Cares Day hopes to tap surge in volunteering

By Andy Nelson, Executive Director

What an extraordinary time for volunteering in the Portland area.

The lingering economic recession has created a surge in volunteering. With critical needs on the rise, hundreds of volunteers are stepping up to help.

To tap into this volunteer surge, Hands On Greater Portland is teaming up with Comcast to mobilize 1,600 volunteers on Saturday, April 25, during the 2009 Comcast/Hands On Greater Portland Cares Day.

Volunteers will paint public schools, recover library books, sort donated food and school supplies, and tend community gardens. There is no charge to volunteer. All volunteers receive an event T-shirt and a well-organized, meaningful volunteer experience. You can sign up on our website.

Comcast is not only the event’s title sponsor but it is mobilizing 800 of its employees to volunteer during Cares Day in the Portland area. Across the region, Comcast is mobilizing 1,000 total employee volunteers from Longview, Wash., to Eugene, Ore., on April 25, and nationally, Comcast will mobilize 50,000 employee volunteers in 37 states.

Our other sponsors are First Tech Credit Union, Northwest Natural, The ODS Companies and The Standard.

This marks the 7th year that Hands On and Comcast have teamed up for Cares Day. Together, we have mobilized 6,750 volunteers, generating $375,000 in volunteer support for the community.

This year’s Cares Day is special because these are extraordinary times. Hands On is connecting about 50% more volunteers than it was a year ago. We connected a record 1,300 volunteers in March, our busiest month ever in our 13-year history.

The economic downturn is motivating people to get out and help. Others are moved by President Obama’s call to service. A third factor is that there are many people who are between jobs, looking to stay active and network. Volunteering is a great way to do that. And Cares Day is a great way to volunteer.