1 Year, 700 Connections Later, BranfordVolunteers.org Celebrates First Anniversary

BRANFORD, CT — One year and 700 connections later, BranfordVolunteers.orgis celebrating its first anniversary.

The volunteer matching site, launched by the Branford Community Foundation, is a unique resource for the town, allowing anyone looking to volunteer to simply search the website for opportunities from more than 50 local nonprofits. Since opening last December, the site has made 700 connections between nonprofits and potential volunteers.

"BranfordVolunteers.org has become an essential resource for our local nonprofits," said Judy
Barron, Executive Director of the Community Dining Room. "It’s making volunteer connections
faster, easier, and more accessible for organizations that rely on community support."

From the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter to Feed Branford Kids and Read to Grow, the site now boasts 52 local nonprofits, as organizations continually join to post their needs.

"BranfordVolunteers.org has done more to help Branford than the Foundation could have
imagined," said BCF Executive Director Liza Janssen Petra. "BCF believes in, ‘Connecting people
who cares with causes that matter,’ and building the volunteer portal has really brought that
mission to life."

Searchable by keyword, category or organization, BranfordVolunteers.org has no ads, no fees,and does not require registration. You simply visit the site and look around.

Here are just a few of the opportunities currently posted:

• The Community Dining Room is looking for a delivery driver.
• The Branford Microfund is seeking “ambassadors” to connect with the Branford community.
• Read to Grow is looking for warehouse volunteers.
• BHcare needs clothing bank volunteers.
• BCTV is looking for citizen producers.

"What I love about BranfordVolunteers.org is that it connects us with people who are ready to
jump in and help," said John Proto, director of the Shore Line Trolley Museum. "Before, we
would always rely on word of mouth and hope. Now we have a real local system, and it's
producing real results."

The list of meaningful ways to contribute goes on and on. And once visitors find something ofinterest, they can contact the nonprofit directly through the site.

“We’ve had so many community members reach out to ask about the opportunities that we’ve
listed, which is great,” said Katy McNicol, Director of the James Blackstone Memorial Library. "It’s a fantastic way to let the community discover volunteer roles that match their skills and interests."

About the Branford Community Foundation

The Branford Community Foundation, founded in 1980, is a public, nonprofit, tax exempt, charitable trust. It provides an administrative, philanthropic service – a means by which public- spirited citizens may make gifts or bequests, the income from which is distributed for educational, cultural, health, social and civic needs. To learn more about BCF, or to make a gift to help ensure the Foundation’s support of Branford, visit branfordcommunityfoundation.org.