Brand New Florida Keys Volunteer Center Matches Residents and Visitors with Service Opportunities

The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys has launched the Florida Keys Volunteer Center. The web site, VolunteerKeys.com, is available for nonprofits countywide to post volunteer opportunities and for visitors and residents to browse and register for volunteer shifts.

The online platform is equipped for an unlimited number of volunteer postings that will range from one-time commitments of an hour or two such as a beach clean-up or museum docent shift to multi-year opportunities like serving on a nonprofit organization’s board of directors. Volunteers may register as individuals or create teams such as families, service clubs or groups from local businesses.

Reverend Kelly “Kel” Bedard will be managing operations and outreach for the Florida Keys Volunteer Center from the Community Foundation office in Key West. His AmeriCorps Vista project has measurable goals for helping nonprofit organizations expand their efficiency, effectiveness and/or program reach by using volunteers. Kel has both Doctor of Ministry and Master of Divinity degrees from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, and over 30 years of community outreach experience. This includes a practicum living in a homeless shelter, co-founding an early childhood center; and co-founding a disaster response non-profit in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. Kel will also continue in his role as a mobile crisis counselor for WestCare’s Guidance/Care Center, where he has worked since 2020.

“The Community Foundation is known for its annual Unsung Heroes event where nonprofits honor their volunteers of the year. The nonprofits asked if we could do more, by helping them find and retain quality volunteers. We are delighted to deliver what they asked by way of the Florida Keys Volunteer Center,” said Community Foundation CEO Jennifer McComb.

To get involved, visit VolunteerKeys.com and follow volunteerkeys on Facebook and Instagram. Prospective volunteers who do not have a cell phone or computer to access the web site can contact the Florida Keys Volunteer Center at 305-292-1502.

Your Community Foundation of the Florida Keys, In Paradise for Good, has granted over $32 million to benefit every resident from Key Largo to Key West, supporting arts and culture, beautification and preservation of the Keys, health and human services, disaster relief, scholarships, and youth programs. The Community Foundation helps individuals and families leave a legacy in the Keys by inspiring giving and by connecting people, resources and needs through philanthropy, The Foundation is well-known for its signature “Unsung Heroes” event which honors nonprofit volunteers. For more information, call 305-292-1502 or visit cffk.org.

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