literature and shed light on the main motivational processes that shape volunteering participation, considering the different characteristics of volunteers. Thus, understanding motivational factors can help to increase volunteer participation in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the emerging threat conditions in the work environment, firefighters are at a high risk of exposure to not only toxic substances but also biological agents in the dayroom and during emergency runs. The aim of this study is to evaluate firefighter (career and volunteer) knowledge and practice behaviors on infection control. This study surveyed 444 firefighters (210 career, 234 volunteer) in rural Northwestern Kentucky. The self-reported survey focused on individual characteristics, knowledge on exposure incident control, precautionary actions, and personal protections. We evaluated the descriptive characteristics of knowledge and practice scores stratified by firefighter groups (career and volunteers). The associations between infection control training received (yes/no) and firefighter knowledge and practice scores were also examined. Firefighters who were trained on infection control prevention had significantly higher knowledge scores (M = 63.7, SD = 13.4 vs. M = 59.7, SD = 15.9; p = 0.012). Volunteer firefighters exhibited better infection control practice behaviors than career firefighters (M = 70.6, SD = 13.0 vs. M = 67.4, SD = 11.1; p = 0.05). Firefighters who followed infection control guidelines (M = 69.5, SD = 11.9 vs. M = 58.1, SD = 9.9; p = 0.012) and expressed need for a comprehensive training on personal protective equipment (PPE) selection (β = 3.41, SE = 1.54, aOR = 30.22, 95% CI: 1.47–620.87; p = 0.028) had significantly higher practice scores compared to those who did not. The study results have policy implications for infection prevention and control (IPC) in rural fire departments, both career and volunteer. A review of infection control policies is needed, especially as it relates to training and practice behaviors during emergency calls and in the dayroom. Results also suggest the need to develop strategies to improve the culture of PPE use and training on the selection of PPEs appropriate to the emergency response type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volunteer interventions play a vital role in supporting families by offering accessible and community-based resources outside the formal professional sector. This study examines the impact of the volunteer intervention known as Family Club Denmark (FCD) on the well-being of parents and children. FCD aims to provide families with positive experiences and support relationship building. The intervention, open to families from diverse social backgrounds, comprises volunteer-led family clubs where parents and children aged 2–12 years engage in activities and meals. We allocated 510 families (363 vulnerable families) to FCD or placed them on a waiting list based on a first-come, first-served principle. We conducted baseline, post-intervention, and follow-up assessments through questionnaires, observations, and interviews. On average, families participated in 5.8 sessions, with both families and volunteers reporting high satisfaction. When compared to control families, we find that vulnerable FCD parents feel more confident playing with their children (p = 0.04, [0.01; 0.40], d = 0.25), require less assistance in playing with their children (p = 0.01, [−0.34; −0.05], d = 0.33), and report that their children have a more challenging time forming friendships (p = 0.01, [−0.51; −0.09], d = 0.29). However, we did not find significant effects on mental health, parenting stress, self-efficacy, self-worth, family routines, or child well-being. We observed similar results for the full sample. The discovery that parents feel more confident playing with their children after participating in FCD highlights the vital role of volunteer-based interventions in enhancing parental engagement and fostering positive parent–child interactions. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03657888 (registered 29 August 2018). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectivesLosing a child prior to midlife may be a uniquely traumatic event that continues to compromise parents' well-being in later life. This study compared psychological well-being between bereaved and non-bereaved parents, and examined whether volunteering protects bereaved parents. Because most families have more than one child, we further explored whether the number of living children parents had differentiated bereaved parents in their well-being.MethodsWe analyzed a pooled sample of parents aged 50+ (N = 12,023) from the Health and Retirement Study (2010/2012-2012/2014), including parents who lost a child prior to 50 and those who never lost a child. Two-level linear regression models were estimated to test the associations between child loss, volunteering, and psychological well-being, and examine the moderating effect of number of living children.ResultsBereaved parents reported more depressive symptoms and lower life satisfaction than their non-bereaved counterparts, which was more evident among parents with fewer children alive. Among bereaved parents, volunteering, particularly volunteering 100+ hours/year, was associated with better psychological well-being at baseline; yet, volunteering 1-99 hours/year led to a larger increase in life satisfaction over time. The benefits of volunteering held true regardless of the number of living children.ConclusionThis study adds to our understanding of the lasting effect of parental bereavement and suggests volunteering as a potential intervention aimed at helping bereaved older parents. Findings identify parents with fewer children as a particularly vulnerable population in the face of child loss and calls for more resources allocated to help them.

