Overview
Elevate, a nonprofit serving the greater Perham, Minnesota community, has built one of Helper Helper’s most inspiring models: a community-wide volunteer ecosystem where multiple nonprofits share one unified platform.
Elevate is an grant funded organization through the Perham Hospital to help all adults age well, regardless of background, ability, or circumstance. Their program addresses the unique needs of adults in Perham, promoting intentional action to live well.
Through partnerships with local organizations, Elevate connects residents to resources and opportunities to improve physical, mental, and social health. From eating well and staying active to understanding Medicare, we help optimize health for all.
Since September 2022, Elevate’s network has logged 20,000+ volunteer hours through Helper Helper—an extraordinary example of what’s possible when a group streamlines volunteer engagement across a city and removes barriers to getting involved.
While most Helper Helper clients represent a single organization, Elevate proved that when an entire community adopts a shared volunteer system, participation increases, organizations collaborate more easily, and residents feel more connected to one another.
The Challenge
Before Helper Helper, volunteer coordination in Perham was fragmented:
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The hospital used one system – Volgistics
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Some organizations used SignUpGenius
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Some used paper forms
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Others had no system at all
Volunteers were confused. Nonprofits were overextended. And Elevate—tasked with supporting older adults through connection and purpose—needed a way to make it easier for people to serve, not harder.
They needed:
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One central location for community-wide volunteer opportunities
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A flexible system that supported casual and committed volunteers
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Accurate reporting to meet grant requirements
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A shared platform multiple nonprofits could access independently
Helper Helper became the solution that made all of this possible.
Why Elevate Chose Helper Helper
When Elevate launched, they didn’t even have their own volunteer program yet—they simply wanted residents to find existing opportunities more easily. They knew they needed a single destination for volunteer discovery.
After evaluating several systems, Helper Helper stood out immediately because it allowed:
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Multiple nonprofits to have their own admin access allowing them to post private events
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A mix of public and team-restricted opportunities so you could limit opportunities to those with background checks or other requirements/trainings
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Volunteers to browse opportunities from many organizations in one place
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Automated communication and reminders
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Immediate, export-ready reporting for grants
The platform was intuitive, flexible, and community-centered. The technology is invisible to residents—what they feel is belonging, value, and purpose.
“Behind every ride given, meal served, or event supported, there’s a touch of Helper Helper quietly making connection possible.”
Impact at a Glance
✔️ 20,000+ hours logged since 2022
An enormous accomplishment for a rural region, representing rides given, meals delivered, events staffed, and countless moments of care.
✔️ Community-Wide Adoption
Churches, schools, Elevate, the hospital, senior living facilities, and nonprofits all share the same system.
✔️ Less Admin Work, More Mission Work
Automated reminders, cancellations, and communications save staff hours every week.
✔️ Increased Volunteer Cross-Pollination
Volunteers discover new nonprofits, new needs, and new ways to serve.
✔️ Grant-Ready Reporting Anytime
“Being grant funded, we have to track everything,” Elevate shared. “Having this all in the app is incredibly helpful.”
Real Impact: Faster Responses, Greater Coverage, Stronger Connections
Since centralizing volunteer activity in Helper Helper, Elevate has seen a dramatic improvement in how quickly and reliably volunteer needs are met.
Faster Fill Rates
When a need arises, Elevate sends one quick message through Helper Helper and instantly reaches the right volunteers. They consistently see volunteers signing up within minutes.
More Reliable Coverage
Automated reminders mean nonprofits no longer chase volunteers with phone calls, emails, or texts. Attendance is stronger and more predictable.
Better Community Insight
With everything in one place, Elevate can see volunteer trends, high-demand programs, and where more support is needed. Volunteers can see it too—making it easier to step up.
A Stronger Community Fabric
As volunteers begin serving in new places—schools, food pantries, libraries, the hospital—relationships form that ripple outward through the community.
Volunteer Stories That Show the Difference
The human impact behind the numbers is what makes Perham’s model exceptional. Elevate shared stories that illustrate how Helper Helper strengthens connection:
A young girl in the ER found comfort
A volunteer saw a Helper Helper request from the hospital asking for someone to sit with a child who would be in the ER for a long stay. A volunteer signed up immediately—then continued visiting daily, playing games, and even bringing their dog for walks together.
Friendships formed in transit
Elevate’s volunteer-driven van service—scheduled entirely through Helper Helper—has led to deep, lasting friendships between drivers and riders.
Volunteers catching medical emergencies
During routine blood pressure checks, volunteers have identified urgent medical issues in the moment, prompting hospital care.
Expanded rural meal delivery
Because volunteers are easier to schedule and support, the meal program expanded beyond town into rural areas.
A volunteer-led lunch program
An entire lunch operation is now supported by volunteers coordinated through Helper Helper.
A community choir was born
People met through volunteer opportunities and ended up forming a choir—another ripple of connection made possible through service.
These stories show what Elevate means when they say:
“Very little happens at Elevate without volunteers.”
A Model Other Communities Can Follow
Elevate’s success illustrates what can happen when a community embraces a shared volunteer platform:
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Nonprofits collaborate instead of compete
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Volunteers discover new passions
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Programs expand faster and further
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Administrative burdens shrink
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A culture of service grows organically
Their advice to other communities:
“Persistence is key. You have to keep encouraging usage and show organizations a few volunteer wins. Once they see those wins—it clicks.”
And if they had to summarize the impact?
“The simplicity of seeing everything in one spot is the biggest difference.”