Volunteers spend unpaid time doing something to benefit others or the environment through formal or informal volunteering. Between 2020 and 2021, the pandemic affected Americans enough to make 23% volunteer with nonprofit organizations. Today, nearly half of nonprofits reported having over 250 active volunteers, compared to an average of 101-250 before the pandemic.
These numbers show how community involvement is more than just a trend; it reflects turning your societal values into collaboration, compassion, and—essentially—action. The same is true for Kansas, where people from all walks of life are stepping up to help their communities thrive.
People of all ages are actively involved in volunteering throughout Kansas communities, with schools encouraging or even requiring students to participate in volunteer activities and projects to make a meaningful difference, while neighbors frequently lend a helping hand.
Kansas offers a wealth of volunteer opportunities, including community services, youth and adult support programs, food distribution initiatives, healthcare and hospital volunteering, housing assistance, LGBTQ support, nature conservation, animal shelters and services, and programs for individuals with disabilities, among many others.
However, sometimes we wonder: what is the meaning of volunteering? So, through this article, we will break down the real impacts volunteers are having across Kansas communities and guide you on how to get involved. Let’s dive in!
How Volunteering Is Transforming Different Kansas Communities
Volunteering can be either formal and informal. The first is usually organized by charities, voluntary organizations, or public sector bodies, and the second involves more unorganized acts within communities, like helping a neighbor.
Across the state, volunteers are spearheading initiatives that directly impact the lives of those around them, and these can include raising funds, supporting events, campaigning, administrative support, donations to nonprofits, and more.
People who volunteer come from all backgrounds, ages, and circumstances. They might be students, employed individuals, retirees, or asylum seekers and may (or may not) have specific skills, like medical or legal training. However, these are not mandatory as long as your final desire is to help a certain social group and actually make a difference.
Kansas has a long history of volunteering, from community clean-ups in cities like Wichita or Topeka to volunteers in Paola working tirelessly with local nonprofits to assist educational programs, organize food drives, or support shelters.
Let’s look at some of the main examples of how volunteering in Kansas has shown real results and positively impacted Kansas communities.
1. Young people as faithful volunteers
Children and teens are showing a natural desire to contribute through activities like fundraising, volunteering, and raising awareness for social causes. Despite increased virtual connectivity, young people continue to engage in charitable activities, with 76% expressing a desire to continue youth philanthropy in a hybrid format after the pandemic.
Schools are also encouraging students to participate in volunteering activities and projects, resulting in ones like Shawnee Mission East, where Luke Taylor, a student, helps pairs from 25 countries with English and social skills, or Blue Valley High School, where a girl named Sadiya Abid co-founded Future is Female to address gender inequality, and the nonprofits now have 12 chapters in six states.
Other examples of young volunteers making a difference include stars like Halley Vincent, who, at age 11, started Paws Up KC to combine literacy and animal adoption, distributing books and encouraging reading to shelter animals; Lizzie Place, who created a website featuring 50 Free Hikes, promoting outdoor activities in Kansas City, and Madden Tanner, who started helping his mother with literacy sessions at six years old, later establishing the Royale Cohesive Network to guide young people toward entrepreneurship.
Young people in Kansas are taking the initiative and creating change locally and globally, demonstrating leadership, compassion, and a commitment to making a difference.
2. Volunteers supporting essential community services
It’s not just the youth that’s committed. Many volunteers in Kansas dedicate their time to supporting crucial community services that help improve the quality of life for others.
Programs like Catch-a-Ride Volunteer Transportation provide much-needed rides to medical appointments and social services, helping residents maintain their health and well-being, while volunteers at Happy Bottoms are making a difference by distributing diapers to families in need, ensuring that children have access to basic necessities.
Additionally, organizations like the Kansas City Public Library’s RISE program empower immigrants and refugees by offering English tutoring and civics test preparation, giving them the tools they need to thrive.
