Today Be A Neighbor Campaign released new data showing a nationwide shortage of 6.5 million volunteers and issued an urgent call-to-action to close the #VolunteerGap.

Hundreds of thousands of food pantries, shelters, employment agencies and other nonprofits form the safety net in communities across America, and they rely on over 70 million volunteers. As layoffs and furloughs surge, demand for services is escalating at the same time many potential volunteers are staying home, and shortages are hitting nonprofits hard. Many food banks are reaching crisis levels as over half of them rely entirely on volunteers.

A state-by-state break-down of the 6.5 million volunteer shortage is available at www.beaneighborcampaign.com/volunteergap. There, anyone can sign up to be a potential volunteer, and Be a Neighbor Campaign will match them to local nonprofits in need of help. Nonprofits may also freely use the Be A Neighbor platform to push their urgent projects and calls for assistance to the national bank of volunteers.

“Just as hospitals are the front-line for the healthcare crisis, food banks, shelters and other nonprofits are on the front-line of the economic crisis as COVID-19 puts unprecedented strain on every community,” said Rob Peabody, founder of Be a Neighbor Campaign. “Lines at food banks are growing. Calls to mental health hotlines are increasing. Beds at homeless shelters are filling. These needs cannot be met without millions of volunteers stepping up.”

“Volunteer shortages and staffing shortfalls are colliding with substantial increases in demand for services, throwing nonprofits already operating on tight budgets into a crisis,” said Scott Case, Chair, Network for Good DAF. “They’re on the frontlines helping those the pandemic is hitting hardest. They’re doing it safely, and they need us all to step up and help.”

For more information go to www.beaneighborcampaign.com/volunteergap and spread the word on social media with #VolunteerGap. Connect with Be A Neighbor on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beaneighborcampaign

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Be_a_Neighbor

Instagram: https://instagram.com/beaneighborcampaign