CPAs Provide Value by Volunteering in Our Communities
July 23, 2024
By: Michelle Hutson, CPA/ABV, ASA
Senior Financial Analyst - BCC Advisers
ISCPA Month of Service Committee Chair
As Each September, Iowa CPAs are encouraged to volunteer, benefiting the community, fostering teamwork, and promoting the profession. This year, the Iowa Society of CPAs are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the ISCPA Month of Service! Over this last decade, Iowa CPAs have volunteered nearly 2,400 hours annually during this month of service. Using the average value of a volunteer hour, as published by the Independent Sector, this collective volunteer effort has an estimated annual value of over $80,000. Wow! Iowa CPAs make an impact! (And, of course, we CPAs like statistics to help tell the story.) I hope you all can dedicate some time this September to continue this significant impact and give back to our communities, especially during a time of need.
Spotlight on Disaster Relief
Each year, the ISCPA Month of Service Committee selects a cause to spotlight and inspire service projects around the state. This year, the committee selected “Disaster Relief,” emphasizing the urgent needs of communities affected by severe weather across Iowa. The selection of this theme strung a personal chord for me, as my extended family lives in Greenfield, Iowa, where a tornado shocked the town. I’ll share a bit of their story, which showcases the impact of volunteers.
Personal Reflection
My grandparents reside on a farm just outside of Greenfield, where a tornado struck in May of this year. Thankfully, they emerged unharmed and with their home intact, although their farm was damaged. Dozens of trees that lined the yard were uprooted and split, power lines were torn down, an old hog barn was flattened, and the fields were filled with debris. We are very thankful for their safety, but my grandparents and family felt the impact deeply as they personally knew many community members whose lives and homes were lost. While helping clear their fields, I witnessed the community’s outpouring of support.
Unrequested, people showed up at their farm for weeks to clear debris, restore electricity, and walk fields. Church groups arrived with aid workers, food was delivered for volunteers, and the Red Cross offered storm cleanup supplies.
Many individuals – whether they had family ties, loose connections, or were strangers – stepped up with their own skills and resources to make a difference. These volunteers were invaluable in providing manpower, supplying and operating heavy equipment, and showing compassion to my grandparents and numerous others on their road to recovery. With the help of these volunteers, debris has been cleaned up throughout the town, destroyed homes have been cleared, and damaged buildings are being repaired. We are grateful for the many people who reached out, got to work, and offered a caring conversation and prayer.
Join the ISCPA Month of Service: Register Today!
Join us this September to aid communities impacted by severe weather or by finding another meaningful service project. You can form teams of coworkers, family, or friends, or volunteer individually. We have identified organizations that provide volunteer opportunities or accept donations for disaster relief efforts to help generate ideas for service projects. Registration is open until September 15th with a deadline of August 10th to receive a complimentary volunteer t-shirt. Register and report your hours on the website: www.iacpa.org/month-of-service.
Whether you find a project within the disaster relief theme or another avenue, I challenge you to go make a difference! CPAs have specialized financial skills, and you may be able to put those to work in your volunteer efforts. Volunteering may lead you to help a nonprofit with their finances or perhaps you’ll find yourself out in the field wielding a chainsaw in a community like Greenfield. CPAs know where they can provide the most value!
Let’s Make a Difference Together!
Published in July/August 2024 issue, Iowa CPA