Our volunteers, all retired or semi retired from their careers have such broad backgrounds. A retiredlawyer does pro-bono work at a women’s shelter. A former VP of Sales works with developmentally disabled adults. A volunteer who now teaches financial life skills worked for 34 years for the IRS. A former Professor of Drama offers addiction recovery counseling. Long term partners include St Ambrose Housing Aid, Caroline Center, ARC of Baltimore, St. Peter's Adult Learning Center, Project PLASE and the Franciscan Center to name a few.
The Baltimore community participates regularly in spiritual reflection, an integral part of the IVC experience. The volunteers meet with a spiritual reflector about the meaning of their work with the poor, beyond the service experience itself…and how it is contributes to growing their faith. The community gathers at a local parish center to pray, reflect and share service experiences during the previous month – as well as discuss a book they are reading on social justice or spirituality themes. Furthermore, the Baltimore region unites together in three retreats during the year – to offer each other a pause to personally contemplate the impact of their volunteering and God’s presence with them.
Ignatian Volunteers are incredibly generous with their time and talents. Yet our volunteers say over and over again that they receive back so much more than they give. 80% of our volunteers renew their commitment to the IVC program here in Baltimore and come back to the program year after year.