A few days left to make nominations for IGNITE Volunteer Awards

The nonprofit organization Hands On Birmingham is accepting nominations for a few more days for its third annual IGNITE Volunteer Awards.

The deadline is this Friday, Jan. 18.

Created by Hands On Birmingham in conjunction with United Way of Central Alabama, the awards recognize outstanding volunteers and service leaders in Jefferson, St. Clair, Walker, Shelby and Blount counties.

The mission of Hands On Birmingham is to help connect volunteers with nearly 200 schools and nonprofits in that five-county area.

Nominations are being accepted in the following categories: Hands on Birmingham Volunteer of the Year, Corporate/Company Volunteer of the Year, Community Volunteer of the Year, Government Volunteer of the Year, Nonprofit Volunteer of the Year, Student Volunteer of the Year, Small Business Volunteer of the Year and Faith-Based Volunteer of the Year.

The IGNITE awards are a way to honor the many unsung, dedicated citizens who do valuable work in the community and to attract more people to become volunteers, according to organizers.

"We created IGNITE to be a platform to not only recognize the folks who make a difference, but to educate the public on the importance of volunteerism and how it affects the well-being of everyday life," said Hands On Birmingham Director Benga Harrison in a news release.

IGNITE has recognized over 100 of these volunteers over the first two years of the awards, and more than 600 people have attended the award ceremonies, according to the news release.

Volunteering is a way for people to fill an important personal need, according to Harrison.

“I think people are thirsty for connection, a sense of community and a sense of purpose greater than just doing a job,” Harrison told Iron City Ink in 2018.

Nominations have been open since Oct. 1.

The IGNITE Volunteer Awards Ceremony is to be held at The Club in Birmingham on April 10.

For registration and nomination forms, visit uwca.org/ignite.