By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Volunteering looks different in a pandemic.
"We recruit volunteers for non-profit and governmental organizations," said Leah Chandler with The Volunteer Center. "75% to 80% of those organizations have closed during the pandemic or have had to make major adjustments. That has left a lot of our volunteers without jobs at the moment, but they're starting to slowly reopen."
With people doing more work from home, Chandler isn't sure how much volunteering will be able to be done in that fashion.
"That's really up to the individual organizations and whether they can restructure some of the things they need volunteer assistance with to accommodate that," Chandler said. "I really don't have a good answer."
Even though some of the jobs aren't available now, Chandler will always be looking for those willing to donate their time.
"We keep a database of opportunities that are available," Chandler said. "We'll never have that completed. It will never be full. Right now, we have not seen very many new volunteers in the last few months. People still just aren't getting out and doing the extra stuff that they normally would."
Chandler said the effect on volunteering would be long-lasting, but she is optimistic that when people feel safe, they will volunteer again.