New VolunteerLocal team member!

Hey VolunteerLocal! I’m Lucy, the new (Happy) Community Builder. I can tell you that I am literally the happiest to be getting this opportunity to work with such awesome people dedicated to volunteering.

I graduated from the University of Iowa in English and Creative Writing. I was initially worried that those degrees would lead to me becoming a starving artist, and I love food way too much for that. Instead, it took me down an amazing path working with different nonprofits in the Chicagoland area and doing local volunteer work until I landed here, your new VolunteerLocal customer support rep, ready to answer any and all of your questions. You’ll also be seeing me on the blog and over on our social media.

I can further tell you that I am addicted to tacos, I am both a dog AND a cat person (breaking barriers one fluffy creature at a time), I was a synchronized swimmer for exactly one year in high school, and I am an expert knitter.

I’m absolutely overjoyed to be a new part of this community. Tweet me at @luceedubs or follow VolunteerLocal on Twitter, Facebook, or Linkedin

Happy Day, Happy Volunteering!

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Getting Trippy with the Nippy Hippie!

Early this November, the Altoona Chamber of Commerce will throw their third annual Nippy Hippie 5K, a run/walk that supports the local community of Altoona, Iowa.

Courtesy of the Altoona Chamber of Commerce
Courtesy of the Altoona Chamber of Commerce

Not only does this particular 5K have an outstanding name, but it’s also doing some amazing things for the community of Altoona.

For the third year, the Altoona Chamber of Commerce is putting on the Nippy Hippie 5K, a run/walk that brings in hundreds of participants and gives a portion of the proceeds to different projects going on in the community. This year, they are thrilled to be able to support the Altoona Kids Cafe, a program created to help families experiencing food insecurity.

“When children are hungry, they don’t learn as well,” explains Melissa Horton, Executive Director of the

Courtesy of the Altoona Chamber of Commerce
Courtesy of the Altoona Chamber of Commerce

Altoona Chamber of Commerce. “The Altoona Kids Cafe put together an incredible program that feeds over 300 kids over the summer. Along with feeding kids, it’s also providing extended learning activities…Beth [my coworker] and I volunteer at this particular cafe in the summer time as well, but we wanted to be able to give them even more this year.”

Before using VolunteerLocal, the Altoona Chamber of Commerce relied on asking board members, family or friends to volunteer for their events. But ever since using VolunteerLocal’s software, they’ve had a huge success getting more people involved. “The simplicity of how people can [sign up] is awesome! People love the fact that they can just click the link, pick where they want to be, and we’re able to easily communicate with them. That’s been a huge plus for us.”

Courtesy of the Altoona Chamber of Commerce
Courtesy of the Altoona Chamber of Commerce

So don your best tie-dye and head on out Saturday, November 7th from 10:00am-12:00pm and join the Nippy Hippie 5K! It promises to be a very groovy time with a local bar serving food and drinks, free hot cocoa, and a “selfie station” sponsored by Sam’s Club. There will also be plenty of kids and family activities, including some tie-dying and different hippie-themed crafts.

Happy (Groovy) Volunteering, Altoona!

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