Every summer, the Cape Fear Region welcomes groups of voluntourists – travelers who use their time off to volunteer service to others. With a little down time, they also get to enjoy the activities and beauty the area has to offer.

Suzanna McLeod, development coordinator of the local nonprofit WARM, said voluntourists working with the group often coordinate trips through an organization called Team Effort. Volunteers come for a week at a time, and they line up projects in the area several months in advance. Some are church groups of teens with adult leaders, but some teams are all adults.

They have time in the evenings and one full day of their stay to explore the area.

“WARM does urgent, safety-related repairs and upgrades in New Hanover, Pender and Brunswick counties,” McLeod said. The budget is for no more than $5,000 per project, all from donated funds.

“We have an abundance of volunteers. People really like to work with us, and sometimes the demand is so great we have to turn people away.”

“We’ve grown the voluntourism business over the last five to six years,” said JC Skane, executive director of WARM.

The organization hired a second construction manager and now both work full schedules.
While overseas areas see a number of voluntourists – South America, East Africa and India/South Asia were the most popular destinations, according to one travel trade group survey – groups also discover the local options through the Internet
or word of mouth.

Visiting volunteers come from all over the country, and while many come during the summer, others book trips throughout the year.

“Voluntourists spend money here, adding to the economic impact,” Skane said. “And who knows what seeds are planted. Maybe they will return with family or friends.”