Rewarding. Fulfilling. Thankful. Many adjectives could be used, but these best represent what volunteering means to me. I didn’t come from a background rooted in community service, but as a child I remember my family helping less fortunate families during the holidays. It wasn’t something I put much thought into at the time, but that has changed as I’ve aged.
The year was 2003. I was a directionless college grad and newly married. Fortunately for me, my wife had direction, drive, and a job. She was running a print shop and was approached to do some work for the start-up animal rescue organization in our small Iowa town. At the time we could’ve used the extra money, but we also knew the rescue group didn’t have any extra money, so my wife decided to do the right thing and offer her talents at no cost. This small act of kindness has led us down a very blessed road. We adopted 2 cats, which in turn led us to volunteering, and then we became board members. Not only were we helping homeless animals, but more importantly I was beginning to understand how volunteerism played an important part in community development. It helped bring people from different backgrounds together for a common cause. Meeting individuals outside of my circle allowed me to personally grow and venture down roads I’d never taken on my own. More on this later, but my introduction to community service as an adult has been extremely rewarding from a community service perspective as we helped the rescue group grow from a small foster organization into a full-fledged animal shelter.
Fast-forward 20 years to present day 2023. I am no longer a directionless vagabond and my commitment to community service has only increased. I deliver meals to the food insecure for Food Recovery Network. I’ve been involved with our Parent Teacher Organization (Connected PTO) for the past 6 years. I’m a board member for our local chapter of 100 People Who Care. And yes, 20 years after my wife offered up her graphic design services to the animal rescue group, I’m still on the board, and am currently the treasurer for the Poweshiek Animal League Shelter. A volunteer plate that overruns with fulfillment.
Professionally, I am entering my 16th year in healthcare IT recruiting. A successful career which has been equally rewarding and very lucrative. If someone had asked me 20 years ago what I wanted to do in life, healthcare IT recruiting wouldn’t have made a list with 500 jobs on it. So, how did I get here? I volunteered at an animal shelter.
You see, my volunteerism not only helped the Poweshiek Animal League Shelter, but it also introduced me to new people. In one of my early board meetings, I was informed by another board member that her company was looking for recruiters. I didn’t give it much thought as I didn’t know anything about recruiting. A few months later she mentioned it again and this time I said, “I’ll consider it.” Next thing I know, I’m on a plane headed to Kennett Square, PA for recruiter training at Vitalize Consulting Solutions. You see, the board member looking for recruiters was Wendy Hoffman, the head of HR at Vitalize, who is now the Chief People Officer at Divurgent, the company I currently work for. A company that is a strong advocate and supporter of its employees giving back to their communities. Through my volunteer work I made a connection that introduced me to a field of work that I truly enjoy, and one that I ended up being pretty good at. A connection that I am extremely thankful for, as it changed the course of my life for the better.
Fully aware that almost all organizations need more volunteers, I urge everyone to give back as much as possible. By volunteering to support local causes, people can develop a sense of purpose and fulfillment, build stronger communities, and grow as individuals. I believe that community service should be an integral part of every person’s life, and that we should all strive to find ways to give back to our communities in meaningful and impactful ways. As important as volunteering is to the organization and its benefactors, it can be equally impactful to the person volunteering. I am a prime example of this.
About the Author
Chris Grundler | Senior Recruiter, Talent Acquisition
Chris Grundler is a Senior Recruiter at Divurgent. Before recruiting, his career started in sales. In fact, recruiting wasn’t even on his radar until he was given the opportunity in 2008 with a healthcare IT consulting firm, and he never looked back! Chris likes helping people advance their careers and matching them with jobs that are right for them. Even more so, he likes bringing people on to Divurgent as he truly feels it’s a great company to work for – he feels the people here are fantastic colleagues and are supportive. What makes him feel the most successful in this career is his ability to be easily approachable and honest, and he’s a real believer in a good follow up. Chris received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the Shawnee State University. To learn more about Chris, visit his LinkedIn.
