U.P. Volunteer Network

Free Volunteer Management Training Information

The people of the Upper Peninsula are known for lending a hand where needed. But oftentimes residents who want to volunteer don’t know where to offer their services. Likewise, many community organizations need help but don’t know where to find volunteers.

Enter the U.P. Volunteer Network, an initiative that brings volunteers and organizations across the U.P. together.

The network is a new variation on a tried and true concept -- a volunteer center. Like its name implies, it is a collaborative effort. Core partners include the Great Lakes Center for Youth Development, U.P. 2-1-1, United Way Volunteer Center of Chippewa County, Volunteer Center and Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Dickinson Iron Community Services Agency, RSVP of Delta, Menominee, Schoolcraft and Marinette counties, and RSVP of Marquette County.

The cornerstone of the network is the Web and phone-based 1-800-Volunteer system, which helps match volunteers with the needs of organizations.

By logging onto 1-800-Volunteer.org, organizations can post and update their volunteer opportunities. Volunteers are then able to review and respond to those opportunities.

Organizations are able to manage volunteer schedules and communicate automatically with their volunteers through custom e-mails, reminders and thank you notes. They can verify hours of volunteer service and run reports.

If your organization would like to post volunteer opportunities, click here.

Volunteers can receive e-mail notifications of opportunities that match their interests or availability, manage their personal volunteer schedule and record their volunteer service hours.

If you’re interested in volunteer opportunities in your community, click here, or use the search box near the top of this page.

If you’d prefer to use the phone to learn about volunteer opportunities, call 1-800-Volunteer, and you’ll be able to speak directly to a representative who can tell you what opportunities are available and help you find ones that match your qualifications, interests and availability.

The U.P. Volunteer Network is funded in part with a grant from the Volunteer Centers of Michigan-Volunteer Investment Grants Volunteer Center Start-Up Program, part of the ConnectMichigan Alliance. Additional funding comes from the Community Foundation of the U.P. and the George W. Romney Endowment Fund overseen by the Marquette Community Foundation and United Way of Marquette County.

Additional partners in the U.P. Volunteer Network include Northern Michigan University, Superiorland Library Cooperative, Peter White Public Library, and the Western U.P. RSVP.

For more information about 1-800-Volunteer or the U.P. Volunteer Network, e-mail upvolunteernetwork@glcyd.org or call Linda Remsburg at the Great Lakes Center for Youth Development, 906-228-8919 ext. 26.