By her own admission, Renee Sanders might have seemed like an odd choice to replace Leslie Peel at the United Way of Lowndes County’s Volunteer Center Director.
Her association with United Way was limited, her only exposure to the organization coming when the agency visited Columbus Air Force Base during its enrollment campaigns, where Sanders worked as an instructor for the East Mississippi Community College branch on the base.
She had never served as a United Way volunteer and admitted that before she joined the organization a month ago, she was unaware of the broad range of organizations and projects that fall under the United Way’s wing.
But it is her experience in working at CAFB as well as her active role in volunteer efforts through her church that equips Sanders to expand the volunteer base on the organization.
On Wednesday, Sanders stood before the Exchange Club of Columbus and noted an obvious element she brings with her — her ability to connect with a group that has been, until now, underrepresented in the organization, the black community, whose volunteer efforts have, until now, been largely a function of the churches they attend.
Sanders knows the challenges organizations that rely on volunteers face. She has seen it in her church volunteer efforts where “20 percent of the people do 80 percent of the work and the faces never change,” she says.
Her mission taps into her strengths, and Sanders says that means broadening the volunteer base, keeping volunteers excited about the work they do and improving communication between organizations and potential volunteers.
In her time at CAFB, Sanders saw an enthusiasm for volunteer work that might seem to defy conventional wisdom — most of the people at CAFB are here for only a short time and could be forgiven if they had little interest in getting involved in the community. Yet over and over, she has seen just the opposite. Those stationed at CAFB are eager to participate in the community by volunteering.
Sanders attributes that to a culture of volunteerism that was established at CAFB long ago. She hopes to grow that culture in the broader community.
“I want people to feel excited about being a volunteer for Columbus,” she told her audience Wednesday. “I want them to feel like it’s an honor and a privilege to serve, not a burden or an obligation.”
Sanders wants to build the lines of communications between these organizations and what she hopes will become a larger, more diverse volunteer base.
Her message: The United Way has a wide range of volunteer opportunities. No matter your skills or interests or whether you are available to volunteer or a regular basis or just occasionally, there is a program for you. Volunteer
Sanders is determined make sure each resident is aware of the opportunities that allow each of us to make our community stronger, better.
All that is left is to answer that call to service. You can do that by calling Sanders at 328-0943 or via email at [email protected].
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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