Matchmaking for Volunteers/Nonprofits

Kelly Graeber

Volunteer Match on April 17 will connect community to service

By Kelly Graeber

volunteer@oxfordms.net

Have you ever tried to set your best friend up with a promising bachelor or bachelorette? Or what about putting together a puzzle?

Sometimes all it takes is introducing that person to the other, or putting a puzzle piece next to another puzzle piece to find that perfect fit. It’s a sense of accomplishment, hope and joy all at the same time. The same feelings occur when an interested volunteer finds the perfect place or cause to advocate for or is matched up with a nonprofit they love.

That’s why Volunteer Oxford will host Volunteer Match, an annual community volunteer fair—or as like to call it, “a volunteer matchmaking event.”

Volunteer Match will be held Wednesday, April 17 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Powerhouse Community Arts Center and is open to all ages , from school-aged youth to retirees and elderly.

Volunteer Match is the perfect opportunity to meet close to 30 nonprofits and organizations face-to-face and find out what they do, their missions and how you can possibly connect with them. It’s absolutely an amazing feeling to know that there are ways that you can engage in the community, especially if you have a certain skill set and passion for making a difference in the community.

In fact, many residents fortunate enough to have a solid job or new-found free time may consider participating in volunteer work to make use of their time and talents. Lower elementary school students or college students working to fulfill volunteer hours or to become more engaged in their community will be able to search for that perfect volunteer opportunity through an event such as Volunteer Match.

The goal is to attract those interested in volunteering and active volunteers of all ages to come out and meet these nonprofits and organizations.

Lafayette Oxford University nonprofits and community organizations participating range from the American Red Cross to  Love Packs to Good Food for Oxford Schools to the Lafayette County Literacy Council. Participating organizations include health-related, education, literacy, hunger, animal care and other groups, which will have volunteer opportunity information available at this free community-wide event.

My Michelle’s is catering the event, and other community partners include the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council, Powerhouse Community Arts Center, Oxford Park Commission, and Kroger. Volunteer Match is free and open to the public. For more information about Volunteer Match, call Volunteer Oxford at 662-236-6662 or email volunteer@oxfordms.net.

Kelly Graeber is director of Volunteer Oxford. Follow Volunteer Oxford on Facebook (Volunteer Oxford) or on Twitter (@oxfordvolunteer).