Wimberley Volunteer N.O.W.

Doug McLean's Wimberley Volunteer N.O.W. links 60 local nonprofits with 400 volunteers, which makes it easier for neighbors to find ways to help and for groups to fill their volunteer shifts.

COMMUNITYWTW FW26

9/25/20263 min read

By Bonnie Eissler

Wimberley is a community of volunteers, with a deep-rooted culture of “neighbors helping neighbors” and a long history of pulling together during fires, floods, winter storms and other crises.

Major natural disasters challenge first responders, city workers and volunteer groups physically and emotionally in unimaginably difficult circumstances; however, most volunteer work is considerably less intense. Volunteers generally support daily needs such as food security and housing, and they provide enrichment and encouragement to those who need these most.

A network of nonprofits, civic groups and other public-spirited residents serve their community in many ways, including weekly nutritious food distributions, free income tax preparation and assistance, mentoring youth, building affordable homes, conserving natural areas for learning and recreation, assisting special-needs and disabled individuals, fostering rescue pets, and reading to children at public libraries.

With so many nonprofits active in Wimberley, there needed to be a better way to connect with volunteer opportunities and for nonprofits to connect with each other. Doug McLean, whose nonprofit Mini Equine 2 U provides therapy with miniature donkeys and horses, recognized the need for better communication. He says, “All nonprofits have similar challenges — they need extra volunteers from outside their membership for a large event, technical expertise, the right software, access to a volunteer database and a way to get the word out about events.”

With Doug’s background in technology and experience building websites, he set up a database that includes 60 nonprofits and 400 volunteers, creating the coalition of local Nonprofits Of Wimberley (N.O.W.) that connects community members with volunteer opportunities and makes it easy for nonprofits to find extra volunteers when they need them.

Members of the different nonprofits meet on the fourth Monday of each month at Barnabas. “It’s very casual. There’s no board,” he says. “It’s just another way to connect. We usually have about 30 people.”

Wimberley Volunteer N.O.W. grew out of Doug’s experience as volunteer manager for Wimberley Market Days with the Wimberley Lions Club, where he served as president from 2024 to 2025. “I saw that a third of the volunteers were not Lions members,” he says. “It was a challenge to communicate with 150 to 160 people to fill 20 jobs and multiple shifts.”

The database for the Lions, with 500 volunteers now, was set up before the one for nonprofit volunteers. “We maintain a list of people who want to volunteer for Market Days. Most work the same shift every time, but there are usually 10 to 15 extra spots.”

Sometimes volunteers are needed for large events, other times just a few people are needed. For example, the AARP needed three volunteers as tax season counselors. Doug says, “I sent the request out and in 30 minutes, three people reached out to volunteer.”

Another large event that requires coordinating volunteers is the annual Wimberley Community Thanksgiving Dinner. This is the third year that Doug will be involved. “It’s a traditional turkey and all the trimmings dinner on Thanksgiving Day, and it’s been going on for 35 years. Last year, they served more than 1,000 people.”

For last year’s dinner, more than 100 volunteers were needed for different jobs, from cooks and cleanup crews to drivers and greeters, on different days. After the event and job descriptions were listed, every shift was filled in just seven days.

Save the date for a special event, in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce, to learn more about the many nonprofits in Wimberley. There will be an open house from 10 am to 2 pm February 27, 2027, at Wimberley Community Center. There is important volunteer work for anyone, from teens to retirees, who wants to be involved, and the benefits are enormous. Community needs are met, and the helpers, the volunteers themselves, experience greater happiness and deep personal growth.

FYI • For more information about nonprofits in Wimberley, visit wimberleyvolunteernow.com and barnabasconnects.org.