Closer Look

Resolutions for Good

HOW TO USE YOUR UNIQUE GIFTS TO SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY IN THE NEW YEAR

Written by JILL WHITLEY

Every January, many of us make resolutions that we ultimately never keep. For some, it’s an unfulfilled promise to hit the gym regularly or a wasted effort to declutter our home or workspace. So often, unsuccessful New Year’s resolutions end up making us feel worse about ourselves.

Fortunately, many studies show that participating in acts of service – whether volunteerism, philanthropy or simply performing random acts of kindness – not only make us feel better about ourselves but make us happier in general. That’s largely due to an increased connection to our community and its people.

However, like many resolutions, charitable serving or giving feels like a huge undertaking, and with more than 700 nonprofit organizations in Coweta County alone, it’s not surprising that choosing a cause and deciding how to support it can be an overwhelming task.

Enter three of Coweta County’s experts on charitable giving and volunteerism: Kristin Webb, executive director of Coweta Community Foundation; Amanda Camp, board chair of Coweta Family Connection; and Kevin Barbee, chairman of Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce’s Nonprofit Alliance.

Combined, these three local leaders have more than 40 years of nonprofit experience and an encyclopedic knowledge of the rich ecosystem of charitable organizations throughout Coweta County.

Elevate Coweta Students’ volunteer mentors spend time nurturing connections with at-risk Coweta County Schools students.

“I always tell people that you can serve the cause of your choice in one of three ways,” says Webb. “You can contribute your time, your talent, or your treasure.”

At Coweta Community Foundation, Webb works to help focus local philanthropy on the community’s changing needs through the power of collective giving.

Along with serving on Coweta Family Connection board, Camp is executive director of Coweta CASA, an advocacy organization for children in foster care.

“Not everyone is able to be a front-line volunteer,” says Camp. “So many people think volunteer work requires a vast amount of time and effort, and that’s simply not true. Once you find an organization you’re passionate about, then you get to sit down with its leadership and find ways to serve that will excite and challenge you while furthering their mission or filling a critical need.”

Kevin Barbee, director of Elevate Coweta Students, a mentorship program for underserved students in the Coweta County School System, considers how potential volunteers can find their passion.

“Everyone has something they’re passionate about,” he says. “If there is not a problem in your community you want to help solve, that’s not something any organization can help with. That requires quiet time and introspection.”

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Kristin Webb, executive director of Coweta Community Foundation, says there are many ways to volunteer, mainly by contributing your time, talent or treasure.

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Amanda Camp, board chair of Coweta Family Connection, serves as executive director of Coweta CASA, an organization that advocates for the needs of children in the foster care system.

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Kevin Barbee, executive director of Elevate Coweta Students, serves as chairman of the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce’s Nonprofit Alliance.

Barbee says organizations like the chamber’s Nonprofit Alliance and Coweta Community Foundation can educate a potential volunteer about local organizations in need of assistance – and help match their passion, skillset and bandwidth to the appropriate nonprofit.

“There is so much collaboration between organizations in Coweta that we have a vast referral network,” he says. “For example, someone may come to Elevate Coweta Students wanting to support children in need but not be able to commit to 30 minutes a week for what we hope is a number of years. In that case, I can send them to Backpack Buddies or Abby’s Angels.”

Camp concurs: “There are so many amazing causes to choose from, but that sometimes results in decision paralysis. Fortunately, by attending a meeting of the Family Connection or the Nonprofit Alliance, you can network with local nonprofit leaders until you find the organization that feels right for you.”

Webb appreciates the vast number of ways potential volunteers can learn about the hundreds of nonprofits in Coweta County.

Camp says she’s discovered that some people have a finite idea of what volunteerism looks like.

“They think it might be packing boxes at a food pantry or handing out donations to those in need,” she says. “The reality is the method of service is only limited by your imagination. Maybe you have a background in banking, law, logistics, or the ability to fundraise, and you would like to sit on a charitable board. Or maybe you’re good at event planning and want to chair a committee. Maybe you enjoy writing and want to spearhead the newsletter, or you’re really good at social media and want to help in that way. I can’t think of a single nonprofit in Coweta that doesn’t need help with IT.”

All three nonprofit leaders emphasize that, if you have any questions about volunteering or philanthropy, the best way to begin is by reaching out to one of the three nonprofit networks they lead.

The Chamber’s Nonprofit Alliance and Coweta Family Connection both meet monthly, and they welcome visitors to any meeting.

The Coweta Community Foundation is available by appointment to help direct your philanthropic efforts to one of their donor-advised funds.

All three networks can be easily searched on the web for more information. NCM

“The reality is the method of service is only limited by your imagination.”

– Amanda Camp

Kristin Webb, left, of Coweta Community Foundation, and Amanda Camp, right, of Coweta Family Connection, demonstrate the collaboration between nonprofits by providing Coweta County Schools’ psychologist Ruth Scott, center, with stress relief manipulatives for the system’s mental health professionals.

Photo courtesy of Coweta Community Foundation

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