Minnesota nonprofits face volunteer shortage as COVID-19 cases rise and holidays near

Nov 10, 20200

ELIZABETH FLORES – Star Tribune count

Volunteers Russell Calloway, left, Janie Rogers, center, and Erin Que packed food at a Salvation Army food distribution event at its Citadel service center in St. Paul last week. Some officials cite volunteer fatigue.

With coronavirus cases rising, some Minnesota nonprofits are facing an urgent shortage of volunteers just as crucial holiday fundraisers loom - from toy drives to the Salvation Army's bell ringers.

At the start of the pandemic, some nonprofits actually reported a surge in the number of Minnesotans who wanted to help, especially those volunteering for the first time.

But now, the worsening outbreak may be deterring volunteers who are tapped out by nonprofits' increasing calls for help, especially as food shelves see unprecedented demand for aid. Nonprofits also rely on more older adults who may be more vulnerable to coronavirus complications.

https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-nonprofits-face-volunteer-shortage-as-covid-19-cases-rise-and-holidays-near/573022921/