One stop information: Silverton ‘Chamber for Good’ website lists volunteer opportunities and nonprofit needs

By Kristine Thomas

Whether you were looking to help or needing help, finding the right information use to be a challenge.

Until now.

Both people wanting to volunteer and nonprofit organizations seeking volunteers can now turn to one website to find information.

A national program, the Silverton Chamber of Commerce is becoming a “Chamber for Good.”

Silverton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Stacy Palmer said the goal of the program is to connect local donors and volunteers with local charities.

“We get phone calls from people who want to donate their time or items to local charities but don’t know who is looking for volunteers or items,” Palmer said. “The website is a way to help put all the information in one place.”

By visiting the website, www.chamberforgood.com/silverton, volunteers can learn what nonprofit organizations are seeking monetary or in-kind donations or needing volunteers.

“As you all know, we take our role of being a community-building organization very seriously and with the launch of Chamber for Good system we will be taking things to an even higher level of community engagement,” Palmer wrote in a letter to chamber members.

“The Chamber for Good system leverages the strength and creditability of our chamber of commerce to shine a bright light on the great charities and causes that labor away on behalf of our fellow community members.”

All 501c3 organizations based in Silverton or which have extensive activities in the community are eligible to have a profile on Chamber of Good.

Nonprofit organizations need to visit the website to sign-up, where they will be given a login and a password.

There is no cost for nonprofits to participate.

Each nonprofit is responsible for posting information on its page – including upcoming events, items needed and volunteer requests. The site is secured by PayPal so people can make donations directly to the nonprofit of their choice.

As of June 20, The Oregon Garden Foundation, Silverton Area Community Aid (SACA), SMART (Start Making a Reader Today), Silverton High School Alumni Association and The Community Roots School had signed-up and posted information on the site.

From schools having events or needing donations such as books or art supplies to community groups looking for volunteers, Palmer said the site is a place to share information.

Palmer said she encourages chamber and community members to visit the site, scroll to the bottom of the page and enter their email address.

Each Monday, an automated email will be sent listing the item and volunteer needs of local charities.

Colleen Martin, the chamber’s administrative assistant, remembers when she moved to Silverton she sought a way to volunteer and found the Silverton Junior Women’s Club.

“Volunteering is a great way to get involved in your community and make new friends,” she said.

Both Martin and Palmer said people stop by the chamber office to learn where they can volunteer or where they can donate items.

Now, they said, they are excited to share with community members the one website to visit to learn what they need.

“I am excited about it,” Palmer said. “It is a great resources to build awareness and volunteerism within our community.”