Lampung Province in 2022 ranked seventh nationally in beef cattle production with 906.6 thousand head and third in goat production with 1.67 million head, establishing itself as a key center for the provision of sacrificial animals. The training of volunteers in ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection of sacrificial animals aims to ensure the health of these animals. The sequence of outreach activities comprises five stages: 1) Administrative preparation; 2) Provision of training materials to volunteer inspectors; 3) Training in ante-mortem inspection of goats and cattle; 4) Training in post-mortem examination of goats; and 5) Evaluation of activities. The results from this community outreach initiative includes: 1) Training sessions and practical exercises in ante-mortem and post-mortem examination were attended by 104 volunteer inspectors in Lampung Province in 2023, resulting in a 10.55% increase in participants' knowledge from pre-activity (pretest) levels of 77.51% to 88.06% post-activity (posttest), categorized as high; 2) Ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections of sacrificial animals were conducted by 21 volunteer inspectors from 104 participants who took part in provision of training materials (20.19%) across seven districts/cities in Lampung Province; 3) A total of 535 sacrificial animals were inspected, comprising 242 cattle and 293 goats with Bandar Lampung City having the largest proportion of inspection sites. Conclusion of this activity there was an increase in the knowledge of sacrificial animal inspection volunteers after the training.

Due to the emerging threat conditions in the work environment, firefighters are at a high risk of exposure to not only toxic substances but also biological agents in the dayroom and during emergency runs. The aim of this study is to evaluate firefighter (career and volunteer) knowledge and practice behaviors on infection control. This study surveyed 444 firefighters (210 career, 234 volunteer) in rural Northwestern Kentucky. The self-reported survey focused on individual characteristics, knowledge on exposure incident control, precautionary actions, and personal protections. We evaluated the descriptive characteristics of knowledge and practice scores stratified by firefighter groups (career and volunteers). The associations between infection control training received (yes/no) and firefighter knowledge and practice scores were also examined. Firefighters who were trained on infection control prevention had significantly higher knowledge scores (M = 63.7, SD = 13.4 vs. M = 59.7, SD = 15.9; p = 0.012). Volunteer firefighters exhibited better infection control practice behaviors than career firefighters (M = 70.6, SD = 13.0 vs. M = 67.4, SD = 11.1; p = 0.05). Firefighters who followed infection control guidelines (M = 69.5, SD = 11.9 vs. M = 58.1, SD = 9.9; p = 0.012) and expressed need for a comprehensive training on personal protective equipment (PPE) selection (β = 3.41, SE = 1.54, aOR = 30.22, 95% CI: 1.47–620.87; p = 0.028) had significantly higher practice scores compared to those who did not. The study results have policy implications for infection prevention and control (IPC) in rural fire departments, both career and volunteer. A review of infection control policies is needed, especially as it relates to training and practice behaviors during emergency calls and in the dayroom. Results also suggest the need to develop strategies to improve the culture of PPE use and training on the selection of PPEs appropriate to the emergency response type.

