GREENFIELD — With the value of volunteer hours higher than ever, one local organization is working to ensure prospective volunteers find their best fit.
Every hour a volunteer works saves nonprofit organizations about $24.14 in costs, according to Independent Sector, a national membership organization that brings together nonprofits, foundations and corporations with the aim of advancing the common good.
Some 30 local and regional organizations will set up shop from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Hancock County Public Library’s conference room for the 12th annual volunteer fair.
Conducted in conjunction with National Volunteer Week and sponsored by the Hancock County Public Library and United Way of Central Indiana, the event provides a one-stop shop for individuals and groups seeking ways to give back to the community. It gives nonprofit organizations the chance to share what they do in the community and how people can help.
New and returning organizations will bring information and their smiling faces in an attempt to woo new volunteers to their ranks, said Jeannie Roberts, United Way of Central Indiana — Hancock County volunteer engagement coordinator.
One new organization coming to the table is Brooke’s Place, an Indianapolis organization dedicated to providing a safe place for children to process grief after the loss of a loved one. Brooke’s Place was started in 1999 by founder Pam Wright after her family friend, Brooke Wright’s father, Tom Wright, died in a plane crash, said executive director Teresa Brun in February.
Pam Wright and her dedicated group of volunteers saw the need for ongoing grief support programs for kids, Brun said.
Other organizations planning to be represented at the event include Court-Appointed Special Advocates of Hancock County and Hancock 4 Kids, two groups dedicated to child welfare, and Regreening Greenfield, an organization that works to plant trees along the streets of Greenfield.
Volunteerism is critical to the well-being of nonprofit organizations, Roberts said.
