Idaho Falls Humanitarian Center helps more than the needy

IDAHO FALLS — Volunteers of the Idaho Falls Area Humanitarian Center have donated thousands of hours to helping locals in need.

But the philanthropy does just help those in need. It’s also a great benefit to the volunteers themselves.

“A lot of these older people had nothing to do … so they come here, and it has been an amazing opportunity for them and the community,” Director Mozelle Neville said.

The Humanitarian Center is a non-denominational, non-profit organization. Since launching in 2010 the number of volunteers has steadily increased.

A lot of the volunteers are retirees and said they benefit socially and emotionally from the chance to serve their community. They do everything from sewing and crocheting, to quilting, painting, woodwork and repairs.

“A lot of the older generation is pretty talented in things they do and they have the opportunity to teach some of the younger people,” Neville said.

Margene Hansen has volunteered with the Humanitarian Center for 3 years and she’s signed up for another year and a half. Her main role is to make bereavement outfits for babies that pass away.

“When you get a little older, you just feel like your life has to be worthwhile. It’s fun to come in here two days a week, and a lot of times it’s more days than that, but we get to serve other people and it brings a lot of satisfaction knowing you’re helping people who are in need,” Hansen said.

At the Humanitarian Center there are no paid staff and all work done is completely volunteer. Neville said the humanitarian service movement started with about 10 to 24 volunteers working in a church cultural hall. Some 6,000 hours were donated through the center during that first year.

Volunteers soon began to increase and members produced 6,000 different products for donation that year.

“You will never believe the needs in this community we were forced to start to expand, and now we have become a full community non-denominational humanitarian center where people can come and serve, and help those that are in need in the community,” Neville said.

Now the center brings in hundreds of volunteers weekly. In 2015, the center made and delivered over 23,000 items to other agencies to be distributed to those in need.

“In 2015 our volunteers donated 162,000 service hours for the poor and the needy,” Jim McEwen, director of funds said. “At the regular rate of exchange for volunteer work at $20.12 an hour for Idaho that works out to be about $3.2 million worth of service just in labor.”

In addition to walk-in volunteers some of the regular people are called as coordinators, or supervisors.

“We have a core of 200 to 300 volunteers. On an average day we have between 175 and 200 people here working and contributing to the good of their fellow man,” McEwen said.

Hansen said her experience has been a positive one and she enjoys working with her fellow volunteers.

“We love being here and the people here are absolutely marvelous we just feel like we’ve made eternal friendships with so many people, and they’re a good influence,” Hansen said.

Hansen feels volunteering at the Humanitarian Center has been a wonderful opportunity for her.

“It’s fun to have seen the growth that’s come about. I feel like we’re coming into a time when there is such a great need, and so it’s just wonderful to be apart of that,” Hansen said.