3. Mentorship and education
Education-focused volunteer opportunities are also a major source of community impact. Organizations such as Lead to Read and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kansas City provide youth with essential literacy mentoring and personal development support, helping them build a better future.
In Kansas schools, volunteers help young students through mentorship programs that encourage reading, leadership, and civic responsibility. Meanwhile, organizations like the Learning Club tutor high-risk children, offering after-school academic support to ensure they reach their full potential.
4. Feeding people in need by supporting local food systems
Food insecurity is a challenge that many Kansas communities face, and individuals are stepping in to help. Programs such as Harvesters and Kansas City Community Gardens work to provide fresh, nutritious food to those in need and make sure nothing is thrown away.
Volunteers assist with packaging and distributing food, maintaining community gardens, and supporting local urban farming initiatives like Cultivate KC, which aims to create sustainable food systems within the city.
5. Supporting the LGBTQ+ community through volunteering
Volunteering in Kansas plays a critical role in supporting the LGBTQ+ community, especially in light of recent restrictive laws that target transgender rights. These laws have heightened the need for safe, inclusive spaces and mental health support, particularly for transgender individuals who face increased harassment and discrimination in public spaces such as bathrooms and shelters.
Organizations like Equality Kansas and the ACLU of Kansas rely heavily on volunteers to support advocacy efforts to fight these discriminatory laws and provide legal aid to affected individuals.
Volunteers in Kansas are making an impactful contribution to their communities by creating safe, inclusive spaces and offering essential support services with other organizations like the Kansas City Center for Inclusion, to engage in outreach and educational programs that affirm and support LGBTQ+ individuals and the Kansas City Pride Community Alliance which offers opportunities for volunteers to participate in Pride events, fundraising, and advocacy efforts aimed at enriching the lives of LGBTQ+ community members.
6. Volunteering in healthcare and hospitals
Healthcare volunteers are also showcasing the true impact and importance of volunteering. In Kansas, Children’s Mercy Kansas City helps comfort young patients and their families by organizing activity kits and providing emotional support.
Similarly, those who volunteer with Kansas Hospice Care comfort people facing severe illnesses, assisting patients and their families through various tasks such as crafting, fundraising, and emotional care.
7. Supporting housing and homelessness initiatives
Volunteers are also working hard to address housing needs and homelessness across Kansas.
Organizations like Amethyst Place and Community Housing of Wyandotte County rely on volunteers to provide critical services like organizing community events and revitalizing neighborhoods by transforming vacant lots into homes for families.
Also, programs such as SAVE, Inc. focus on assisting vulnerable populations with transitional and emergency housing, where volunteers are essential to the success of these initiatives.
8. Animal shelters and rescue efforts
Animal welfare is another area where volunteers are making tangible impacts. Kansas is home to several no-kill animal shelters like Wayside Waifs and Great Plains SPCA, where volunteers work tirelessly to provide care for animals waiting to be adopted. They help foster pets, provide medical care, and create a loving environment for animals in need, ensuring they find their forever homes.
As you can see, volunteers constantly contribute to local events, social and gender initiatives, environmental issues, homelessness initiatives, education, and more by supporting shelters, organizing events, providing emotional support, ensuring laws and rights are respected by educating society, distributing food, teaching how to read or helping elders go to medical appointments.
These stories are just a glimpse of how volunteers are transforming Kansas communities, but you might be wondering, how can I volunteer? How do you find the right opportunity that aligns with your passion and skills?
Join us in shaping a better tomorrow for Miami County, Kansas. Your support is more than just a donation. It’s an investment in our community.
Where You Can Find Volunteer Opportunities
Finding the right volunteer opportunities can feel overwhelming; you might not know when to start or where to look for other volunteers and their current projects. So, if you are asking yourself, “How can I volunteer,” know that the key is to align your interests and skills with a cause you’re passionate about.
