Connect Northern Neck Launches Volunteer Match System
July 1, 2005
Connect Northern Neck, a Web-based resource for nonprofit organizations in the Northern Neck of Virginia, has launched a system to match volunteers with service opportunities and to connect citizens with community services.
Located on the Web at http://connectme.connectnetwork.org, the interactive system allows nonprofit staff to enter information about their services, mission and volunteer needs. People can then search the database to find appealing volunteer opportunities.
“The Northern Neck is full of important opportunities for volunteer work and has a rich talent pool of potential volunteers. We created this application because citizens told us how vital volunteers are to their nonprofit operations and because there was a void in matching needs with interests,” said Sue Robinson Sain, director of community programs and special projects at the University of Richmond.
The university operates Connect Northern Neck under a grant from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund. It is modeled after Connect Richmond, which has operated since 2001.
Recently, Connect Northern Neck linked nonprofits by e-mail to share local concerns and opportunities. More than 500 people are now members of the list. Eventually, the project’s Web site will offer data, information about issues, and management tools. Networking and educational opportunities also will be offered. Nonprofits in the Northern Neck can contact the university toll free at 866-358-0014.