From food banks to literacy to rebuilding homes in St. Bernard Parish, One Brick has organized groups of volunteers to contribute tens of thousands of hours of service to more than 500 organizations across the country since 2001.
“We create a flexible way for individuals to volunteer,” said Clive Charlwood, executive director.
One Brick’s “commitment-free volunteering” model focuses on the fun and social aspects of volunteering along with the needs of their partners, allowing individuals to try out volunteer opportunities in their communities without making a long-term commitment to any one organization.
One Brick has brought about 20 teams of volunteers to New Orleans to work with the St. Bernard Project on rebuilding homes in the parish. However, most of their work is centered in the seven cities in which they now have chapters.
In Chicago, volunteers have made a monthly event of “Sip ‘n’ Knit,” meeting at neighborhood pubs to knit blankets to donate to Warm Up America. In New York, One Brick teamed up with the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy to create a memorial garden of 400 chrysanthemums, dedicated to the victims of 9/11. And in San Francisco, where One Brick was founded, their volunteers have contributed more than 10,000 hours to the Food Bank since 2001, providing the equivalent of five full-time staff.
One Brick is itself run almost entirely by volunteers, with just one full time and two part time staff nationally. Local chapters are run by volunteers. The organization is now looking for local leaders to help launch a New Orleans chapter.
One Brick is bringing another group of volunteers to New Orleans in early May. A kick-off meeting for all interested is planned for Tuesday, May 4. For more information, please contact Clive Charlwood at clive@onebrick.org.
