Talladay and some friends put up posters and had a wine and cheese reception at the Heritage House in Hyannis to launch Single Volunteers of Cape Cod, a community service cadre of men and women 21 or older who aren't in a committed relationship. "We thought: what if it's just us? Then 150 people showed up," she recalls.
Single Volunteers members pitch in, usually in teams of six or eight men and women of similar ages, to support nonprofit organizations across the Cape. They do anything from volunteering at triathalons and helping with the Oyster Festival for Cape and Islands United Way to washing dogs and cars at the MSPCA's Suds and Fuzz event; from ringing holiday bells for the Salvation Army to preparing bags for the American Heart Association's "Go Red for Women" luncheon. Even Single Volunteers' quarterly social events include a presentation from a local nonprofit.
"Having a bunch of organizations to pick and choose from, combined with meeting like-minded singles, appealed to me," says volunteer Natalie Davis, a media production coordinator who lives in Dennis. Davis happened to meet somebody special in the process. "I didn't necessarily expect it, but I was open to it," she says. "What better way to meet someone than when you're giving your time, effort, and enthusiasm?"
"If someone cares enough to provide volunteer work, it's a reflection on their character," Talladay says. Several members are actively dating. The group suggests people in relationships "let their conscience be their guide" about whether, and to what extent, they participate in Single Volunteers.
Many Single Volunteers are employed and don't have time to commit to regular volunteer work, so they've become specialists in staffing events like auctions. "I see us as striving to be the go-to organization if people need volunteers in addition to what they already have," says Davis. Talladay adds that Single Volunteers has done so many fundraising events that they can offer free, helpful advice about running events to nonprofit organizations.
Cape and Islands United Way President Richard Brothers raves about Single Volunteers' community impact. "We raised over $30,000 from the work they did stuffing envelopes. They pitched in, just buckled down, and stuffed," he says. He frequently sees Single Volunteers behind the scenes at charity functions around the Cape. "It's volunteerism, but its also one of the most professional volunteer outfits I know."
The organization has grown to 170 members and Talladay would like to have more people assume Single Volunteers leadership responsibilities. She would also like to balance the male-female ratio of the organization. "Women tend to join things more easily," she observes. However, Single Volunteers of Cape Cod is certainly filling a void by connecting community needs and providing social networks—between both men and women.