Site is a one-stop-shop for volunteers looking to get involved
Published in the August 20 – September 3, 2014 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Michael Fogelstrom
Michael Fogelstrom
Can you guess how many nonprofit organizations are located in Morgan Hill? I guessed 45 and I was staggered to learn the real answer. According to the IRS, there are 139 registered not-for-profits operating within our town. And that number climbs significantly when we include organizations in the surrounding area that provide services to our residents.
These organizations span the gamut, from charitable organizations to private foundations to fraternal organizations and churches, but they all have one thing in common. They rely on volunteerism to operate.
Many of us are familiar with brand name organizations like the YMCA, the Morgan Hill Community Foundation, and Community Solutions. They provide critical, everyday services to our community and they’re an integral part of this town’s identity. But how many of us know about the countless smaller nonprofits like Air for Paws, an organization that provides pet resuscitation kits and training to first responders to treat our animal companions in an emergency?
It took founding a volunteer tech start-up before I recognized the breadth of nonprofits out there and how badly they need our help. Reports show that out of the 1.5 million nonprofits currently operating in the United States, approximately 80 percent of them use or need volunteers to function. Out of 139 Morgan Hill-based nonprofits, that means a lot of help is needed for these worthy organizations in our community, too.
That’s why GoVoluntr is proud to announce the launch of GoVoMoHill, a website dedicated to finding and registering for volunteer opportunities exclusive to our community. The new website can be found at www.govo.us/mohill. It will include volunteer opportunities from organizations large and small, those located within Morgan Hill and those outside that provide Morgan Hill with critical services.
GoVoMoHill is an on-line spin-off of the popular Volunteer Morgan Hill Faire started five years ago by a dedicated group from the Leadership Morgan Hill organization. Since the inaugural fair, the event has grown in size and scope, helping Morgan Hill residents discover and assist dozens of local nonprofit organizations. It’s been a consistent go-to resource every September for individuals to learn about the services offered in town and how to get involved. Our new on-line community portal will build on this legacy to help anyone find and register for local volunteer opportunities any time of year. And you can share the website with friends, family, and coworkers.
For those local residents who haven’t explored volunteering, there are many incentives to make the time. If you’re a job seeker, it’s a great opportunity to gain a competitive edge. Volunteering can help build your resume with new skill sets and expand your professional network with contacts you wouldn’t meet elsewhere. Students can profile their volunteer work on college applications. Best yet, volunteering is also a great way to meet other community-oriented individuals. I’ve made some great friends through volunteering and even met my co-founders of GoVoluntr while helping out at a nonprofit.
Create an account and register at www.govo.us/mohill to help one of the many nonprofits in or around town that need volunteers. You can register for recurring opportunities if you’re ready to commit your time or check out one-day volunteer events to help when you have the time. Nonprofits interested in participating can find more details, including the registration form, at govo.us/mhnonprofit. Businesses interested in community engagement or donating rewards for volunteering can find more information at govo.us/mhbusiness.
Michael Fogelstrom is a co-founder of GoVoltunr.com. He wrote this for Morgan Hill Life.
