History August 1993 The Lake County Board of County Commissioners established VolunteerLAKE as an internal program to coordinate volunteer services within County departments.
April 1998 The Commissioners expanded our program's role to include new initiatives to promote volunteerism through most of the Lake County constitutional offices. The Commissioners also gave VolunteerLAKE primary responsibility for the Lake County Emergency Operations Center, Emergency Support Function 15.
May 2002 Our program's role expanded again to include the core competencies of a volunteer center, thereby helping the citizenry and a myriad of nonprofits, local clubs, churches, government organizations and businesses to mobilize volunteers and resources to continue to deliver creative solutions to community challenges by offering additional programs and services.
August 2006 As part of the transformation into a Volunteer Center, our name was formally changed to VolunteerLAKE. As a Volunteer Center, responsibilities again expanded. We are now a key resource for volunteer involvement in the community, providing a variety of functions, including bringing people and community needs together through a wide range of programs and services based on community needs, demographic area, population size and other factors.
2007 VolunteerLAKE was awarded three AmeriCorps VISTA members. Two help in Homeland Security/Emergency and Disaster as well as empower faith-based and grassroots organizations. The other VISTA member assists in volunteer-based community leadership projects, capacity building and rural initiatives. Target populations include low income, seniors, rural and ESL citizens. There are numerous hands-on programs to assist citizens interested in improving Lake County. VISTA members don’t perform direct services. Replication and sustainability are key elements in the indirect services that VISTA members provide.
January 2008 VolunteerLAKE launched 1-800-Volunteer.org volunteer services. This national, full-cycle, volunteer management tool, through its customized, branded website, helps organizations manage every aspect of the volunteer process from recruitment to reporting, and helps volunteers find just the right volunteer service they want to provide.