In February 2023, a major earthquake occurred in southeastern Turkey. At the request of the Turkish government, numerous international Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) from around the world were dispatched to the affected areas. As a local medical student, the first author had an opportunity to participate in disaster relief activities, serving as an interpreter and local coordinator for one of the EMTs dispatched from Japan. This paper reports on these activities and discusses the importance of cooperation between local people and international EMTs, the effectiveness of social media, and the potential contributions of students in future disaster response efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: This study uses large-sample archival data to examine the relation between audit partners' charity engagement and their full-time job performance. Volunteering in a critical position at a charity may reflect innate personality traits that lead to better partner performance. However, charity engagement can decrease audit partners' available working time and may, therefore, negatively impact their performance and clients' financial reporting quality. Using accounting misstatements as our primary measure of financial reporting quality, we find a positive relation between volunteering and job performance: financial reporting quality is higher for the clients of audit partners who volunteer at a charity. The relation is more pronounced when the partner volunteers to serve as the charity's board chair or donates to the charity. Although we study just one type of professional, our results speak to the broader question of the benefits and costs of volunteering. Data Availability: Data are available from the public sources cited in the text. JEL Classifications: M40; M42. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case study examines the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) efforts over the past 3 years through #StillServing, a movement to highlight the stories and voices of veterans who continue to serve their communities in various ways, provide avenues for communities to coalesce around volunteerism, and attract younger generations for a wider range of engaged veterans. With an overarching goal to amplify the perception of the VFW as a place for dedicated veterans of all stripes to continue their service to country and their communities, the campaign spotlights men and women who exemplify the best of what it means to be a VFW member through storytelling emphasizing diversity, tenacity, and an enduring commitment to serve. Informed by findings from individual interviews conducted with a diverse group of U.S. military veterans, targeted messages with specific calls to action were developed for younger veterans. The association sought to take advantage of the most relevant and effective media to share its message while ultimately encouraging the veteran and military community to share their own stories of continued service through #StillServing. The case shares lessons learned from the campaign's iterative approach and offers creative, tested strategies for other programs seeking to engage younger generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores how charities can harness individuals' desire for self‐enhancement in their advertisements to boost volunteerism. Two studies examine the effects of advertising which promote either horizontal differentiation (appeals to uniqueness, existing skills) or vertical differentiation (appeals to status, skill acquisition) and how these interact with consumers' self‐theories (incremental—belief in changeable attributes through effort, or entity—belief in unchangeable attributes). Study 1 (n = 183, 56% female) shows entity theorists are more inclined to volunteer following horizontally framed appeals, while incremental theorists respond similarly to both types of appeals. Study 2 (n = 107, 58% female) builds on this, revealing that self‐theory influences the type of individuation (horizontal or vertical) sought by individuals, in turn enhancing volunteer intentions. These findings highlight the complex relationship between self‐theory and advertising appeals in motivating volunteerism, offering valuable insights for creating effective charitable ads and understanding volunteer motivations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high life satisfaction of volunteers is crucial for improving mental health, fostering supportive social relationships, and enabling personal development. This research aims to explore the relationship between self-esteem, friendship quality, and life satisfaction among volunteers. The study involved 210 volunteers in Surabaya and used the accidental sampling technique. The method employed was quantitative correlational research with multiple linear regression analysis. Three measurement tools were used, namely the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), dan the McGill Friendship Questionnaire-Friend’s Functions (MFQ-FF). The research results indicate a positive correlation between self-esteem and life satisfaction. Friendship quality significantly contributes to the formation of life satisfaction. Both self-esteem and friendship quality together contribute significantly to life satisfaction. In conclusion, higher self-esteem and friendship quality enhance life satisfaction, while lower self-esteem and friendship quality diminish life satisfaction among volunteers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issue Addressed: Rurality is associated with poorer health outcomes and access to health services, yet a strength of rural living includes community cohesion indicated by high rates of volunteering. While volunteerism is an effective means to target health needs in resource‐restricted contexts, research on volunteerism to address rural Australian health needs is limited. This research