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Last updated on August 11, 2008

FirstLINK Volunteer Center's mission is to be the first point of contact, linking individuals, families, youth, adults and groups with various volunteer opportunities in Cass and Clay Counties and the surrounding area.

We connect people with opportunities to serve.

We promote volunteering in the Grand Forks area and beyond.
We work with nonprofit agencies, local and regional businesses, schools, colleges, communities of faith and the community at-large to build capacity for effective volunteering.

Description:
When you hear the name FirstLINK, remember that we are exactly what our name says. Our mission and our vision is to be the first link, linking people and resources, 24 hours a day in Cass County, North Dakota, Clay County, Minnesota and the surrounding area.
The name of our web site affirms this relationship. Our goal is that youth, families, adults, churches, service organizations, businesses and other helping agencies will come to say...MY FIRST LINK TO MY COMMUNITY IS www.myFirstLink.org

Whether in need of information, a listening ear, or crisis assistance... or whether you want to offer resources to the community through our Volunteer Center; FirstLINK is here for you and our community. Together we are linked and together we are building a stronger and caring community that is committed to a better quality of life for all.

History:
More than these most recognized and longest running programs, FirstLINK over the years has worked to be responsive to community needs with other programs, services and short term projects. Tens of thousands of volunteer hours were coordinated through FirstLINK during the floods of 1997, 2000, and 2001. Now in its 35th year, FirstLINK is also the home of the Experienced Parent Project designed to link and assist those families with children ages 1-3 who are challenged by disabilities. In recent years, FirstLINK in partnership with RV CSCC has produced the Youth Yellow Pages providing school districts and their students with a directory of information and some guidance on many of the issues faced by teenagers today. Over these same years the HotLine expanded its ability to provide community information by providing Directories and other listings made available to individuals and organizations. Last but not least, through the HotLine we became aware of a growing and unmet need for those who were suicidal or those who were concerned for friends and loved ones whom they feared were suicidal. To that end we began the Suicide Link 232-HELP, a Survivors of Suicide support group, and work with schools and others by providing workshops on suicide awareness and prevention workshops.
Over the course of these years our organization structure has evolved to best meet the changing needs within our community.
1984 - Volunteers for Community Services and HotLine, Inc. merged into United Way of Cass_Clay and became the Community Resources Division of United Way.
1991 - United Way's Community Resources Division became a nonprofit subsidiary of United Way called Community Resources Inc.
1994 - On December 31, United Way of Cass-Clay and Community Resources, Inc. dissolved their parent/subsidiary relationship.
1999 - In November, Community Resources, Inc. changed its name to FirstLINK, Inc. affirming out commitment to being the "first link", linking people and resources...24 hours a day.

Contact person: Kurtis Shelton, Program Coordinator, (701) 746-5463, (email)
Office fax number: (701) 775-0672

Address:

1407 24th Ave S # 400 Grand Forks, ND 58201 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.myfirstlink.org

Directions:

We are located right behind Subway/TCBY off of S. Washington Street. It is Door E of the large brown brick building.

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