We know that the cities of Salem, Keizer, and surrounding areas are full of amazing organizations and businesses that provide its community members with excellent products and services. This article serves to highlight one organization, JustServe, that centers its entire platform on volunteering and service in the community. Ricki Decker and Hillary Warner, volunteers themselves, share how they got involved with this organization, what this service is all about, and how you can get involved! Read on for more!
1. Introduce yourself and tell us about JustServe.
Hello! We are Ricki Decker and Hillary Warner. We are moms in the community - Ricki and her husband have 5 children and have lived in Salem for nearly 30 years. Hillary and her husband have 6 children and have lived in Salem for 15 years. We volunteer with the organization, JustServe. JustServe was created in 2012, as a way to connect organizations that need volunteers with those looking to volunteer. What began in California 13 years ago, has now become a world-wide organization with over 660,000 people signed up and over 165,000 community projects completed!
2. What is the mission of the organization and how does it benefit the community?
JustServe is a movement that fosters a spirit of service, addresses local needs, and encourages community collaboration. This resource connects individuals, families, and groups with meaningful service opportunities and provides community organizations with a platform to post projects and find volunteers. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to join JustServe. By sharing acts of goodness, givers inspire hope and contribute to their communities and beyond.
3. How do people access your services?
JustServe is a completely free service for all involved (organizations and volunteers!) Go to JustServe.org - It takes under a minute to sign up - only a name and an email address is needed! Your information is never shared. Just enter your zip code in the search and immediately, you will be connected to volunteer opportunities of all kinds! There is also a JustServe app, along with Facebook and Instagram accounts.
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4. What challenges do you see in the community? How does this organization meet any of those challenges?
We feel that in a day where we have so much immediately at our fingertips - we are losing a little of the human, face-to-face connection and sense of community. Nothing overcomes that faster than serving and helping one another! Service can develop skills we didn't know we had, it reduces stress and helps to combat depression, it provides opportunities for connection. Studies have shown that teens who participate in service have increased self-esteem, gratitude and hope.
5. What do you enjoy about the Salem/Keizer community?
Being involved in JustServe has helped us realize how many wonderful people are in our community doing amazing, beautiful things! Can you imagine what our community could do and be if we all gave an hour, even just a few times a year?
Get Involved
JustServe helps you stay connected to the community through acts of service and volunteerism. If you would like to build unity in the community and fill a need, check out JustServe for your next service project! If you have a service project and need volunteers, submit your project to JustServe and allow them to help get you connected to people in the community!
You can contact Ricker Decker by phone at (503) 409-5886 or Hillary Warner at (503) 983-0606 or email justservesalem@gmail.com for more details on how you can share your service projects with the Salem/Keizer community!
Service Opportunity: Fun Fridays are here all month long and are a wonderful opportunity to support your local community and have fun! This service opportunity is coming up Friday, July 25th. It's not too late to serve! Find out more and sign up to serve right here!
If you know a local business or non-profit that serves the Salem/Keizer community and you think they should be spotlighted, let us know at sashas@macaronikid.com. We'd love to share more about them!
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