Volunteer to improve community health

On July 1 the Human Services Council in Vancouver started a new program to recruit volunteers age 18 and older. The council, which had previously only worked with volunteers at retirement age, has expanded its recruiting services and is forming new partnerships to get more Vancouver residents involved.

Its new Community Action Team is now matching volunteers in the community with 26 organizations in Clark County that are focused on improving community health, said volunteer connections manager Michael Holroyd.

Many people want to volunteer and make a difference in the community but they don’t know where to start, Holroyd said. The new Volunteer Mobilization Center pairs those people with organizations that fit their interests.

Today I met with Holroyd and his colleague Debbie Everts to talk about how Live Well could be a partner in this project. The Human Services Council and Live Well have a similar goal: to improve the overall health of Clark County. I’m excited to have them both on the Live Well advisory board and to find ways to connect their volunteers with the issues that are most important in the county.

Are you looking for a place to volunteer? Apply here.