Decline in volunteerism worries eastern NC nonprofits

Union Mission of Roanoke Rapids provides resources to more than 300 people in need each month.

As it enters a new year, the nonprofit organization has one goal: Increasing volunteers.

Sabrina Lawson is a volunteer turned executive director at Union Mission. Lawson said she has noticed a change since she started volunteering in 2016. Despite increased efforts to track down volunteers, numbers are low.

“I’ve had people say they were going to come and volunteer, take a volunteer form, and I haven’t heard back from them,” Lawson said.

Union Mission offers a food pantry, food deliveries and shelters to community members. Without volunteers, it stretches the small staff thin.

“We rely on our volunteers," Lawson said. "Not having them makes it really hard."

WRAL Data Trackers found the pandemic had an impact on volunteering, according to census information. Only 22% of all North Carolinians volunteered through a formal organization in 2021, the most recent year the data is available. That is down from more than 35% in 2017.

Many nonprofit organizations across the region have similar stories to Union Mission.

Nash non-profit faces closure amid volunteer shortage

Senior Volunteer Recruitment Specialist Lesley Ireland said she has to send volunteers from more populous counties to rural areas to fill the need.

"The need for our mission continues to grow, especially with disaster relief. As that need continues to grow significantly, so does the need for volunteers especially in rural communities,” Ireland said.

Iyana Belfield encourages others to volunteer at organizations like Union Mission, as it is an experience she won’t forget.

"I grew up here, and growing up, I didn’t really have much," Belfield said. "It’s been nice to go to school, come back and give back to the community that gave back to me when I was younger."