There’s much more to volunteering than cleaning up ditches or sitting in on board meetings, and the Chester County Commissioners last week launched a new website to provide a glimpse into the many areas where local communities could use a hand.

From tutors of computer skills to tax preparers, foster pet families, weather observers, volunteers are involved in making things happen for their neighbors — and saving taxpayers more than $1 million each year.

The new Volunteer Chesco web page makes it easier for prospective volunteers to plug into an area of need for Chester County’s diverse departments.

Serving the community can also benefit volunteers in unexpected ways. In a study published by United Health Group, 76 percent of those surveyed said volunteering made them feel healthier.

Appropriately, the online resource was debuted by proclamation of the Commissioners for Volunteer Appreciation Week.

A small sampling of specific volunteer opportunities available as of the website launch ranged from clerical and administrative roles to tutoring for basic computer skills; tasks at the Chester County and Henrietta Hankin libraries; internships with Adult Probation, the Health Department and Human Services departments; insurance and tax counseling for the Office of Aging Services; animal rescue through the Department of Emergency Services; and the observation and recording of rainfall for the Chester County Water Resources Authority.

Check out the full list of volunteer opportunities and register your interest on Volunteer Chesco here.

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Top photo credit: 75th Anniversary Volunteers via photopin (license)