Want to volunteer, don’t know where to go? This website can help

Want to volunteer this holiday season and don’t know where to look? A new website is rolling out to Wichita for nonprofits to connect with volunteers.

Called JustServe, the website is a service of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You type in your zip code and volunteer opportunities pop up. It’s just now launching in Wichita, but the people behind it hope it will grow through 2018.

Any nonprofit that needs volunteers can register itself or an event. The website doesn’t discriminate based on religion or cause.

It takes just minutes to find a place to volunteer and sign up, said Heidi Arnold, who used the website to register for volunteering at The Lord’s Diner.

“I think it means a greater chance of me volunteering, people in general, just because its so convenient and so easy,” Arnold said. “It’s a great way to get involved and volunteer.”

JustServe isn’t the only place that exists to match volunteers with organizations, although it might be one of the newest. VolunteerMatch has worked similarly since 1998, and United Way offers a phone line to find volunteer opportunities.

There are currently five organizations listed on JustServe for Wichita: Operation Holiday, The Lord’s Diner, the Kansas Food Bank, Warming Souls Winter Shelter meals and The Arc’s Lights.

There’s also a phone app.

“It’s a way to connect volunteers in the community who don’t know quite where to look with organizations and charities and nonprofits and churches that need volunteers,” said Kim Daley, spokeswoman for the area Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “Wichita’s a very giving and kind community and I think it’ll catch on very well once the community knows that there’s a place to look for it.”

This story was originally published November 28, 2017 at 6:26 AM with the headline "Want to volunteer, don’t know where to go? This website can help."