Matchmaker, Matchmaker!

By Lisa Fikes, Director of Volunteer Arlington

“Matching” is everywhere! Whether singing the infamous song from “Fiddler on the Roof”, logging into “Match.com”, or driving your kids to the daily soccer match, we hear this word a lot in our culture. It is interesting to me that in the references just mentioned, the word can be used to suggest either connection or competition.

At Volunteer Arlington, we are in the matchmaking business. We hope to connect individuals, groups, and businesses with local nonprofit and county volunteer opportunities. Any competition we experience is with ourselves! What can we do to increase the level of volunteerism on a daily basis? We ask ourselves that question every day, and we invite you to share your thoughts with us as well.

Let’s also remember the last use of the word “match” – that slender piece of wood, that when ignited, produces fire. And, from that fire, comes light. (At this point, let me reassure our Fire Chief that I am not a pyromaniac and use all precautionary measures when dealing with fire!)

In the ideal volunteer world, we use all three uses of this word.

• Connecting our gifts and talents to serve the needs of our community
• Competing with the multitude of reasons, and sometimes excuses, why we are not making time to give to others, and make it a priority in our life. If we do, it certainly comes with an amazing prize!
• And, lastly, igniting that figurative fire in ourselves and in our neighborhood that brings light to those who need it the most.

If you haven’t already, I invite you to join us at VolunteerArlington.org. There, you can sign up for local volunteer opportunities on the spot! Or, if you would like to take it a step further, fill out a volunteer profile, listing your areas of interest and skills, and you will receive weekly updates with - dare I say it – your matches!