aimed to explore rural adults' perspectives of volunteerism in local activities and programs that had a direct health related benefit (health volunteering). Methods: Eight people from the Murray Mallee region of South Australia participated during April 2021, ranging in age from 32 to 75 years. Participants were invited to one‐on‐one interviews that occurred via a phone call or teleconference meeting, which were audio‐recorded and transcribed verbatim to facilitate thematic analysis. Results: Seven main themes emerged. Participants identified that (1) health volunteering takes many forms, (2) health volunteering affords local ownership and accessibility, (3) health volunteers have particular skills and values, but also (4) gain social benefits and learn new skills. Rural health volunteering was also associated with (5) a variety of personal costs, and (6) there are several environmental barriers and (7) facilitators to rural health volunteering that should be considered when designing health programs. Conclusion: Results provide insight into how rural communities can enhance the development and application of volunteering roles to support health volunteering. So What?: Including local champions, reducing the financial burden and developing support networks for volunteers are practical suggestions to enhance levels of volunteering for health in rural settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of psychological first aid intervention on stress and resilience in volunteers who participated in two significant earthquakes 2023 in Turkey. It is a single-blind randomized controlled trial to assess the effect of an online psychological first aid intervention on earthquake participants' stress and resilience levels. It was determined that the participants had a higher-than-average level of stress before the psychological first-aid intervention. The psychological first aid intervention group's stress level was shown to be considerably lower than the control group's. It is thought that online psychological first aid interventions should be provided for the psychological needs of the volunteers involved in disasters. A social benefit can be achieved by aiming to increase the psychological resilience levels of volunteers who take part in disasters and prevent psychological traumas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to examine the effects of providing a program that introduced volunteers to make friends with older adults to reduce loneliness and increase loneliness literacy. Methods: Eight community development associations in Taiwan participated in the study. In the first stage, older people living alone or with only a spouse, or those with a family, but without substantial interactions, were screened for loneliness. Older adults with a higher risk of loneliness were given priority to be invited to participate in this intervention. This 3‐month intervention program was designed by each community development association and delivered at the older adults' homes. A total of 87 older persons completed both waves of the interviews. Results: Loneliness was reduced (UCLA‐6 Loneliness Scale scores decreased from 13.5 to 11.6), and loneliness literacy improved (loneliness literacy scores increased from 38.9 to 42.0) compared with what it was before the program. In a generalized linear model, when controlling for covariates, loneliness was reduced, but not significantly (B = −0.934, P > 0.05), whereas loneliness literacy improved significantly for older participants (B = 2.088, P < 0.05). Conclusions: Making friends with older adults who are lonely might improve their loneliness literacy. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 240–245. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Caring for patients with coronavirus at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak was extremely challenging for nurses due to the lack of knowledge regarding transmission, morbidity and mortality rates, treatment protocols, and the social stigma attached. These difficulties led to some nurses avoiding caring for COVID-19 patients and preferring non-infectious cases. It is remarkable that despite facing numerous challenges, some nurses volunteered to care for those with coronavirus. Objective: This study aims to elucidate the experiences of these volunteer nurses and the factors that influenced their decision to volunteer during the pandemic Material and Methods: The current qualitative study was conducted using conventional content analysis research methods. It involved semi-structured interviews with 13 nurses who volunteered to care for patients with coronavirus during the pandemic. Data were collected and analyzed following the five steps of the Graneheim and Landman method. Trustworthiness was established using the Goba and Lincoln criteria. Results: Volunteer nurses’ experiences amidst the Coronavirus outbreak in a theme entitled “Hallow Transcendence” are categorized into three main themes: “Spiritual Transcendence”, “Sagely Sacrifice”, and “Hallow Defense”. Additionally, six subcategories including “Satisfaction of aiding vulnerable patients”, “Blessings and perspectives of patients”, “Taking on blame”, “Sense of dedication”, “Viewing the pandemic as a battlefield”, and “Close connections with security personnel” were identified. Conclusion: Elevating the care of the corona patient has instilled a profound perspective in nurses. Various aspects, such as spiritual viewpoints, ethical dilemmas, and religious beliefs, play a significant role in shaping the dedication, resolve, and performance of nurses. Spiritual transcendence emerges as a particularly precious aspect that presents itself to nurses more prominently than usual. