About two months ago, Stacey Carlin and her friends were sitting on a back porch in Buchanan watching their children play when the discussion turned to the need for more young people to get involved in their community.

Inspired by the number of local groups that have served the community for generations, the friends developed a solution: forming a service organization that could connect those in need with those wanting to help the Buchanan community.

Aptly named “The Link,” the group is the newest group in Buchanan geared toward reaching a younger population. Those involved will be “linked” with an organization in need. Additionally, The Link will also offer networking opportunities, free leadership training and workshops and social media and marketing avenues for groups to get their information out.

“Our goal is to take the example and the leadership that we grew up with seeing our teachers and grandparents [do] and essentially allow them to pass the torch to us and then our children,” Carlin said. “So, linking up the generations before us to the future and making sure that legacy of community service continues.”

The service organization officially launched last Wednesday and currently has around 50 participants. More than a dozen members serve on the executive committee and help to manage the group’s operations. The executive committee meets once a month to discuss progress at the Michigan Gateway Community Foundation office, which will serve as the base for meetings.

While members do not have to be a Generation X-er or millennial, Carlin said they wanted to create a service organization with a more modern approach that could encourage a younger crowd to do their part in helping the community.

“We came at it from a different perspective,” Carlin said. “Instead of wanting to meet in a stale room with stale coffee, we wanted to make it more geared toward millennials and Generation Xers.”

Those who sign up to be participants are not required to attend regular meetings. Those who cannot attend meetings can get their information via Facebook or in a monthly email. This ensures that those with stringent schedules still have a way to participate.

There are also no dues or memberships required. Fundraisers and sponsorships will help to cover The Link’s costs and supply needs. Additionally, Carlin said the organization will offer seasonal networking mixers called “Link Ups,” where Link members can connect with each other and members of the community.

Carlin said Link member Vanessa Crescio is working to invite guest speakers to present on several occasions. Free leadership workshops presented by Michigan Gateway Community Foundation will also be available through the group and are targeted to start in October.

Carlin, 36, is a native of Buchanan. She has three children and works full-time as a realtor. Carlin also serves as secretary for the Buchanan Chamber of Commerce and on a floor hockey board, so she knows what it is like to have to juggle multiple priorities. That is why she said the group devised a campaign called “Just One Thing”, where those with a packed schedule can lend their services to a one-time event or project. Carlin cited, for example, helping the Little Bucks Bookmobile sort books or participating in a one-time event.

“People are who are youngish are super busy,” Carlin said. “They do not have time to volunteer for a [long time]. Our thought is if everyone in our group signs up for just one thing, how much better is our town going to be?”

Those interested in joining the organization can sign up at thelinkbuchanan.com. Participants do not have to be from Buchanan, but must be at least 21 years of age to participate. A list of groups looking for leaders and volunteers is listed on The Link website, along with a description of the group’s work and what they do. Anyone wanting to contact the group listed directly can do so through The Link’s website.

“Yes, we are marketing it towards the younger generation, but we call ourselves the middles,” Carlin said. “We are in the middle of our life, careers and raising families, but we want to seize the opportunities to really just become involved in our community.”

The executive committee includes:

• Kori Griffin

• Caryn DeFreeze

• Carre Deming

• Tara Young

• Amber Cornelius

• Brooke Plott

• Megan Weedon

• Jennifer Dickson

• Jennie Brackett

• Liz McGinnis

• Dustin Jankoviak

• Tracy Mast

• Vanessa Crescio

• Shannon Frame

• Stacey Carlin