Navigating Change | How To Use
Step 3: Go Through The Content
Area of Growth Summary Page
The summary page provides a quick overview of what to expect from an area of growth. The page goes over why the area is important, the goals of the section and resources to help you be successful
Review The Area That You Would Like To Focus
Tools Section
In this section, you will find GHP-specific tools including worksheets, handouts, and examples. These are resources to help you plan, and organize, as well as quick handouts to provide
to your pantry Neighbors.
Other Resources
This section is a place for online tools and resources that apply to this topic.
Volunteers
- Defining Roles
- Recruiting
- Requirements & Policies
- Appreciation & Retention
- Provide guidance to staff on trainings that would improve the well-being of the pantry environment.
- Create a plan to train and document the trainings of all staff & key volunteers.
- WORKSHEETS
- Defining your volunteer needs
- EXAMPLES
- Volurteer requirements
- Volunteer policies
- Volurteer Satisfaction Survey
- Volurteer training agenda
- Get Connected
- Volunteer Surveys
- Volunteer Engagement
- Volunteer Recruitment
- Volunteer Registration
- Volunteer Evaluation
Volunteers are the heart and soul of the food pantry. Having dedicated volunteers at a food pantry can increase your capacity to serve, reduce costs, build community, provide personalized services, and contribute different skills and ideas. Volunteers are necessary partners in the fight against food insecurity and play a vital role in creating a stronger, more resilient community.
A strong volunteer program is important for several reasons:
- Increase Capacity and Efficiency: Volunteers significantly increase the manpower available to the food pantry, allowing for expanded operations and increased efficiency in distributing food to those in need. With a strong volunteer force, the pantry can serve a larger number of clients and a greater volume of donated goods.
- Cost-Effective Operations: Volunteers contribute their
time and skills without the need to pay directly for them, helping the food pantry to reduce operational costs. This allows the organization to allocate resources more effectively toward acquiring and distributing food to the community. - Community Engagement: A vibrant volunteer program
fosters a sense of community involvement and engagement. It brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds who share a common goal of helping those facing food insecurity. - Skill Diversity: Volunteers bring a wide range of skills and
expertise to the organization, enhancing its overall capabilities. This diversity can be harnessed for tasks such as marketing, event planning, technology support, and more, contributing to the pantry’s overall success. - Long-Term Sustainability: By building a strong volunteer
base, the food pantry becomes more resilient and sustainable over the long term. Volunteers may become dedicatec supporters, forming a consistent and reliable workforce that helps the organization weather challenges and fluctuations in demand.