Government

First Lady Casey DeSantis today joined Volunteer Florida CEO Clay Ingram to announce that Florida’s official volunteer opportunities platform, Volunteer Connect, has launched to the public.

As part of First Lady DeSantis’ Hope for Healing Florida initiative, Volunteer Connect will provide a one-stop platform for Floridians to engage in community service with 501(c)(3) organizations and governmental entities that work with volunteers. The platform was created for organizations to register, train and post opportunities. Currently, the platform is displaying more than 230 active opportunities across the state, with more being added daily.

“Volunteers provide a unique service by helping others and contributing to our communities,” said First Lady Casey DeSantis. “Volunteer Connect is a platform that will help align volunteers with an organization that meets their interests and complements their skill sets. Volunteering is a fundamental civic responsibility that benefits all and really binds our communities together. I am thrilled that Volunteer Connect will help make it easier for Floridians to continue to provide extraordinary service to those in need.”

“At Volunteer Florida, we recognized the need for an innovative and modern platform to connect nonprofits and governmental entities with volunteers,” said Volunteer Florida CEO Clay Ingram. “Both groups spend countless hours searching for each other, often with frustration and no net benefit. We are proud to launch Volunteer Connect as an easy-to-use solution, so that more people in Florida will accept our challenge and provide support to their communities. Everyone has a skill that is beneficial to a nonprofit, and by way of this centralized hub, we hope to not only make connections, but also shed light on the incredible need for volunteers.”

“Volunteers are the backbone of the Special Olympics movement,” said Special Olympics Florida President and CEO Sherry Wheelock. “We are grateful to the First Lady and Volunteer Florida for recognizing the need for a platform to better connect us with people in our community who are willing to serve.”

Eligible organizations can sign up with the site to more easily recruit and better manage volunteers. Volunteers can take advantage of user-friendly search features, including the ability to search opportunities by date, location, issue area, age or populations served.

Organizations of all sizes are welcome to use the platform. Service opportunities are diverse and range from lending executive expertise to nonprofits, supporting animal and rescue efforts, restoring shorelines through the planting of native flora, to helping communities rebuild after a disaster.

In addition to connecting volunteers to needs in their community, Volunteer Connect also ensures a better volunteer experience through virtual volunteer management training for organizations and education about service for volunteers.

Volunteer Connect is powered by Volunteer Florida. To search for volunteer opportunities in your community, register your organization, or to learn more, visit volunteerflorida.org or sign up for Volunteer Florida’s newsletter by clicking here.