I would like to call attention to the importance of National Volunteer Week (April 6-12). This year marks the 40th anniversary of National Volunteer Week, which recognizes the country’s volunteers for their vital contributions.
There are more than 2,500 registered nonprofits in Mercer County. As nonprofits continue to do more, with fewer resources, the role of the volunteer continues to grow.
The traditional need for volunteers to roll up their sleeves to serve meals at soup kitchens, pass out water at a 5K, or “stuff envelopes,” has not gone away. But today volunteering has also expanded to support the strategic needs of a nonprofit.
Business professionals are using their skills, degrees, and talents to complete mission-critical projects that nonprofits otherwise might not be able to afford. These “skills-based volunteers” are working in our community to help nonprofits with business plans, marketing efforts, technology, program development, financial planning, grant writing, and much more.
VolunteerConnect would like to thank our many skills-based volunteers who have gone into the community to help area organizations, including the West Windsor Arts Center. Skills-based volunteers allow nonprofits to better serve their clients while continuing to direct their finances to client services.
I encourage everyone to make time to support a nonprofit this year. It will not only prove rewarding to the volunteer, but your work will be vital to the success of your chosen nonprofit. I know VolunteerConnect speaks on behalf of the region’s nonprofit community in expressing gratitude to all of our fellow citizens who have answered the call to give back.
I invite you to browse our website at www.VolunteerConnectNJ.org.
Amy Klein
Executive Director,
VolunteerConnect
