Be The Change Challenge: Finding Belonging Through Volunteering
This blog was created by Sarah McCreadie in conjunction with the Content Marketing Practicum at Indiana University's Kelley School of Busines The City of Bloomington Volunteer Network (CBVN) has rolled out its most ambitious goal yet in the 2026 Be the Change Challenge, a volunteer campaign challenging everyone in the Bloomington community to log a collective 100,000 volunteer hours in 2026. The campaign was created with the overarching goal of highlighting volunteer opportunities in Bloomington and encouraging residents to "co-create your community," a core value of Mayor Kerry Thomson's administration. CBVN's Be The Change Challenge is the perfect way to reconnect with volunteerism and reinvigorate Bloomington's strong community service roots. Whether you are new to volunteering or ready to dive back in, the Be the Change Challenge is your opportunity to find your place in the hive and strengthen the Bloomington community alongside your neighbors. Volunteerism isn't just about giving back, it's about building relationships and finding a sense of belonging among people with common interests. As CBVN coordinator Aubrey Seader explained "I think for somebody who's new to Bloomington, doing something through a volunteer agency and getting that very consistent ability to connect to the community through something they care about is going to help them grow roots". Volunteering is not just an act of service, but a meaningful pathway to feeling at home in a new place. Many non-profits are navigating financial uncertainties. As Seader stated, "Right now in the world and in non profits, lots of organizations are looking at a decrease in their funding. The most precious thing to a lot of organizations is their staff time. Volunteers can be that person who steps in when staff schedules have to change or be cut back." Volunteers play a critical role in maintaining the philanthropic strength of an organization. When WFHB, a local community radio station, lost funding, a Bloomington volunteer stepped up to fill the gap, taking on staff-level responsibilities without pay because she believed in the importance of delivering local news. That sense of belonging and motivation to help can be found in many forms in Bloomington. CBVN is partnered with dozens of local organizations that offer unique volunteer opportunities, all motivated to enhance the health of the community. The Be the Change Challenge is a wonderful way to explore those vast opportunities and find one that aligns with you! The CBVN Be The Change 100,000 Volunteer Hours Challenge invites the community to complete an unprecedented 100,000 hours of volunteer service with local nonprofits and community groups between January 1 and December 31, 2026. Taking part in the Be the Change challenge is easy! Just follow these steps: Set up an account on the Bloomington Volunteer Network. Choose from hundreds of volunteer opportunities (both recurring and episodic). Whenever you complete a volunteer shift, use your Bloomington Volunteer Network account to log your hours. The organization, volunteer group, and top three individual volunteers who log the most hours in 2026 will be honored at the 2027 Be More Awards. The City of Bloomington Volunteer Network (CBVN), founded in 1980 and managed by the Community and Family Resources Department, seeks to build a strong, healthy and engaged community by connecting volunteers of all ages with opportunities to serve and by providing resources to volunteers and agencies in order to build creative and effective volunteer projects, programs and partnerships. Find out more about local volunteering opportunities with the City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, see how you can find your sense of belonging within our community here.The Be the Change Challenge: Co-Creating Community
Volunteerism: Finding Belonging & Purpose
100,000 Hours: Find Your Place in Bloomington's Volunteer Community
