Our friend and volunteer, Heather Murphy, took the time to share her story with us. “​I heard about Volunteer Odyssey while I was in between jobs.  Volunteer Odyssey arranged for me to volunteer with several different organizations in Memphis. That alone was a wonderful experience! After my week of volunteering, Sarah began contacting me when she heard of job openings. I was so touched by this. As busy as she is, she kept me in mind and continued to support me in my job search. I’ll always be grateful for this.”

Heather says it feels so good to give back and encourages others to volunteer as well, “​Volunteering is a win-win. When I volunteer, it brings me so much joy and sense of purpose and accomplishment. Our community wins too. The more people who volunteer, the stronger our community becomes. Volunteering doesn’t have to take a lot of time and there is something for everyone. Check out VolunteerCompass on Volunteer Odyssey’s website and start volunteering today!”

Heather says Volunteer Odyssey is a necessity for the Memphis community, “​With so many non-profit organizations in Memphis, it can be overwhelming and time consuming to find an organization that offers the meaningful experiences a volunteer is looking for. Volunteer Odyssey offers ‘one stop shopp

ing’ for volunteers to easily see what opportunities are available and sign up with an organization or event of interest.  Non-profit organizations also benefit. Volunteer Odyssey helps organizations spread the word about volunteer needs and secure the resources needed to fulfill their mission.

Without Volunteer Odyssey, I imagine these smaller organizations would have a much harder time finding volunteers; without these organizations, our community suffers.

In addition to donating her time and talent, Heather also monetarily donates to Volunteer Odyssey, “I believe in the purpose and goals of Volunteer Odyssey.  They make it easier for volunteers to find a wide variety of nonprofits and volunteer events. Also, volunteerism increases, organizations benefit, and our community becomes stronger and healthier.”