Case Study: Community Commons

Volunteers Contribute over $12,000 worth of Services in One Year to Community Commons

Community Commons
Frederick, MD

From September 2004-August 2005, Community Commons in Frederick, MD hosted an Americorps volunteer as its Volunteer Coordinator. She worked to recruit volunteers, build the volunteer program, and reach out to interested community members. During her service, the Volunteer Coordinator took the following steps toward building a stronger volunteer program:

• Expanded Community Commons' recruitment efforts by soliciting volunteers through local services, newspapers, and organizations, including Volunteer Frederick, a local volunteer clearinghouse; the Community Commons newsletters; Boy Scouts of America; Frederick Community College; 4-H; and the Master Gardeners of Frederick County. In addition, postings on national and international Web sites, such as Idealist.org, justvolunteers.org, volunteermatch.org, and craigslist.org, attracted new people that may not have normally volunteered with Community Commons.
  
• Developed a handbook, orientation, and training for new volunteers.
  
• Wrote position descriptions for a variety of activities, such staffing a booth at Earth Day, preparing membership mailings, writing articles for Community Common's newsletter, presenting homeowner workshops to local organizations, serving on the board or committees, and distributing the Monocacy Water Trailway map and brochure.

As a result of the efforts of the Volunteer Coordinator, Community Commons recruited 106 new volunteers in one year. A total of 320 people volunteered, completing 704 hours of service valued at $12,355.20 (at a rate of $17.55 per hour). All of these helped to build a sustainable program where volunteers are excited to give their time and have necessary guidance and attention.

Community Commons, Inc.
49 South Carroll Street
Frederick, MD 21701
301-662-3000
301-662-3674 fax
Community Commons Web site (www.communitycommons.org)
E-mail Community Commons (info@communitycommons.org)