Will Your Service Cost Anything for Volunteers/Donors?
The online database is completely free of charge for volunteers/donors who want to use it.

What Are All These Forms?
It may look tedious, but filling out the forms really isn't so bad, and it's the comprehensive information we collect from you on these forms that makes our unique search engine possible.

• The Agency Signup allows you to describe your organization at the top level. Your mission, your structure and your history all have a place here.
  
• The Opportunities tab allows you to post detailed information about ongoing and one-time needs for volunteers.
  
• The Gift Match form allows you to post requests for items that your organization needs to help you serve the community in the best possible way. 
  
• The Day of Caring Opportunity Signup Form (when activated) allows you to give a very specific description of the Day of Caring volunteer opportunity(ies) at your agency or school. Keep an eye out for the "News Item" announcing Day of Caring 2006 and providing the "portal" through which you can post your projects.

How Does Your Site Work?
It's simple. Anyone interested in volunteering in or donating goods to community helping or enrichment agencies can come to our site to find out what's needed.  Individuals can make inquiries about opportunities, create search profiles, post reflections about volunteer experiences and even keep track of their volunteer hours.  Agencies can let the community know what's going on and what their volunteer and item needs are, check out items that individuals or groups have make avaialble to them and manage volunteer hours. 

When the Day of Caring feature is activated, a business or organization interested in volunteering for Day of Caring can visit the site to find out what volunteer opportunities are available for their team on the Day of Caring. The volunteer will then read through the descriptions and pick a need to fill or an opportunity that is of interest. The volunteer has all the information to contact your agency and from there it's up to them to call and up to you to answer.

Can I Search for Volunteers Directly?
Though we are often asked, we do not support this option. You have a number of ways to post information with us, but then you must wait for the volunteers to contact you.

What Sort of Volunteers Will I Get?
Volunteers come to this web site from every walk of life. You will find high school students, college students, professionals in various fields, homemakers, retired people, corporate executives and employees of other nonprofits -- anyone looking to make a difference may come to this web site.

How Can I Support the Growth of Volunteerism in the Lowcountry?
There are a number of ways you can help:

• Mention us to your friends at other nonprofit agencies.  The more nonprofits we get signed up, the more publicity we can get and the more volunteers we can attract. 
  
• Mention us to your volunteers.  The more people who register information with our site, the more information we can provide to nonprofits to help improve their programs.
• Respond to inquiries from volunteers as soon as possible.  Have effective screening, job descriptions, training and ongoing support in place.  Appreciate.  Appreciate.  Appreciate.  We all want every volunteer experience to be a positive one.
• If you and/or the volunteer decide that your agency or opportunity is not a good fit, make sure the individual knows about 211 and how we will try to help him/her find a comfortable match.
  
• Keep your information current -- contact, opportunity, Gift Match, etc.
  

The inclusion of any organization or person in this database does not constitute a representation, warranty, or endorsement with respect to the competence, suitability, or reliability of such organization or person by 211 Hotline Give Help; nor does 211 Hotline Give Help sponsor or endorse any third-party web site. Legal Notices