A casual survey of 麻豆社国产non-profits suggests some community organizations that rely on volunteers are flourishing, while others struggle to recruit the numbers they need to meet their mission. Factors around age, attitudes, gender and the changing nature of the community itself help explain the disparities.
Representatives of a number of organizations contacted by The Chief paint a picture of an engaged community enriched by dedicated volunteers 鈥� but they also identified trends that suggest challenges for groups that rely on unpaid supporters. Changing demographics are shaping the community, of course, and are also affecting local non-profits.
Brad Hodge, president of the 麻豆社国产Lions Club, says attracting more youthful members is a challenge, not only for his group but, he suspects, for all community agencies.
鈥淚 think every volunteer organization out there is struggling a little bit trying to recruit younger members,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think there is a perception with younger people that it鈥檚 a lot of work. I certainly felt that way myself years ago when I considered joining. But I found that, once you get into it, it just sort of becomes second nature to you. I actually look forward to it as almost a break from my IT job.鈥�
He knows that young people are in tune with community issues and recognize their importance, he said, but thinks that they may have a different perspective than some of their elders.
鈥淚 think there鈥檚 a perception,鈥� he said, 鈥渢hat it鈥檚 the government鈥檚 job to look after the homeless, to do food distribution, whatever needs doing.鈥�
While the population of 麻豆社国产skyrockets, the changing nature of the residents do not necessarily correlate to more volunteers.
Eric Andersen is involved in a number of local groups, including the 麻豆社国产Streamkeepers Society, which organizes fish counts and cleans up streams and banks, even removing furniture to allow spawning fish to migrate. He said the increasing number of residents who commute understandably reduces community involvement.
鈥淓ven though the town has doubled in size, that doubling involves a commuting workforce,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he commuting phenomenon has put a dent in volunteering and community organizations generally.鈥�
Every September, Quest University organizes a volunteer fair, which Andersen said is a great way for the university to make connections in the community, though these volunteers are, by definition, mostly temporary.
鈥淭he students, of course, go on to other things in other places,鈥� he said.
It is often the same people doing the heavy lifting, not only in one organization but across agencies.
鈥淲e have probably at least three dozen streams that we look after, and we probably have only one dozen people to do that work,鈥� said Andersen. 鈥淭he hard-core people, they look after two-thirds of the work.鈥�
And members of the Streamkeepers have a crossover with the membership of the 麻豆社国产Trail Society, he added.
Even the weather can have an impact on volunteerism.
鈥淎 lot of people are very appreciative of the work that we do. However, when it comes to rainy weekend weather 鈥� or sunny weekend weather, for that matter 鈥� it is often difficult to get enough bodies out,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 often just the regulars, and they tend to be retired people; where would we be without the retired people?鈥�
Gender expectations and traditions can also have impacts. Julie Erb, president of the 麻豆社国产General Hospital Auxiliary, saw the potential to double the number of volunteers by dropping the word 鈥渨omen鈥檚鈥� from its title.
鈥淲e are hoping to recruit men but, so far, no luck,鈥� she said.
Non-profit boards can provide administrative oversight, or they can do the legwork that keeps an organization running. Most are hybrids. The 麻豆社国产Farmers Market has a working board of directors who carry most of the burden year-round, aided by a market manager and, in season, a market assistant.
鈥淚t鈥檚 quite an intensive volunteer work running it,鈥� said Jessica Roberge, the market manager. The AGM this month will see new board members step up to take on some of the responsibility.
In some cases, a small organization just doesn鈥檛 have the need or the capacity for a lot of volunteers. The SPCA鈥檚 Sea to Sky branch animal shelter is a small facility that welcomes volunteers to clean the animal kennels and socialize with the cats. They also have a strong fostering network, partly because they do not keep dogs in the shelter and because it鈥檚 best to have mothers with new kittens in a home environment.
鈥淲e are always looking for foster homes,鈥� said Krista Unser, the shelter manager. 鈥淲e have a really good base, but we can always use more foster homes, especially for adult dogs. That the one that鈥檚 the hardest.鈥�
Rick McKinney is the program manager at the 麻豆社国产Food Bank, which has only one part-time employee.
鈥淚t鈥檚 volunteer support that makes that program run,鈥� said McKinney. 鈥淎t the food bank, for sure, we definitely are always looking for new volunteers.鈥�
One group that is not wanting for volunteers is the 麻豆社国产Off-Road Cycling Association. At a trail work event a few weeks ago, 150 people showed up, said Jeff Cooke, SORCA president.
Volunteerism is at the heart of Squamish鈥檚 hearty mountain-biking community, he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of been the culture since it started,鈥� said Cooke. 鈥淭he very first trails were always built by volunteers.鈥�
Cooke credits former SORCA president Cliff Miller for building an atmosphere of support for volunteers.
鈥淗e鈥檚 always put a premium on taking care of the volunteers, thank them, reward them, whether it鈥檚 beer and food or chili or whatever. It is just letting them know that they鈥檙e appreciated and I鈥檝e tried to keep that momentum going. I think it works.鈥�
Nicole Carothers, executive director of the 麻豆社国产Hospice Society, said her organization has a superb team of volunteers who visit residents and work with bereaved people.
鈥淚 think the biggest thing 鈥� and I probably speak for a huge amount of nonprofits 鈥� the number one thing is fundraising volunteers,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 often easy to get people to join you because they care about their community and they want to do that community work. Such an essential part of the work is fundraising, but not everybody is comfortable with that. If there are community members out there that have that skill-set in PR, communication or fundraising and they want to help out an organization, they can鈥檛 even believe how much help they would be to any nonprofit organization.鈥�
Carothers added that volunteerism is not a one-way street.
鈥淲e鈥檙e a very busy society,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut when you give that little bit to your community, it really does pay back to you*
*Please note, this story. has been modified since it was first posted.
