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Nonprofits Struggle to Find Volunteers

by KREX News Room
by Chris McKinnon

Story Created: Jan 6, 2011 at 5:42 PM MDT

Story Updated: Jan 6, 2011 at 9:20 PM MDT

Grand Junction - Volunteering is harder and harder for Americans as they wrestle with navigating through a stubborn economic recovery. With tight budgets, nonprofits count on these volunteers to keep their organizations going.

With the local economy still struggling, potential volunteers in the area are preoccupied with making ends meet. Whether it's looking for a job or taking on a second job, it's making it difficult to fin volunteers for local nonprofits.

"It's absolutely crucial to have volunteers. We couldn't do it without
volunteers."

In a down economy, finding enough volunteers is hard to come by at Partners.

"In 2009 we had a record-breaking 77 matches that year. Then in 2010 we had 50 matches."

They are hoping once the economy turns around, so will their volunteer numbers.

"I'm sure people are actually working two jobs and going back to
school, going back to college, things like that; and they think about
the time before they are able to come in and volunteer."

There is a growing need for volunteers are the Salvation Army.

"We can always use more than we'd like to expand out our family a little more."

Much of the legwork done by the charity is carried out through people
who chip in their time.

"Over the holiday season we go 100,000 pounds of food donated. They helped us received it, sort it, store it, do everything we needed to
do with it."

The message now is giving up some of your own time is fulfilling.

"We always need help and we could always love to have people here
helping so we can do more. You know the motto is 'Doing the most
good.'"

At Partners, they are making a big push this month and volunteering is easier than you might think.

"Once you get into it and get the kid involved in your life, it really
happens easier than you might think. It's not just really setting
aside three hours a week for that kid, it's including that kiddo in
the activities that you already do."

Aside from the economic impacts, volunteer numbers usually drop off after the new year. Nonprofits say people tend to think about volunteering during the holidays.

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