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volunteering older adults plays a role in maintaining well‐being through facilitation of face‐to‐face communication. However, the COVID‐19 pandemic reduced volunteer opportunities involving physical interaction among seniors. While studies have reported that indirect communication such as non‐face‐to‐face can support and improve mental health, it remains unclear whether it can substitute face‐to‐face communication among older volunteers accustomed to frequent interpersonal interactions. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the relationship between communication forms and well‐being during the pandemic by communication partner, among volunteers aged 65 years and above. Participants engaged in REPRINTS, which are volunteer who read picture books to children. At questionnaire survey was completed to investigate changes in the frequency of face‐to‐face and non‐face‐to‐face communication before and during the pandemic, and well‐being using the WHO‐5. The results showed that maintaining or increasing the frequency of face‐to‐face communication with friends and neighbours before to during the pandemic was associated with a lower risk of being determined poor well‐being (ORs: 0.465, 95% CI: 0.274–0.789, p =.004). This study demonstrated the significance of creating opportunities for face‐to‐face communication to maintain the well‐being of older volunteers during the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Volunteers represent a global workforce equivalent to 61 million full‐time workers. A significant decline in volunteering has highlighted the urgency to better understand and address turnover amongst volunteers. To address this, we conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis of turnover amongst volunteers. We also examined whether staying or leaving has different predictors. The meta‐analysis integrated and synthesized 117 studies, encompassing 1104 effect sizes across 55 335 volunteer workers, to identify and quantify relationships between turnover and the broad range of variables that have been examined in the volunteer work domain. Amongst the strongest predictors of volunteer turnover were attitudinal variables, in particular, job satisfaction (ρ = −.58), affective commitment (ρ = −.58), engagement (ρ = −.54) and organizational commitment (ρ = −.54). Contextual variables that showed the largest effects included communication (ρ =.62), organizational support (ρ = −.61) and the quality of the relationship between volunteers and their leader (leader‐member exchange, ρ = −.55). We synthesize our findings into an integrative framework delineating the predictors of volunteer turnover. In doing so, we extend turnover research to consider non‐remunerated work contexts and provide a basis for developing turnover theory that is responsive to the unique experience of volunteers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Экологическая волонтерская деятельность как регулятор отношений человека и природы играет ключевую роль в социоприродной коммуникации, которая, в свою очередь, включает изменение сложившегося в обществе образа окружающей среды и построение новых оснований для взаимодействия с ней. Сегодня перспективы развития общества непосредственно связаны с процессом экологизации всех форм жизнедеятельности в интересах устойчивого прогресса. Речь идет о человеке, который в повседневной жизни стремится повысить свою осознанность, при этом с заботой относится к себе и окружающему его миру. Следовательно, экологическая волонтерская деятельность учит людей жить в гармонии с природой, способствует открытию в себе новых качеств, улучшению межличностных и профессиональных навыков. В ходе исследования экологической волонтерской деятельности в образовательных организациях высшего образования авторы научной статьи обращаются к истокам понятия «волонтерство» с целью выделить сущностные характеристики данного термина. Авторами сделан сравнительный анализ понятий «волонтер», «добровольчество», «доброволец», «волонтерская деятельность», «экологическое волонтерство», «экологическая волонтерская деятельность» на основе казахстанского теоретического и практического опыта. Так, анализ литературы позволил выявить синонимичность понятий «волонтерство» и «добровольчество». Авторы отдают преимущество термину «волонтерство» в связи с его широкой международной распространенностью. В связи с этим исследование проблемы развития экологической волонтерской деятельности позволил нам определить главные характеристики волонтера как субъекта экологической волонтерской деятельности. Волонтерская деятельность в Казахстане регулируется рядом нормативно-правовых актов, одним из которых является Концепция развития молодежной волонтерской деятельности в организациях образования Республики Казахстан. Концепция определяет порядок взаимодействия по развитию молодежной волонтерской деятельности в учреждениях образования республики в целях ее широкого распространения, масштабирования и популяризации в молодежной среде. Волонтерское движение в Казахстане полностью поддерживается государством: создан Фонд культуры и поддержки творческих инициатив, расширяются практики тренинговых программ, обучающих семинаров и других форматов для подготовки волонтеров из числа молодежи, активно внедряются специальные образовательные программы в вузах. Экологическую волонтерскую деятельность авторы рассматривают как эффективное средство воспитательной работы со студентами, которая способствует формированию социально значимой гражданской позиции, а также высших нравственных чувств и характеристик: справедливости, доброты, толерантности, дружелюбия и трудолюбия. Таким образом, определены сущностные основания экологической волонтерской деятельности, ее основополагающие признаки и характеристики. В практической части авторы обращаются к опыту ведущего вуза Казахстана – Евразийского национального университета имени Л. Н. Гумилева, в котором активно развивается экологическое волонтерское движение среди студентов. Приведенный опыт вуза непосредственно может быть тиражирован в других учебных заведениях.

