Your time helping an area non-profit may be more important than you think, no matter how short it may be. According to the United States Census Bureau, less than a quarter of Americans 16 years of age and older said they formally volunteered with an organization between September 2020 and September 2021, corresponding with the height of the pandemic. That is a 30 percent drop from the last report in 2019, and the decrease in volunteering rates was consistent across several states and demographic groups. Many potential volunteers believe they need more time to dedicate to an organization to make a difference. United Way of Door County Director of Operations Kelly Hellmann says they are focusing on microvolunteerism, an idea of how potential volunteers can give back in little ways on their schedule. She adds that many people are shocked to learn how much impact they can have, even if they can donate just a couple of hours of time each month.

You will be able to hear about many of the available opportunities in the area when the United Way of Door County hosts its volunteer fair at the Door County Gala next Tuesday. The event will feature two sessions: 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.