Volunteer Now - In Wayne and Holmes Counties

May 17, 2023

Volunteer Now - In Wayne and Holmes Counties

Although my family has lived in Wayne County for the last several years, it wasn’t until I began working at United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counties (UWWH) that I truly began connecting to the community. Volunteerism has played such a key role in this connection. I have gained so much through volunteering in both Holmes and Wayne Counties; meeting new people, learning about new organizations, and continuing to grow my connection with others in the community. Before working at UWWH, I always wanted to volunteer, but didn’t really have a great understanding of how or where to even begin. The times I reached out to various organizations to volunteer, it took days to hear back or stop the “phone tag” game. I’d call them and leave a message. They’d call me and I’d miss the call. I would see a social media post about volunteers needed, but by the time the contact got back to me, the need was filled, or the event already passed. When I found out that part of my role at UWWH was to not only manage volunteers, but to also get a new volunteer platform for our two counties up-and-running, I was so excited! Our community needed a one-stop place to easily sign-up and manage volunteers. After hearing the needs of our partners and other local organizations regarding the lack of volunteerism post-COVID, and discussions with College of Wooster (COW) students, Volunteer Now – In Wayne and Holmes Counties was born.

United Way of Wayne and Holmes Counites, in collaboration with College of Wooster, received a multi-year grant from Wayne County Community Foundation in 2022 to implement a new volunteer platform accessible to the public as a one-stop shop for all volunteer-related opportunities. Volunteer Now – In Wayne and Holmes Counties is a reliable, web-based volunteer management system that assists in managing volunteers and growing community impact. UWWH manages the administration for the site and approves organizations that are created as Agencies on the platform. These organizations can post their volunteer needs, with volunteers signing up using desktop and/or mobile app versions of the site, so long as the opportunity is in Holmes or Wayne counties. This robust platform features hours tracking, volunteer check-in, scheduling, waivers & eSignatures, event planning, group & team management, volunteer profiles and resumes, and more. Pretty sweet, right? The best part is that COW will also have their own separate landing page, tied into the student organization Wooster Volunteer Network (WVN). There will be capabilities to funnel registered student users to review and access volunteer needs posted on Volunteer Now – In Wayne and Holmes Counties! While it’s the responsibility of each approved Agency to follow their internal volunteer protocol, UWWH is there to assist as needed. It takes our whole community committing to filling a gap like this, and the only way for it to work is if volunteer needs are being posted on the site and if we are spreading the word about where to sign-up for these needs.

One of my favorite parts about this platform is the APP! The app allows you to easily access and review local volunteer needs in our community, in real time. This is so crucial. People have such busy lives; we do not want to create additional obstacles for already willing community members to volunteer.

To sign up your organization or sign-up as a user, go to https://www.volunteernow.info/ or scan the QR codes to download the app! (See picture below) And as always, if you have questions or concerns, feel free to email me at kayley@uwwh.org or call our office at (330) 264-5576. The time is NOW to Volunteer!

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Why we stay nonpartisan

By Katie Koglman • October 7, 2026

United We Help: Why United Way Wayne and Holmes Stays Nonpartisan Turn on the television. Scroll social media. Check your mailbox. Election season brings a steady stream of political messages, each competing for our attention and asking us to choose a side. It can be overwhelming, especially when you are trying to separate facts from opinions and decide whom to trust. At United Way Wayne and Holmes Counties, we value the trust our community places in us. That is why we want to be clear about our role during elections.We do not endorse candidates, oppose candidates, or tell people whom to vote for. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, we are prohibited from participating in political campaigns for or against candidates for public office. This is a legal requirement , not simply an organizational preference. Our responsibility is to serve Wayne and Holmes Counties and bring people together to help our neighbors. Nonpartisan does not mean silent We see the challenges people face every day: families struggling to afford groceries, workers facing transportation barriers, children needing opportunities to learn, and neighbors searching for mental health support. We have a role in helping our community and policymakers understand those needs. We can share information, educate elected officials, build relationships, and speak up about issues connected to our mission. We can also engage in some lobbying on specific legislation, within the limits that apply to charitable organizations. Speaking up about a community need is different from asking you to vote for a particular candidate. Can we do that? Our “Can We Do That? A Quick Guide to Nonprofit Advocacy” graphic uses a traffic-light approach to explain the difference. Green: Speak up for our community. Share stories, explain community needs, educate policymakers, and encourage civic participation. Yellow: Know the rules. Supporting or opposing specific legislation is lobbying, which comes with limits and responsibilities. Red: No candidate endorsements. We cannot support or oppose candidates, contribute organizational funds to their campaigns, or use our organizational voice to tell you whom to elect. We can encourage people to register and vote, and provide voter information, as long as those efforts remain neutral and do not favor or oppose candidates or political parties. Your vote belongs to you You may hear us discuss hunger, literacy, housing, transportation, or other issues affecting local families. You may see us meeting with elected officials to help them understand what is happening in our communities. Those conversations are about the people we serve. They are not candidate endorsements. We encourage you to ask questions, examine reliable information, learn about candidates, and make your own informed choices. The neighbors who turn to us for help have different backgrounds, beliefs, and political views. So do the donors, volunteers, and partners who make our work possible. Helping our community takes all of us. Election season will come and go. Our commitment to Wayne and Holmes counties continues regardless of the outcome. We encourage all of you to vote, and vote for who you think is the best candidate! Early voting begins October 6, 2026 through Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026 and Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. To find where you should go to vote Click Here. Go VOTE!!