In Kansas, there are countless opportunities to get involved in areas such as environmental preservation, education, feeding the hungry, tutoring kids, and more, as we’ve seen above. But since choosing might be difficult, here’s a step-by-step on how to start getting involved to eventually choose the perfect one for you:
- Choose a cause you’re passionate about: Start by narrowing down your interests. Are you driven by environmental preservation, community development, or maybe educational outreach? Focusing on one or two areas will help you find opportunities that are both meaningful and aligned with your skills. For example, if you love nature, organizations like Kansas City Wildlands often need volunteers to help restore natural habitats and maintain trails. If your passion is mentoring youth, programs like Lead to Read or Big Brothers Big Sisters are always in need of dedicated mentors who can guide children toward a brighter future.
- Match opportunities to your skills, interests, and schedule: It’s important to find an opportunity that not only excites you but also fits your schedule. Consider your availability and what kind of commitment you’re willing to make. If you’re skilled in administration, for instance, you might assist local nonprofits with office tasks. If you’re great at organizing, perhaps you can help coordinate local events or fundraising efforts.
- Check for local nonprofit organizations, community centers, or websites: Websites like VolunteerMatch and Idealist can connect you with thousands of volunteer opportunities tailored to your interests. You can search by location, cause, and even the type of volunteer work you’re looking for, such as virtual or in-person activities. These platforms are perfect for finding specific opportunities, whether it’s weekly tutoring sessions, one-time events, or ongoing community support.
- Upload a volunteer resume to showcase your skills to nonprofits: Local organizations often post volunteer openings directly on their websites or community bulletin boards. For example, Miami County Community Foundation (MICOCF) often posts volunteer opportunities that might match your interests and skills. Likewise, The Kansas City Public Library’s RISE program offers English tutoring and civics test preparation for immigrants and refugees, an excellent opportunity for those passionate about education and empowerment.
- Follow up promptly with the nonprofit after expressing interest: Once you’ve found a volunteer opportunity that excites you, don’t hesitate to reach out. Introduce yourself, explain your interests, and share relevant skills or experience. Nonprofits appreciate committed, passionate volunteers, and following up demonstrates that you’re serious about helping.
- Be prepared for growth: Volunteering offers benefits beyond just contributing your time. It can lead to personal and professional growth, allowing you to build new skills, gain leadership experience, and connect with a network of like-minded individuals. This will not only boost your well-being but also deepen your connection to your community.
To be a great volunteer, it’s essential to maintain professionalism, honor your volunteer commitments, and show gratitude for any training or professional development you receive.
In addition to the personal rewards, what are the effects of volunteering on the broader community? Studies show that communities with high volunteer engagement tend to experience greater social cohesion, better health outcomes, and even stronger local economies that alleviate the burden on local resources.
Volunteering to give back to your community altruistically contributes to society and benefits all, promoting harmony and unity with the core principle of helping others without expecting anything in return. It’s a generous act that meets community needs and makes a real difference, especially in challenging times.
Now that you’ve learned to find volunteer opportunities, you may ask yourself where to start. One place to consider is the Miami County Community Foundation (MICOCF), which has a rich history of connecting volunteers with meaningful, community-driven initiatives.
How MICOCF Works With Volunteers
At the heart of Miami County’s volunteer efforts lies MICOCF, an organization committed to making tangible differences in local communities. We facilitate donations because we understand the power of volunteering, and we want to connect passionate volunteers with meaningful projects that align with their skills and interests and provide opportunities for everyone.
Volunteers play an irreplaceable role in Kansas communities, as we’ve seen through countless examples of their involvement, and MICOCF recognizes this vital role for Miami County, KS.
Imagine helping students get the financial support they need for college or contributing to a community project revitalizing a local park for families to enjoy. These are the kinds of tangible impacts your donations can have.
We’ve seen how the selfless efforts of volunteers are transforming Kansas communities, and organizations like MICOCF are the pulse that keeps everything running smoothly. Whether donating your time, skills, or money, your contributions help create a better, stronger, and more connected community. So why not start today?
Are you interested in learning more or contributing to our cause? Reach out with any questions you may have. With just one click, you can transform lives. Your donation has the power to create a significant change.