Are you looking for a New Year’s resolution? One local nonprofit is asking citizens to consider volunteerism as a way to help their neighbors and support local nonprofits serving the community.
Volunteer Southeast Mississippi (VSEMS), a member of the Mississippi HUB Network for Volunteers & Nonprofits and a service of United Way of Southeast Mississippi, connects volunteers with meaningful service opportunities throughout neighboring communities.
VSEMS also seeks to provide nonprofit agencies with information, resources and insight on strategies to engage volunteers. They serve Forrest, Lamar, Marion, Perry, Greene, Jones and Wayne counties.
“There are so many ways to get involved in our community, but a lot of times people just aren’t sure where to look for those opportunities,” said Ali Rogers, director for Volunteer Southeast Mississippi. “One of the ways VSEMS helps to connect volunteers and nonprofits who need them is through Get Connected, a free online platform where individuals looking to volunteer and organizations needing an extra hand can meet in the middle.”
Rogers said the site enables organizations within their community to easily promote opportunities, needs and events. Local volunteers can then browse existing needs and register for service opportunities that match their own interests.
According to the Mayo Clinic, research has shown that volunteering offers multiple benefits such as improving mental health, providing a sense of purpose while teaching valuable skills, and increasing social interaction.
“At VSEMS, we use Get Connected to promote volunteer opportunities and events that are happening within our service area,” said Rogers. “We encourage community members to create a profile on our Get Connected site and browse the local nonprofits who are present on our site. This is a great way to connect with local nonprofits and to stay informed on the current volunteer needs within our community.”
Individuals or groups interested in volunteering or nonprofits seeking volunteers can create a free profile by going to unitedwaysems.org/volunteer. From there, they can access the Get Connected site.
“For local nonprofits across the Pine Belt, volunteers truly are the heartbeat of their organization. Without their selfless devotion to helping others, these nonprofits wouldn’t be able to do the work that they do in our communities. It is our hope that as community members get involved and volunteer, it sparks a passion for them to continue to do so throughout the year.” said Rogers.
