WHO WE ARE
We are ordinary people with willing hearts who desire to build community and give back through hands-on volunteering. We plan the work, you show up! No strings attached. We are not professionals. However, we can provide manpower to most projects not requiring skilled labor. We work hard and we laugh hard, and do our best to show some love to the folks we meet.
WHAT WE DO
We coordinate opportunities for people to volunteer in the community. We do the work to find the needs and organize the effort, and you show up to help. It’s that easy!
- We assist with projects for other Non-Profits who are doing good work.
- We coordinate with local Social Service and Non-Profit agencies to respond to special requests for people in need.
- We support community events with volunteer manpower, and occasionally host our own events.
Our work varies. Some events are physical work and some are not. Regardless, there are often non-physical ways to participate. Please reach out so we can do our best to accommodate you.
We are an inclusive group. Without exception, we offer and expect respect for all races, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, gender or gender expression, and of all the things that too often divide us. Come and give back to others with love in your heart and respect for all.
ALL VOLUNTEERING IS PERFORMED AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Common Ground Volunteers will not be held liable for any injury or damages sustained by participants. All participants must register through the VOLUNTEER link on this site.
PLEASE NOTE - CGV OPERATES IN THE AREAS OF: ***Phoenixville, Royersford, Spring City, Limerick, Collegeville, Pottstown, PA, ONLY..***
Common Ground Volunteers is a 501(c)(3) Non Profit Corporation. All donations are tax deductible.
Click the CONTACT link to Request our Help
Click the VOLUNTEER NOW button to register as a Volunteer and have access to our events
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Laurie Smith
Founder, Director
Laurie started Non Profit, Common Ground Youth in 2008 in an effort to offer unique and diverse volunteer opportunities for teens and young adults. As a group, we facilitated 12 years of annual mission trips, mini trips for disaster relief, and countless work hours of local service to the community. After watching many of our returning members grow into adulthood and not want to leave us, we began to see an evolving vision for our work that could welcome everyone. In late 2019, Laurie launched a new Non-Profit, Common Ground Volunteers (CGV), with similar bones and goals, and a wider reach. Laurie serves as a CGV Event Leader and Program Director, creating cooperative connections with other Non-Profits and Social Service agencies, to identify local opportunities to help people in need.
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Elizabeth Furman
Board Treasurer, Event Leader
Lizz joined Common Ground Youth as a teen in 2009 and continued into leadership while in college. She’s been a core leader since that time, and helped bring the vision of CGV to reality. Lizz contributes a great deal of our behind the scenes work, and our ongoing connections with our clients. Lizz is currently a CGV Event Leader and Board Treasurer.
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Jennifer Elliott
Board Secretary, Event Leader
Jen became a member of Common Ground Youth as a teen, beginning in 2008. She eagerly stepped into leadership with us while in college, and quickly got involved in all that we do. Jen was a key contributor to the creation of CGV in 2019, and of our ongoing works. Jen is currently a CGV Event Leader and Board Secretary.
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Jamie Stanek
Event Leader
Jamie joined Common Ground Youth as a leader in 2010, and continues to serve as an Event Leader for CGV. In addition to being a team member who always “shows up”, Jamie has been photo-documenting our work, for the last decade. The type of work we do with CGV simply isn’t possible without love, acceptance, a sense of humor, and a heart for service. Jamie brings it all, every time.
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Ardy Edgerton
Board Member at Large
Ardy jumped on board as a youth leader for Common Ground Youth in 2009 and has been a bright light in leadership since that time. As a Board Member for CGV, Ardy brings unique perspective and healthy balance to our team ambitions, and helps us to see a bigger vision for our work.
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Phillip Poole
Board Member at Large
Phillip started as a youth leader with Common Ground Youth in 2009 and quickly became a core, sustaining force in our volunteer work, from workdays to mission trips, for over a decade. Currently, Phillip lends his wisdom and vision to our direction, as a Board Member for CGV.
***PLEASE REVIEW THIS POLICY AND SELF-SCREEN BEFORE ARRIVING TO VOLUNTEER.***
Within the limits of a small Non-Profit organization, it is our utmost priority to safeguard the health of our volunteers, our families, the clients we serve, and our partner group members. In doing so, we are committed to doing our part to help prevent the spread of illness including the COVID virus and other transmissible illnesses. Many members of our team have high risk conditions or loved ones at home to protect.
As an organization, we will follow any current recommended protocol as outlined by the CDC and relevant local authorities and experts, and we will always lean toward caution. However, it is the responsibility of each volunteer to ensure their own safety by following all recommended protocol.
What this means for CGV volunteers:
- WE ENCOURAGE ALL VOLUNTEERS TO GET VACCINATED, including annual boosters for COVID and the Flu.
- Especially during cold and flu season, most group work will be outdoors, as the weather and the event needs allow.
- When is it recommended, we require the proper use of face masks, covering nose and mouth, for ALL volunteers, including when requested by our hosts. If a client requests that we wear masks, we will wear masks. We kindly ask that you come willing to be flexible, as we will not engage in any debate on the matter.
- Volunteers will SELF SCREEN for COVID symptoms and/or exposure, and other transmissible illnesses before showing up to volunteer. When in doubt, PLEASE STAY AT HOME.
- As always, we invite everyone to work at their own comfort level. As there are often a multitude of tasks to be done on any given work project, we encourage you to communicate with us regarding any specific needs, limitations, or concerns you may have, during any volunteer project. All volunteers are encouraged to stay hydrated and take breaks as needed.
We expect everyone to respect and support the needs of all of our members, clients, and partner groups. WE ARE A TEAM.
Updated NOV 2023