The population in the rural areas of Mionica municipality is mainly old, and the lockdown brought them many challenges by requirements to spend more time at home and lack of contact with family members.

Due to a lack of younger people in the surroundings to help them to buy necessary household supplies, old people in Mionica municipality lack access to the necessary services and products during the pandemic. Moreover, elderly people in the municipality of Mionica faced challenge to visit vaccination centers.

The municipality disseminated information among young people regarding its idea to establish volunteering center and after receiving applications the selection process was started. The municipality selected volunteers based on the applications received, the main selection criteria was potential volunteer’s readiness to be actively involved in the activities planned by the municipality on the long term. The volunteers were equipped with the necessary knowledge, the city hall conducted thematic information and educational sessions with them to increase the knowledge and skills of young people. Currently the volunteering center is operated by more than 20 young people (volunteers) from Mionica municipality.

The volunteers visit all remotely situated houses in the municipality, asking old people about the problems and challenges they face due to the restrictions imposed and social distancing during COVID-19. After mapping the challenges elderly people face, volunteers find ways to support them. Local government is also actively involved in this process. Among others, the tasks of volunteers include going to green markets, drug stores, and supermarkets to do shopping for old people. Moreover, volunteers collect pensions for old people. In addition, volunteers support elderly people in vaccination by ensuring safe transportation of them to the vaccination centers.

The project could serve as an example to other cities, especially those who have challenges to manage crisis situations and are in need of external help. While establishing volunteering center it is crucially important the city to have a plan for responding community needs. It is recommended for cities who are aiming establishing volunteer Center to have a manager of the center who will organize, recruit and communicate with volunteers during the whole process. It is important the tasks of volunteers to be clearly communicated.