Volunteer event last fall. Photo courtesy of City of Citrus Heights

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - The City of Citrus Heights has launched a new online platform to encourage residents and organizations to contribute to their community through volunteering, the Citrus Heights Volunteer Hub. The Citrus Heights Volunteer Hub can be found at citrusheightsvolunteers.net.

“The hub is an online tool which promotes various acts of volunteering in the city,” said Marisa Brown, city communications officer. “Residents can sign up and create a personalized account that will match them with a range of service opportunities in the community based on their individual interests, talents or schedules,” she said.

Service groups, businesses, non-profit organizations, and individuals looking for volunteers for a community event can create and register “agency” accounts and then add specific opportunities for residents to sign up. Those who do so will have ownership over their own accounts and be able to update their volunteer opportunities as often as needed, Brown said.

Participating groups now include the Kiwanis Club of Citrus Heights, Metro Fire CERT, the city of Citrus Heights, American Legion Post 637, Rotary Club of Citrus Heights, the Citrus Heights Women’s Club, Single Mom Strong, Citrus Heights Arts, Sunrise Christian Food Ministry and REACH (Residents’ Empowerment Association of Citrus Heights)

“We are aware that both the city of Rancho Cordova and the city of San Leandro use the same platform for their volunteerism,” Brown said. “Their experience helped us gain a more local perspective of how this platform could increase community engagement,” she said.

Volunteers all smiles after charity event. Photo courtesy of City of Citrus Heights

“Our goal is to reach as many residents in Citrus Heights as possible by inviting partners (non-profits, community-based organizations and others) to list their events and activities and then encourage community members to create individual profiles. Our potential target audience is every Citrus Heights resident,” she said.

“The Volunteer Hub will be a convenient way to get connected in our community,” said Mayor Bret Daniels in a press release.

“The hub will allow not only residents to find local volunteer opportunities easily but also promote the opportunities that lie within our city’s service groups and organizations who are looking for help,” he said. “The new hub also supports the city’s own ongoing beautification initiatives, making it easier for residents to find opportunities to chip-in by joining community cleanups, tree plantings and general beautification projects,” Brown said.

“We’re excited to see all the good which will come from having the Volunteer Hub and appreciate the city staff work that has gone into developing this exciting new program,” Daniels said.

Brown said that while the city is still in the early stages of bringing our community into this new tool, “we are excited to welcome everyone to chip-in,” she said.

“We’ll continue our outreach via email, our website, our social media channels and even an upcoming citywide mailer to encourage both residents and service groups, businesses and other community organizations to build community engagement through volunteerism,” Brown said.

“Our hope is that they engage with the platform on a regular basis so the community will be able to see all the opportunities which are available to them,” she said.

Information about the Citrus Heights Volunteer Hub can be found at citrusheightsvolunteers.net. Questions concerning signing up for the program can be addressed to: [email protected].