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Welcome to Volunteer Gwinnett News, a quarterly newsletter to help you stay informed about volunteer opportunities, how to become a volunteer, and the work volunteers are doing in our community. Volunteers are an essential part of Gwinnett County; their selfless contributions ensure projects get done, improve the community’s quality of life, build partnership bonds, save tax dollars, and keep us all vibrantly connected.
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2023 VOLUNTEER GWINNETT BY THE NUMBER
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Volunteer Gwinnett: Honoring Excellence
Our volunteer troops made an incredible impact in 2023, and we’re proud to report their impressive achievements. Through the collective efforts of local communities and government, volunteers contributed 1,036,769 hours, with 44,510 individuals participating in 9,961 service opportunities, projects, and volunteer events. The economic value? A staggering $32,968,936 in savings for Gwinnett taxpayers. We extend our heartfelt appreciation for your outstanding contributions and ongoing support as we look forward to another great year in 2024.
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Gwinnett Serves: Extending Reach
In 2023, our Gwinnett Serves program welcomed 21 new community partners into its ever-expanding network of nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and civic groups. Last year, Volunteer Gwinnett facilitated 2,835 volunteer hours to benefit these qualifying organizations. For our Great Days of Service event in October, Gwinnett Serves orchestrated 77 volunteer projects and collection drives – all in a single weekend – and was awarded the 2023 National Association of Volunteer Programs in Local Government Rising to Excellence Award for this annual campaign.
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Employee Volunteers: Promoting Wellness
Gwinnett County employees stepped up to the plate in 2023, sparked by a new wellness incentive program that included multiple volunteer opportunities through Volunteer Gwinnett. Our employees mentored 2,125 sixth- and eighth-grade students at Junior Achievement Discovery Center Gwinnett, the Lawrenceville campus of Junior Achievement of Georgia, and they showed up in droves to support our Mobile Food Security program. With 24 dedicated volunteer events, employee engagement soared throughout the year. Thank you for going the extra mile! We are grateful for the work you’ve done and the time you’ve given. We encourage you to continue making a difference. Explore upcoming volunteer opportunities at VolunteerGwinnett.net or email VolunteerGwinnett@GwinnettCounty.com.
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Gwinnett celebrates National Volunteer Week
To kick off National Volunteer Week, the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners recognized Volunteer Gwinnett’s dedicated community volunteers with the annual Volunteer Appreciation Proclamation! Keep the celebration going and join us on Sunday, April 21 through Saturday, April 27 for a series of volunteer opportunities. Visit VolunteerGwinnett.net to register today!
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Help residents recycle on Earth Day
Join Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful and Gwinnett Solid Waste Management on Saturday, April 27 for the annual Earth Day recycling event. From 9:00am to noon, residents will drop off hard-to-recycle items, such as electronics, latex and oil-based paints, clothing, paper, and tires. Volunteers are needed to direct traffic, unload vehicles, break down boxes, and more.
This opportunity is perfect for volunteer groups and teen volunteers aged 16 and older. To register, call 770.822.7141 or visit VolunteerGwinnett.net. Coolray Field is located at 2500 Buford Drive in Lawrenceville.
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Promote health and wellness in Gwinnett
Highlighting Mental Health Awareness Month, Live Healthy Gwinnett is seeking volunteers for the Community Health Fair on Saturday, May 11 at George Pierce Park in Suwanee. Volunteers are needed to assist with event setup and reset across two dates and various shifts.
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Deliver meals to seniors
Become a volunteer driver for the Home-Delivered Meals program! Our volunteer drivers provide essential support by delivering meals directly to homebound clients.
Volunteers must be at least 18 years old, have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation, and be capable of meeting the physical demands of the role, including standing, lifting five-to-ten-pound bags of food items, and climbing steps or flights of stairs. To learn more about meal delivery or other volunteer opportunities with Health and Human Services, visit VolunteerGwinnett.net or email HHSVolunteers@GwinnettCounty.com.
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Enhance Gwinnett Citizen Fire Academy Alumni Association’s website
The Gwinnett Citizen Fire Academy Alumni Association is seeking volunteers to upkeep GwinnettCFA.org! Volunteers will audit and improve the current website, produce social media content, and more to engage residents.
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Liaison Spotlight – Garret Dufty
Garret Dufty, the Outreach Specialist at Gwinnett Water Resources, is dedicated to coordinating volunteer events and educating the community on waterway conservation. With a political science background from the University of North Georgia, his passion for conservation grew during his AmeriCorps service with the Mills River Partnership in North Carolina. Garret’s favorite volunteer experiences are managing invasive plant species to support local wildlife.
When he’s not advocating for water conservation or battling invasive plants, Garret enjoys family hikes, gardening, and woodworking. Certified as a Master Herpetologist, Georgia Master Naturalist, and Georgia Adopt-A-Stream Trainer, Garret shares his knowledge and enthusiasm for nature with everyone he meets.
Apart from ongoing volunteer opportunities with Gwinnett Water Resources, Garret invites you to join the department for the annual Water Wonders Spring Festival on Saturday, April 27 at Shoal Creek Filter Plant in Buford, featuring a day of fun-filled activities and facility tours.
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