Abstract Background Alleviating loneliness and fostering social connections and a sense of belonging are essential for individuals’ well-being in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Volunteering has emerged as a potential strategy to prevent or alleviate loneliness among adults. To gain insights into factors that can reduce or protect against loneliness, it is important to consider multi-dimensional measures of loneliness and motivations to volunteer. This study aimed to understand which variables predict Australian volunteers’ social, family, and romantic loneliness. Methods From October 2021 to January 2022, a cross-sectional online survey was administered to a sample of Australian adults with volunteering experience. The survey collected demographic information and used validated measures to assess social, family, and romantic loneliness and volunteer motivation. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to examine the association between loneliness and motivations for volunteering. Results Of the 1723 individuals who accessed the survey link, 160 participants completed the survey. The average age of respondents was 59.87 years (SD 12.3). The majority were female (77.5%), married or partnered (70.6%), and had ten or more years of volunteering experience (62.1%). Overall, participants reported low to moderate levels of loneliness across social (M = 12.1; SD = 5.3), family (M = 11.3; SD = 6.7), and romantic (M = 14.8; SD = 8.3) dimensions. Social motivation for volunteering was negatively associated with social and romantic loneliness, while enhancement and protective motivations were positively associated with family and romantic loneliness. Age and rurality were not significantly associated with any dimension of loneliness. Conclusions Loneliness is a multifaceted and intricate experience that impacts individuals socially and emotionally. This study’s findings confirmed that having protective and enhancement motives to volunteer was associated with increased loneliness. Social motives to volunteer were associated with a tendency to have lower levels of loneliness, possibly due to the positive impact of building and maintaining social relationships through volunteering. Understanding these associations is necessary to ensure that volunteering activities align with each person’s unique needs and motivations.

To validate active human body models for investigating occupant safety in autonomous cars, it is crucial to comprehend the responses of vehicle occupants during evasive maneuvers. This study sought to quantify the behavior of midsize male and small female passenger seat occupants in both upright and reclined postures during three types of vehicle maneuvers. Volunteer tests were conducted using a minivan, where vehicle kinematics were measured with a DGPS sensor and occupant kinematics were captured with a stereo-vision motion capture system. Seatbelt loads, belt pull-out, and footrest reaction forces were also documented. The interior of the vehicle was 3D-scanned for modeling purposes. Results indicated that seatback angles significantly affected occupant kinematics, with small female volunteers displaying reduced head and torso movements, except during emergency braking with a upright posture seatback. Lane-change maneuvers revealed that maximum lateral head excursions varied depending on the maneuver’s direction. The study concluded that seatback angles were crucial in determining the extent of occupant movement, with notable variations in head and torso excursions observed. The collected data assist in understanding occupant behavior during evasive maneuvers and contribute to the validation of human body models, offering essential insights for enhancing safety systems in autonomous vehicles.

