Startup Plays Volunteer Matchmaker

It is a familiar problem. A family, couple or perhaps a retiree moves to town and wants to volunteer. But where to start?

A startup in Sarasota has the answer. Volunteer Community Connections works to match the talents and interests of individual volunteers with the needs and requirements of local organizations.

The group recently received a $25,000 startup grant from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. James DuPlantier is program director.

He notes the effort actually started 30 years ago, and was absorbed six years ago by the Senior Friendship Center. But as of Oct. 1, the organization was spun back out on its own. One of the first steps was to create ivolunteersarasota.com

“We’re affiliated with 160 nonprofits now that have registered with us,” said DuPlantier. “Some of the organizations don’t have a recruitment staff, or are small. We can help them. We even offer a two-day course on volunteer management.”

Organizations have differing needs for volunteers, and DuPlantier tries to make the match.

“They may need one skill set, or may be they’re holding a big event and need a lot of volunteers for a one-time event,” he said. “Our role is to help identify people and refer them to where they are needed.”

Volunteer Community Connections took a couple of tasks with it, when it separated from the Senior Friendship Centers. It oversees the community service required for Florida’s Bright Futures Scholarships. “That program has increased a lot over the past couple of years,” he said.

And the organization staffs reception centers to screen volunteers who might come here to help in disaster recovery.

“We did that in 2005 down in Charlotte County for (Hurricane) Charley,” he said.

DuPlantier said his focus right now is on Sarasota County, though many  volunteers are from Manatee County.