SNOHOMISH— The Internet has become the new way to recruit and manage volunteers.
Snohomish has become part of VolunteerMatch, a national company that aims to connect people with volunteer opportunities in the city they live in.
“
This is for people who don’t belong to an organization but want to volunteer,” economic developer manager Debbie Emge said.
Snohomish already boasts a strong volunteer base, but the city hopes to make that even stronger and involve more youths into volunteering, Emge said.
People interested can go to volunteermatch.org and search for Snohomish. They can also use the link at the city’s website under “volunteer opportunities” to reach Snohomish’s profile directly. Nonprofits looking for volunteers need to fill up a form at the city’s website and send it by e-mail.
Snohomish became a member in September and paid a $75 annual fee to be listed on the website. There is no fee to post a project.
VolunteerMatch was chosen because it was easy to post a project and to manage multiple requests.
The city wants to make sure the projects benefit Snohomish residents. Currently, city staff will receive the proposals first before posting them on the website. Emge will also become an intermediary between volunteers and the organizations.
The city did a soft launch in October by seeking volunteers for the Riverfront Clean Up project and the downtown’s Festival of Pumpkins. A handful of volunteers showed up, and the city was happy with the results, Emge said.
There are currently eight projects from cleaning up parks to helping decorate the Chamber of Commerce’s float for the Easter parade.
For this launch, Snohomish made a partnership with the Snohomish Community Coordinating Committee. The committee comprises 24 Snohomish nonprofit organizations that come together to coordinate fundraisers and other events. The city is also seeking a partnership with the school district to tap into a source of free help as high school seniors fulfill their mandatory community service graduation requirements.
Alejandro Dominguez: 425-339-3422; adominguez@heraldnet.com.
For more information
Call Debbie Emge at 360-282-3197 or go to volunteermatch.org or www.ci.snohomish.wa.us.
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