Residential green spaces in cities can make a significant contribution to urban conservation. To engage urban residents in conservation, we need to understand what influences participation. We interviewed leaders of community conservation groups and surveyed members of the public in Auckland, New Zealand using an anonymous questionnaire. We investigated whether environmental attitudes differ between those who do and do not participate in conservation actions (volunteering in a community conservation group and/or controlling pest mammals), and the motivations and barriers to participating in conservation actions. We found that conservation leaders often founded their conservation groups with a biodiversity motivation, whereas many of their group members subsequently joined and continued to participate for social reasons. Conservation group members were more likely to be in favor of pest control and had more positive environmental attitudes than non-participants. They found group work more motivating and productive than working alone. For people already participating in conservation (controlling pests, leading a group, or volunteering), the most common barrier to increasing participation was opportunity, most notably a lack of time. We found that people tended to control pest mammals for self-interested reasons, such as preventing damage to their homes (67%; n = 358), whilst biodiversity motivations (protecting native species) were secondary (53%; n = 283). For people not participating in pest control, the primary barrier was a lack of interest in participating (26%; n = 109). Although people were supportive of conservation, biodiversity motivations alone are unlikely to be a sufficient motivator for participation. Given the range of different motivations and barriers, targeted messaging (e.g., promoting social connections) could increase participation in urban conservation.

As the rate of homelessness increases across urban centers in America, vast amounts of unhoused people are being criminalized and being subjected to forced displacement by state authorities. Most of the existing literature written on homelessness services focus on formalservices that take place in an office setting rather than on-the-ground outreach. These present insightful learnings, but they do not provide a clear understanding of the process of outreach nor unhoused individuals’ experiences. To address this gap, we conducted a qualitative analysis,collecting narratives about unhoused individuals’ lived experiences with formal and informal systems of outreach in Koreatown, Los Angeles. We sought to understand what forms of outreach made unhoused individuals feel supported. We conducted semi-structured conversational interviews with volunteers and engaged in participatory ethnography duringweekly outreach. We inquired about unhoused peoples’ experiences with formal and informaloutreach to understand how these systems differ, what potential improvements can be made, and which initiatives have been successful. We found that unhoused individuals were able to formmore trusting relationships with volunteers than with case-workers due to consistency,expectation management skills, and respect towards unhoused people. Given our findings, future recommendations include partnerships between the formal and informal sectors, further fundingfor formal outreach, and adhering to existing recommendations regarding formal outreach reform.

This investigation focused on the antecedents and impacts on volunteer pro-environmental behavior, and explored the effects of meaningfulness through pride and environmental passion according to the cognitive appraisal theory of emotions. A mixed method research design was used, consisting of interviews, observations, and surveys with volunteers. The research was conducted at Danxia Mountain in Guangdong Province, China, a protected area, UNESCO World Heritage List site, and Geopark. Based on a survey of 302 volunteers, a sequential mediating model was tested through bootstrapping. It was found that perceived volunteering meaningfulness improved sustainable pro-environmental behavior, and pride and environmental passion played sequential mediating roles between meaningfulness and pro-environmental behavior. Compared with pride, environmental passion was the more significant and proximal antecedent of pro-environmental behavior. In addition, awe of the place strengthened the effects of pride and environmental passion on pro-environmental behavior. Theoretical and managerial implications for sustainable development practices in protected areas are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alleviating loneliness and fostering social connections and a sense of belonging are essential for individuals' well-being in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Volunteering has emerged as a potential strategy to prevent or alleviate loneliness among adults. To gain insights into factors that can reduce or protect against loneliness, it is important to consider multi-dimensional measures of loneliness and motivations to volunteer. This study aimed to understand which variables predict Australian volunteers' social, family, and romantic loneliness. Methods: From October 2021 to January 2022, a cross-sectional online survey was administered to a sample of Australian adults with volunteering experience. The survey collected demographic information and used validated measures to assess social, family, and romantic loneliness and volunteer motivation. