🔒In-person volunteerism returns with excitement, partnership and opportunity

No doubt our community has experienced some challenges over the past two years.

Local nonprofits and charitable organizations throughout Connecticut were particularly impacted as they faced increased demand for services while experiencing a drastic reduction of in-person volunteer support, mainly due to safety concerns during the pandemic. There is evidence that monetary giving was up in 2021.

However, the percentage of Americans who reported volunteering time trended downward, continuing an unfortunate direction over the last few years that was magnified by the limited number of in-person activities.

KNOX — an organization that establishes and maintains community gardens, improves the environment, and provides job skills and development in green jobs industries — like many local nonprofits, relies on volunteers. During the pandemic, KNOX focused on cultivating and distributing fresh food for those in need — with volunteers helping to grow, harvest and deliver produce to local food pantries.

Navigating the heightened needs of the Hartford community was even more challenging without the usual number of volunteers.

In its effort to address locally-relevant issues, Bank of America actively encourages employee volunteerism by offering paid weekly time off to give back to Connecticut communities. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Bank of America employees throughout Greater Hartford still managed to volunteer over 25,000 hours since 2020.

Many private sector companies, like Bank of America, continue to find safe ways to contribute and give back in Hartford. One example is mobilizing employee network groups to volunteer in person at an Earth Day clean up with KNOX.

A few other opportunities this spring include hosting financial literacy workshop classes with Junior Achievement of Hartford and building homes with Habitat for Humanity.

As society begins reopening safely, this spring is an exciting time for community members to renew their commitment to volunteerism through on-site and in-person opportunities for the many nonprofits making a positive impact in Greater Hartford. As we discover our new normal and start to enjoy more of the in-person activities we missed over the last two years, we’re excited to drive volunteer engagement through both in-person and virtual opportunities.

Forging partnerships between nongovernmental organizations and the public and private sectors creates an opportunity to connect employees to meaningful volunteerism, while embracing the community’s passion for lending a helping hand.

This spring and beyond, there are some great projects to support local nonprofits and charitable organizations, including distributing food around the state at Connecticut Foodshare’s mobile sites; honoring our veterans and military by volunteering with Homes for the Brave; and donating new or gently-used shoes at DSW locations with Souls4Shoes.

The early days of the pandemic were full of heartwarming stories about people banding together to help their community, and we must carry that giving spirit forward, not just in times of crisis.

We encourage everyone to support a cause they are passionate about to raise awareness, foster connectivity and advocate for community engagement. We can make a difference by connecting our passion with purpose to ensure a brighter future for all.

Joseph Gianni is the president of Bank of America Greater Hartford and Patrick Doyle is the executive director of nonprofit KNOX.