The Oceanside Volunteer Association is closing its doors permanently at the end of the year.
The organization’s format of connecting people to volunteer opportunities no longer works, according to Georgii March, program administrator.
She said fewer people use the association to find volunteer opportunities — likely because they can go directly to an organization’s website to sign up.
“Very often people registered for volunteering and were referred to organizations, but they didn’t follow through,” said March.
COVID-19 resulted in few chances to volunteer during the summer and in the fall the association’s board voted unanimously to dissolve. “COVID was the final nail in the coffin,” she said.
March said she is hopeful there might be community interest in redefining the program and moving forward with a more effective platform. Federal government rules mean the program cannot be changed, but would need to be dissolved and funding for a new initiate would need to be applied for.
The association is mostly volunteer based, but does have one part-time employee.
“We’re really very sorry to go and it’s just time,” said March, adding the association had enjoyed community support over the years.
