Volunteer News:

Volunteer Newsletter SPECIAL DATES OF INTEREST March 15, 2007: Derby Duck Race April 13, 2007: Food Stock April 21, 2007: Kiwanis Walk for Charity, Valdosta Middle May 12, 2007: NALC Food Drive August 24, 2007: United Way Day of Caring October 27, 2007: Make a Difference Day BE A GREAT PLACE TO VOLUNTEER We’d like to share with you some tips on how to treat and retain quality volunteers. The Volunteer Services Department strives to make every volunteer’s experience a positive and rewarding experience. Volunteering should be a win-win situation for everyone involved: we receive crucial donated service hours and the volunteer receives the self-satisfaction of giving back to his/her community. Our goal is to have volunteers know that they have truly made a difference in our efforts to end hunger in our service area. *Be prepared - Gather any necessary supplies and clear a workspace in advance of your volunteers' arrival. Once they arrive, don't keep them waiting. If you expect punctuality, lead by example. *Make volunteers feel welcome - When you first meet your volunteers, offer a tour of the office or event area, make coffee or water available, and don't be afraid to show your enthusiasm. *Introduce volunteers to other staff members - Part of feeling comfortable in a new place means knowing a few names. Casually introduce your volunteers to co-workers and other volunteers before engaging them in their volunteer opportunity. *Set expectations - Be clear with your volunteers about what is expected of them. Tell them what you need accomplished and act as a resource should they have questions or concerns. *Train sufficiently - Your volunteers are excited to help out. Remember, they found you and want to contribute their time to your organization. Make sure they have the tools necessary to succeed. *Give them a purpose - Be realistic when assigning tasks to volunteers. No one wants to stand around because there isn't enough work to be done. If it looks like volunteers are idle, either send a few home, or think of a new project they can work on instead. *Be honest - Don't be afraid to tell your volunteers exactly what your organization needs. Create ground rules - Volunteers are eager to help, and while they aren't actual employees, they may still need to adhere to general organizational policies. Make sure you relate any important rules or guidelines before your volunteers get started. *Set time parameters for service - Most people have a busy schedule and volunteers are no exception. Let your volunteers know how long their help will be needed so they can plan their day accordingly. *Show Appreciation - Congratulate your volunteers on a job well done. Sometimes a simple gesture of thanks is sufficient. For volunteers who contribute their time consistently or have made a strong impact on your organization, consider giving them a card or plan a special appreciation event. 20 Reasons Why You Should Volunteer: 1. Help others 2. Make a difference 3. Find purpose 4. Enjoy a meaningful conversation 5. Connect with your community 6. Feel involved 7. Contribute to a cause that you care about 8. Use your skills in a productive way 9. Develop new skills 10. Meet new people 11. Explore new areas of interest 12. Work with friends 13. Impress your mom/boss/friends 14. Impress yourself 15. Expand your horizons 16. Get out of the house 17. Accomplish new goals 18. Strengthen your resume 19. Feel better about yourself 20. Be an example to others ANNUAL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNTIES Thank you for your interest in volunteering for America’s Second Harvest of South Georgia! We have many different ways for YOU to get involved. The Food Distribution Warehouse is our 45,000 sq. ft. facility where donated food and goods are collected and processed. Each year, over 8 million pounds of food which would otherwise have been destroyed is brought to the warehouse where it is processed properly. Volunteers are needed to sort, clean, inspect, and shelve these items so they can be distributed to the needy. We can also provide you with information and instructions on how to hold your own Food Drive. We can provide the boxes and flyers needed to assist you in this easy but important way to support the food bank. We will also pick up any food that is collected. It is extremely important to keep our food supplies well stocked, and we rely on the community to assist us by holding food drives. Special Events are projects throughout the year for which volunteers are especially instrumental. Volunteers are needed to assist in the following special events: *Azalea City Kiwanis Club Walk for Charity: Pledges and donations are collected for a variety of non-profit organizations including America’s Second Harvest of South Georgia. Saturday, April 21, 2007 at Valdosta Middle School. *Empty Bowls: A fundraiser for our Kids Cafe Program. A guest chef is invited to entertain our attendees and a light meal is served. Donated pottery is sold through a silent auction. The next Empty Bowls is still in the planning stages. *Postal Food Drive: The largest 1-day food drive gleaned over 105,000 pounds of food in 2006. The next NALC food drive will be Saturday, May 12, 2007. *National Hunger Awareness Day: The day the nation recognizes Hunger in America. A proclamation from the President along with local events are scheduled to occur to promote Hunger Awareness. Tuesday, June 5, 2007. *United Way Day of Caring: We fed and hydrated the 1,500 volunteers and children at Wild Adventures on Friday, August 25, 2006. The next Day of Caring will be Friday, August 24, 2007. *Hunger 101 Food Drives: An annual food drive that is usually held in our schools. Businesses and individuals can join in the effort to end hunger in South Georgia by collecting food during this drive held during early Fall. Almost 25,000 pounds of food was collected by 23 schools and preschools. *Make a Difference Day: The National Day of Volunteering sponsored by USA Today/Weekend, the Points of Light Foundation, and Newman’s Own. We will have special projects for our volunteers to help us on Saturday, October 27, 2007. *Derby Duck Race: Our 4th annual Duck Race will be held at Paradise River in Wild Adventures. Volunteers are needed, beginning in November, to help us get the ducks adopted and prepared to race in March 15, 2007. Volunteer Opportunities SPECIAL DATES OF INTEREST: New Volunteer Hours: Monday 8-5:00 Tuesday 8-5:00 Wednesday 8-5:00 Thursday 8-7:00 Friday 8-12:00 1st 8-12:00 Saturdays of the month Please call or email before you volunteer the first time. Contact: Jennifer Glisson 229-244-2678 ext. 234 jglisson@valdostafoodbank.org