What is VolunteerConnect and how can it help you?

Volunteering is a cornerstone of our society–a way for individuals to give to others and, in the process, give to themselves. Living in the Bay Area, many students further understand the importance of volunteering as it’s often mandated by schools and/or respected by prestigious universities.

However, there are a few barriers. Perhaps the most prevalent is a lack of understanding of where to volunteer. Where’s the nearest homeless shelter? Do you know an elementary school that’s taking in volunteers? All the options my school offers have been booked already! These are just some of the concerns that high schoolers face when entering this highly rewarding and yet often confusing field. 

Statistics also show that teen volunteering is dropping. The Christian Monitor cites that there’s a “huge need” as non-profits of all kinds have faced shortages of volunteers post-pandemic. The Quinnipiac Chronicle pins down some issues contributing to this decline–social media, stress, and extracurriculars among them. 

I started VolunteerConnect with a simple question, having gone through many of these struggles myself. What if there was a way to find an opportunity that’s not only available… but right for you? In the past year, I’ve completed over 100 service hours. I’ve discovered that volunteering isn’t just some hour-filling activity; it actually leads to a sense of fulfillment and advances your passions. I want my peers, fellow middle schoolers and high schoolers, to be able to expose themselves to those same benefits. 

Together with four other students, Volunteer Connect was founded with the following mission: Providing free, accessible, and ever-updating volunteer opportunities to passionate students in the Bay Area.

After a summer of work, our website is finally ready. In a nutshell, VolunteerConnect is an easy, efficient, no-sign-up way to find any and every volunteer opportunity that you want to do. It’s small and targeted, which means there’s never a worry about spots filling up. Most importantly, VolunteerConnect is working to restore the pride and joy in volunteering that has the potential to uplift so many others in society. 

You can check out our unique features and perks on the "Our Features" page. If you don’t know where to start, check out our Home Page.

We hope you enjoy our website as much as we had fun creating it!