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to examine the association between loneliness and motivations for volunteering. Results: Of the 1723 individuals who accessed the survey link, 160 participants completed the survey. The average age of respondents was 59.87 years (SD 12.3). The majority were female (77.5%), married or partnered (70.6%), and had ten or more years of volunteering experience (62.1%). Overall, participants reported low to moderate levels of loneliness across social (M = 12.1; SD = 5.3), family (M = 11.3; SD = 6.7), and romantic (M = 14.8; SD = 8.3) dimensions. Social motivation for volunteering was negatively associated with social and romantic loneliness, while enhancement and protective motivations were positively associated with family and romantic loneliness. Age and rurality were not significantly associated with any dimension of loneliness. Conclusions: Loneliness is a multifaceted and intricate experience that impacts individuals socially and emotionally. This study's findings confirmed that having protective and enhancement motives to volunteer was associated with increased loneliness. Social motives to volunteer were associated with a tendency to have lower levels of loneliness, possibly due to the positive impact of building and maintaining social relationships through volunteering. Understanding these associations is necessary to ensure that volunteering activities align with each person's unique needs and motivations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Volunteering is an important experience to millions of Americans, and moreover, it is imperative to the sustainability of the organizations they give time to. This study considers the effect of volunteering within Equine Assisted Services for adaptive horseback riding lessons. Volunteers directly impact the rider-horse bond by increasing accessibility to horseback riding for individuals with disabilities, fostering a meaningful bond between the rider and horse. As part of a larger study entitled Reining in Anxiety, the researchers collected physiological data (e.g., pooled saliva) and survey responses from volunteers (n = 41) to explore volunteer's experiences. The data from the saliva analysis and surveys provided insight into experiences of stress and affiliative bonding with the riders and horses. The results also explored satisfaction with volunteering. There was a non-significant, positive trend in oxytocin and alpha-amylase, while cortisol remained level. The responses in the survey suggested that volunteers perceive their role positively, as they shared nuanced experiences of responsibility to ensure safety, and enjoyment in assisting the riders. The complex emotions and experiences of volunteers are important to understand to create meaningful, sustainable volunteer engagement. This is particularly important in the EAS industry, where in volunteers are vital to the safety of the rider, horse, and the industry, which is reliant on volunteerism. This study examines the effect of volunteering within a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl) premiere accredited center by exploring the experiences of volunteers leading horses in adaptive riding lessons. Adaptive Riding lessons are horseback riding lessons for individuals ages four through the lifespan, with special needs, varying from cognitive, physical, social-emotional, or other challenges. Volunteers directly impact the rider-horse bond by increasing accessibility to horseback riding for individuals with disabilities, fostering a meaningful bond between the rider and horse. The research questions were as follows: (1) do saliva measures of cortisol and alpha-amylase (stress), and oxytocin (affiliative bonding) change over time for volunteers; and (2) how satisfied are volunteers with volunteering for Equine Assisted Services (EAS)? Forty-one volunteers participated in Reining in Anxiety, an intervention combining adaptive riding and cognitive behavioral therapy. Physiological data (i.e., pooled saliva, saliva combined from various glands throughout the mouth, resting under the tongue prior to collection) were collected pre/post riding session at four time points during the 10-session intervention, measuring oxytocin, cortisol, and alpha-amylase. Post-intervention, volunteers completed a survey about their experiences as volunteers and as participants in the study. All saliva samples were collected successfully. There was a non-significant, positive trend in oxytocin and alpha-amylase, while cortisol remained level. The responses in the survey suggested that volunteers perceive their role positively, with nuanced experiences of a sense of responsibility to ensure safety, and enjoyment in assisting the riders. Volunteers are vital to the safety of the rider and horse. While their perceived and internalized responsibility is evidenced by an increase in stress (e.g., cortisol remaining level and an increase in alpha-amylase), it is not necessarily negative stress, as there is simultaneously affiliative bonding expressed (oxytocin). The complex emotions and experiences of volunteers are important to understand to create meaningful, sustainable volunteer engagement. This is particularly important in the EAS industry, which is reliant on volunteerism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In summer 2013, a therapeutic horticulture program was established between researchers at the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Environmental Science and Forestry and the Syracuse Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The goal of the program was to promote mental and social well-being through gardening and garden-related activities. To support this effort, students were recruited from the university, which allowed the students to engage in internships, gain patient contact hours for medical school admission applications, or give back to their local community through volunteer hours. The implementation of this program can serve as a model for universities to partner with healthcare facilities to bring nature-based activities to their residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]