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FA junior launches teen volunteerism Web site

When Falmouth Academy student Margot Wilsterman ’11 began looking for meaningful volunteer opportunities last year, she was a bit overwhelmed. Cape Cod is home to more than 1,000 nonprofit organizations. At first she thought she could contact organizations individually, but then had an idea about how more people might benefit from her research. The result: Capecodteenvolunteers.com. 

Cape Cod Teen Volunteers is a Web site that serves two very important needs: it offers young people a clearinghouse of volunteer opportunities, and gives nonprofits a valuable resource for recruiting helpers. From jobs at Alzheimer’s services to the YMCA, there are ample ways for teens to make a difference while gaining valuable experience. It was nearly a year from idea to Internet, but well worth the effort, Margot said.

“I started out looking for a way to volunteer, but didn’t really know what to do,” said Margot, who serves as FA’s Student Council vice president. “I wasn’t sure how many organizations would need help from teens.”

Margot started by contacting several organizations individually, but when WCAI forwarded her email to the Cape Cod Foundation, the project really started to catch fire. Vice President Lisa McNeill sent an email on Margot’s behalf to some 500 nonprofits, asking them to contact Margot with information on volunteerism. With the help Katherine Spencer Joyce and Nancy Bennett, Margot oversaw the construction of the site, which she unveiled this week at FA’s All-School Meeting.

Her next step is to publicize the site. She hopes to deploy an army of teen spokespeople to send the message.

“One way to volunteer is to help other volunteers find the right place to help,” she explained. “Matching people to organizations is the first important step.”

Margot is the daughter of Dr. Robert and Connie Wilsterman of Falmouth. Her sister Greta is a freshman at FA.