Website matches donors, charities
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

Three children have a better chance of sleeping in a bed instead of their usual spot on the floor because of a new feature on United Way's volunteer website.

The "GiftMatch" link on VolunteerVenturaCounty.org links people who want to donate new or gently used items with local charities that need them. The public can post items to donate; charities can list their group's specific needs or those of the families they serve.

"We saw a need to connect the community with agency's needs," said Letitia Austin, spokeswoman for the United Way in Camarillo.

Before the feature was available, nonprofits such as Lutheran Social Services in Thousand Oaks had to turn down donations of furniture and the like because they didn't have a place to store them.

GiftMatch now allows program director Chris Poynter a wider audience to broadcast the needs of a family who has three children under the age of 9 who sleep on the floor because they have no bed.

"I personally really like the GiftMatch website . . . especially for us," Poynter said. "I'm really excited."

Poynter would have relied on a loyal but limited network of friends, family and past donors to find a bunk bed. Now she can expand the search via the Internet. The website fills a gap that had existed in connecting those in need with those willing to help, she said.

Another benefit of the GiftMatch feature is that it adds the human element. Poynter can post just enough information about the family who'll benefit from the bunk bed while preserving their anonymity.

"It's an investment" in people, Poynter said of the feature.

United Way launched the GiftMatch free service on its yearold volunteer website on Nov. 1. The website is located at www.volunteerventuracounty.org/ volunteer/, click on "GiftMatch.