The challenge faced by organizations that rely on volunteers is getting people to sign on, forcing many groups to change the way they attract those willing to lend a hand.

The pinch has been particularly pronounced since the pandemic.

Colin Corcoran of the Community Sector Council says life is busy and fewer people are offering their time to volunteer, but organizations are finding ways to adapt.

He says people are less likely to commit indefinitely to a specific schedule, but a flexible approach is proving far more successful for some groups.

For example, one organization might ask, “Hey, do you have an hour to spare? Now that you’re done, do you think you have another hour to help us deliver it?”

Corcoran says they then get to watch as a new volunteer experiences, for the very first time, that special feeling you can only get from being of service to others—and in that moment, you’ve created a lifelong volunteer.