Effective Ideas From Volunteer Centers

Volunteer Centers prove to be excellent resources for Make A Difference Day projects -- many with tremendous impact involving thousands of volunteers. Some centers served as referral sources. Others banded together to unite many communities in tackling diverse problems. Some concentrated on a single important community issue.

Here are some creative approaches from Make A Difference Day.

Combine your Make A Difference Day project with another community service day.
In Montgomery, Ala., the Volunteer and Information Center combined its Make A Difference Day project with the local United Way Day of Caring, held on the same day. Their combined efforts led to the refurbishing of a developmental health center for children with disabilities.
Youth at the Volunteer Center of Greater Orange County, Calif. planned projects to be completed for their Youth Service Conference.

Expand an existing project.
Volunteer Houston County in Bonaire, Ga., was in the process of opening its first teen center. The first work session was held on Make A Difference Day.
The Delaware State Office of Volunteerism led a statewide committee effort to broaden a violence prevention initiative. The goal: promote various volunteerism projects as an alternative to violence.

Partner with other civic organizations.
The Volunteer Center of Owensboro-Daviess County in Kentucky teamed up with Kentucky Reads, a nonprofit program aimed at bringing elementary school children up to speed in reading skills. Together, they collected more than 1,100 new and used books.
The Peer Information Center for Teens in Richmond, Ind., and a local high school engaged 1,000 students and 400 adults from the community and other local civic organizations in more than 200 projects in the Wayne County area.
The AmeriCorps Youth Corps was called in to team up with volunteers at Volunteer Muskegon! in Muskegon, Mich. Together, they had a lasting impact on several local charities.

Add leverage to limited community resources.
The Volunteer Center of Maricopa County, Ariz. organized a committee involving adjoining cities and local organizations. Together, they created a massive project in which 1,200 students volunteered with 60 agencies.
You can find creative ways to host an effective project in an indirect manner. For example, host a Volunteer Recruitment Fair. Invite nonprofit organizations to display information about their purpose and volunteer needs.

Respond to an issue in the news.
When massive floods devastated Grand Forks, N. D., the community was fragmented, disorganized and not sure about how to get help. The local Volunteer Center developed, printed and distributed a service directory that linked residents to assistance and specialized service programs.

Keep it alive.
Many Make A Difference Day participants so enjoy their volunteer experience, they want to do it on a regular basis. Take advantage of the opportunity. Collect contact information on volunteers. Make it clear that signing doesn't commit them to anything -- it just indicates their interest.
Distribute a calendar of upcoming service projects in your community.
Hand out information on the Volunteer Center and other civic organizations in need of volunteers.