Get Involved!

According to the Grand Rapids Community Foundation’s Nonprofit Directory there are 1,721 non-profits in Kent County. That’s a lot of organizations doing a lot of good in our community. If you’re looking to get more engaged that stat may leave you feeling overwhelmed, wondering where to start and discouraged that there’s no way for you to do it all.

I can relate! As someone whose personal and professional life revolves around volunteering it seems that every day I learn about a new organization or opportunity that I’d love to get involved in. But, I can’t do it all. The plus side of that stat is that there is more likely than not some organization or cause that is a fit for everyone. So that’s the challenge: to focus your passion, find the fit, and make the connection.

One of the things I love most about serving on the Grand Rapids Young Professionals Community Involvement Committee is that I get the chance to help others make that connection. Our committee partners with local organizations to provide one-time service events and educational programs so that our members can learn more about how they can have impact in the Grand Rapids area. This Thursday April 29th we’ll be hosting the GRYP Get Involved event and I encourage each of you to come and check it out. This FREE event will feature 25 community organizations sharing their program information, volunteer needs and leadership opportunities in a resource fair format. There are so many ways to support these amazing community resources. Maybe you’re passionate about a particular issue and you’ll find several organizations that address that cause. Or maybe you’ll be drawn into a specific agency and find that you can support it by attending a fundraiser, donating items on their wish list, or serving on their board.

If this event doesn’t work for you, I encourage you to explore other ways to “get involved.” You can check out the Volunteer Solutions site for a searchable database of hundreds of local opportunities. Or, explore the GRCF Nonprofit Directory (http://www.grfoundation.org/npodir/grcf/) and choose a few organizations that you’d like to learn more about. Or consider joining a group like GRYP or BLEND and participate in their group volunteer events. Opportunities are all around you and there’s no better time to get involved!

FYI: The Get Involved event will run 5:30pm-8:30pm with McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon as gracious hosts. Learn more here: http://www.gryp.org/