A chance to
shine
Scott Titterington SOMETIMES WE JUST FIND OUR MOMENT TO RISE. Bob and Jan Eastin grabbed just such an opportunity as the pandemic was starting to grow. The United Way of Weld County put out a call for people to make masks and the Eastins dove in. Over three months, they made and delivered 900 masks to the agency, helping to prevent the spread of the virus and to keep people safe. Volunteering looks different in these days of COVID-19. “The face of volunteering has changed,” says Craig Secher, president and founder of Realities for Children, “but the needs of our children haven’t changed.” SAFETY FIRST Organizations, including nonprofits, are working hard to continue to support community members in need with new strategies that keep both their volunteers and their beneficiaries safe 22 |
Fifty&Better
while still serving the growing needs of their communities. “Our distribution drives have had to change so much because of all of the safety mandates,” says Mehgan Castor, community outreach coordinator at Realities for Children, “yet we are not only still running distributions, but doing so in a safe way that volunteers can participate in in critical roles.” Nicole Quinn, donor engagement manager at United Way of Weld County, has found that people want to contribute if there is a way to do it safely. “Volunteers still want to be actively engaged in organizations that they support even if it means doing so from their homes,” Nicole says. “We have been able to engage volunteers through our Mask Up 4 Weld, Hygiene Kit, Diaper Kit and Sleeping Mat projects.” Volunteer Services Program Manager for the City of Fort Collins Sue Schafer
echoes the enthusiasm that she receives from volunteers. “People want to help their neighbors and their community,” she says, “so we have not seen the desire to volunteer slow down!” Sue highlights, as a great volunteer opportunity for retired or working adults, VirtuVisit, which connects isolated older adults to family, friends and the volunteers supporting them. ON A MISSION People volunteer for a variety of reasons. Some like the connection to community, others are focused on the folks that they’re helping, while others like being part of something bigger than themselves. “I love being surrounded by people with wild ideas about changing the world for the better and finding ways to protect and serve these kids,” says Realities for Children Volunteer of
