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Care Forward asks Roanoke to expand volunteer urgent‑needs platform, says small fixes avert costly services
Summary
Care Forward asked Roanoke City Council on April 21 to approve a vendor contract expanding a volunteer platform that routes urgent needs reported by caseworkers to community volunteers, saying quick fixes avoid costly public services.
Natalie Handy, executive director of Care Forward, told Roanoke City Council on April 21 that the Roanoke‑based nonprofit’s volunteer platform has been meeting urgent needs for vulnerable residents during a beta with the city and Roanoke County, and she requested a vendor contract to expand the program into city departments.
Handy described Care Forward as a “public benefit corporation” that routes urgent requests from caseworkers — items or services that, if not met in 7–10 days, risk negative health outcomes — to volunteers and partner organizations. In a five‑month beta running from October 2024 through March 2025, the presenter said the platform fulfilled most requests within 48 hours and that volunteer time, talent and resources contributed roughly $16,000 in direct value.
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