Community volunteering is a great way to connect with your neighbors and better your community. You can have volunteers help man events, clean up and maintain the community, or reach out to surrounding areas and help out there. The issue is getting others to volunteer alongside you.
Finding different ways to increase community participation can be easier than you think. In this article we will discuss a few different ways to encourage your community to volunteer together.
Communicate Opportunities
One issue that can halt volunteering is the lack of information. Volunteers may want to join in on opportunities but missed the posting about it or simply never heard about it. To make sure you can reach volunteers you need to get the word out. Establishing multiple lines of communication and keeping them updated is key to getting your volunteers together. Try using methods such as email, text messaging, flyers, word of mouth, and your community calendar to make sure the majority of the association members are aware. The more people who know the more they can lend a hand!
Make it Accessible
Volunteering is always a great way to get to know your community members. It is just unfortunate that for most people their options to volunteer are limited. For instance, families with young children may not be able to volunteer at events such as neighborhood clean ups or any long-term commitments. Or if a community event is on Wednesday at 5 pm, that may limit volunteers as working adults will most likely still be at work or driving home at that time.
Try to arrange a variety of different volunteer events with a wide range of activity levels, time and dates, and length to allow more people a chance to help and volunteer. You can build long term volunteer relationships through many short term projects like being an extra set of hands at an event, or even being a one time member of a short term committee.
Welcome All Ideas
Another way to get your community involved is to have them use their voice. Reach out to members in your community and ask for suggestions about projects, events, or organizations they want to work on. By engaging the community and taking on their ideas you incentivize them to participate. This will also give volunteers a sense of ownership over the project which will encourage them to come back more and more!
Show Gratitude
The surefire way to make sure you make and keep volunteers is to make sure and thank them. Thanking the volunteers there in person, offering gifts such as food, or committee members, as well as short-term volunteers. Feeling properly appreciated and valued gives incentive to others to volunteer for the first time, and to return in the future.
From board members to extra hands at an event, volunteers help an HOA community run smoothly. Though it can be tough to get volunteers to join, you do not need to do much to make things that much easier. Collaborate with your volunteers and watch your community grow closer and improve. For help managing your HOA community, contact SpectrumAM today for a free HOA management quote.
