United Way: Volunteerism is key to strong communities
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- In 2021, United Way Day of Caring volunteers also helped paint educational games at local schools.
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- In 2021, United Way Day of Caring volunteers helped build homes with a local nonprofit organization.
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- United Way started recruiting and training volunteers for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program 43 years ago.
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- Bill Hulterstrom is president and CEO of United Way of Utah County.
In 2021, United Way Day of Caring volunteers also helped paint educational games at local schools.
Recently, we’ve been hearing a lot about loneliness — particularly among our young people. While there may be many reasons for the increased rates of loneliness researchers are seeing in our society, it is clear that increasing human connection is an essential way to combat such increases. One way to increase that connection, as the Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, recently reminded us, is to serve others. Here in Utah County, we are so fortunate to be surrounded by many opportunities to give back and strengthen our connections. Volunteerism has been a crucial element of United Way of Utah County’s mission for decades, and the impact of volunteerism in Utah County continues to grow.
Ever since the 1980s, United Way of Utah County has looked for new and innovative ways to facilitate volunteer experiences and empower those who are looking for new ways to serve others. One of the significant ways in which United Way of Utah County supported innovative volunteerism during the 1980s was through the establishment of the Volunteer Center. This program was designed in order to make it easier to match people with impactful and fulfilling volunteer opportunities. Our community is fortunate to have so many people who want to give back and so many wonderful organizations and programs who need volunteers.
When there are so many excellent options, it can sometimes be difficult to know which volunteer experience is the right fit for you. That’s why United Way started the Volunteer Center: to make it easier for volunteers to find the opportunities that will be most impactful for them and for the programs they support.
Not only was the Volunteer Center one of the first of its kinds in the state, it was also the first one to adopt an online database of local volunteer opportunities. This database, which is now hosted at http://volunteer.unitedwayuc.org, makes it easy to search for volunteer opportunities by interest, geographic location and even by whether or not the volunteer opportunity is virtual. This database has helped thousands of Utahns make an impact over the past decades, in ways that benefit both the volunteers and the community.
The 1980s also saw the establishment of one of our most unique volunteer programs: the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. This program offers free tax preparation assistance to low- and mid-income families and brings millions of dollars of tax refunds back into our community each year. VITA volunteers are incredibly dedicated. Not only do they give hours of their time for months during tax season, but they also go through extensive training and IRS-certification before they start volunteering.
In 2021, United Way Day of Caring volunteers helped build homes with a local nonprofit organization.
Since those days, volunteerism in Utah County has only increased. The Volunteer Center helps connect hundreds of volunteers, both individuals and groups, to impactful experiences each year. VITA continues to bring peace of mind as well as economic relief to families across the county. And since those early days in the 1980s, other cornerstone volunteer programs like Sub for Santa have also provided life-changing experiences for generations of volunteers and recipients.
These connections not only provide relief from immediate needs, but they also strengthen the social bonds in our communities. As we all look for ways to support our friends and neighbors, I encourage each of us to take a look at the many wonderful volunteer opportunities in Utah County. By giving back as a volunteer, you will not only help others in need, but your own social relationships and emotional health will benefit from such experiences. Together, we can ensure that Utah County remains a beacon of volunteerism over the next forty years and for generations to come.
To learn more about the Volunteer Center or other volunteer opportunities in Utah County, please visit http://unitedwayuc.org.
United Way started recruiting and training volunteers for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program 43 years ago.
Bill Hulterstrom is president and CEO of United Way of Utah County.
