Volunteers help nonprofits serve our community
There is no doubt our community has experienced immense challenges over the past two years as a result of the pandemic. Local nonprofits and charitable organizations were particularly impacted as they faced increased demand for their services and support while losing in-person volunteer support due to safety concerns.
For example, the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank was not able to accept volunteers for a few weeks during the early days of the pandemic and quickly realized that the 35 paid employees on staff could not shoulder the enormous tasks routinely done by our amazing volunteers. Volunteers are the most critical asset to the foodbank’s mission of distributing food efficiently and effectively.
While monetary giving was up across the nation in 2021, volunteerism rates continued to trend downward, an unfortunate pattern over the last few years that was only made more difficult by limited in-person activities during the pandemic. Many local nonprofits, including Virginia Peninsula Foodbank, rely on volunteers to assist in delivering critical services, resources and tools to vulnerable and historically marginalized communities. Effective programs can only operate at the level they do with the assistance of individuals and groups coming from places such as large corporations — such as Bank of America — as well as churches, colleges, local small businesses, civic groups and the armed forces.
To help, many private sector companies found unique ways to safely contribute and give back in Hampton Roads. For example, Bank of America employees assembled portable food bags for children for Virginia Peninsula Foodbank’s weekend Food for Kids Backpack Program and helped to set up and operate the new drive-through format for mobile pantry sites throughout the community. In total, the foodbank’s community volunteers donated more than 23,900 hours of their time and talents for the fiscal year ending on June 30, which equates to 11 full-time paid staff members.
Bank of America, as part of its approach to addressing issues in the community to advance economic mobility and social progress, actively encourages employee volunteerism by offering paid weekly time off to give back to the community. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, local bank employees volunteered 10,758 hours in 2020 and 2021.
As society began reopening safely, April’s Global Service Month offered opportunities for community members to renew their commitment to volunteerism through on-site and in-person opportunities in Hampton Roads. As we discover our new normal and start to enjoy more of the in-person activities we missed in the last two years, we are eager to drive volunteer engagement through live and virtual opportunities.
By fostering partnerships between the public and private sectors, we can create pathways to connect employees to meaningful opportunities, while embracing our community’s passion for lending a helping hand. Volunteers at the foodbank are able to witness firsthand the issue of community hunger, but they also display how generous our community can be in responding to requests to help our neighbors in need.
Volunteers remain essential to the work of Virginia Peninsula Foodbank and other nonprofits in the region. With the unique circumstances presented by the pandemic, volunteers displayed patience and resiliency, adapting to stricter safety measures and work requirements. No matter what challenges our community faces, their work gives hope to our fellow residents.
The early days of the pandemic were full of heartwarming stories about people banding together to help their community, and we must carry that giving spirit forward, not just in times of crisis. We encourage everyone to support a cause they’re passionate about to raise awareness, foster connectivity and advocate for community engagement. We can make a difference by connecting our passion with purpose to ensure a brighter future for all.