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Volunteer Update
April 29, 2020
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Dear CRC Supporter,
More than time ...
A year ago in March, the volunteer newsletter began with “Volunteers bring in the GREEN.” I went on to explain how each hour donated by volunteers has an actual monetary value attached that CRC uses to apply for, and comply with, certain grants. If you have been around Community Resource Center the last two years, you have most likely been nagged by the Volunteer Manager (that’s me!) to track your hours so that we can show the world exactly how much support in donated time the community gives to our mission. In 2018 you logged 34,600 hours valued at over a million dollars, and in 2019, you did it again.
You logged over 36,000 hours valued at over 1.1 million dollars.
For an organization as small as ours, that is an incredible thing!
So, who would have predicted that just 13 months later, we would be at an all-time low for volunteer hours? Most of our volunteers, by no choice of their own, have been “sidelined” during this season – at least, by the standard definition of volunteer.
Today, we focus on value that transcends time given.
We knew you were generous. We knew you were compassionate. We knew you had “heart.” You have proven it time and again, and now more than ever.
These past two months, volunteers have:
- Become “donors” and have donated funds to our Community Cares Campaign, which has now raised over $600,000!
- Attended and donated to our Virtual English Tea Fundraiser
- Donated food, face coverings, gloves and grocery bags
- Volunteered offsite, addressing envelopes and processing data from home
- Helped in the Food Pantry, sorting donations, packing emergency bags, and making sure that our hundreds of visitors each week receive the food assistance they desperately need
It is the e-mails and kind words that have encouraged me most of all. It is knowing that you are still “with us” even if separated into different homes for now. Thank you for reaching out in many different ways. We are grateful!
Warmly,
Sara Rosenbaum,
CRC Volunteer Manager
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Volunteers in the Spotlight
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Virtual Volunteers
Some of our volunteers were able to take their projects home with them! A special thank you to all those who continue to provide administrative and offsite help to CRC.
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Rhonda hard at work supporting our Finance Team
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Maggie and Cheri picking up letters to address while keeping safe
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Food Pantry Volunteers
Thank you for keeping our pantry stocked, clean and ready to serve our community!
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Food Delivery Volunteers
Due to many of our senior and our homeless participants sheltering in place, they are unable to come to the Food Pantry to pick up food. CRC has a team of volunteer drivers who are delivering meals to their doors. This is a new volunteer team pulled together by staff members Miranda Chavez and Azucena Acosta. Thank you all!
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April Volunteer of the Month: Katrina Dodson
From our Chief Executive Officer, John Van Cleef, and Chief Development Officer, Debbie Murray:
Many people and organizations have been resourceful in supporting CRC this month
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helping us to sort and distribute food, sewing face coverings or sourcing supplies of gloves and masks, donating food and personal care items, writing thank you letters for us to mail to supporters. Among the many who continue supporting CRC with volunteer hours, one person has exemplified servant leadership… and we didn’t have to look far to find her.
Katrina Dodson is the Chairperson for CRC’s Board of Directors. Though regularly involved as a volunteer to lead the oversight and governance of CRC, she’s been giving extra time in seemingly small ways that make a big difference to the continued support of CRC’s mission, our staff and our participants. She’s been involved in our early morning virtual conference “huddles” with the management team, worked numerous hours in our resale stores to set them up for when they can reopen, delivered English Tea shortbread to bolster the staff’s morale and made countless shout-outs on social media to let everyone know how best to support CRC.
The staff love when Katrina comes to the office, she is energetic and enthusiastic and just so much fun to be around
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she gives all of us a boost just by being present.
Thank you, Katrina, for all you do for CRC and our community … you are amazing and we adore you!
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A Sad Farewell to William (Bill) Fields
January 21, 1929 - April 15, 2020
It is with sadness that CRC learned of the passing of one of our volunteers, Bill Fields last week. He called himself “Box Boy” and showed up early each week to the Food Pantry, eager to sort produce and break down boxes in the alleyway. Bill always had a smile and was a joy to all of the staff and the volunteers lucky enough to know him. He celebrated his 90th birthday with cupcakes after a volunteer shift last year, proving that a heart for service never grows old. He will be truly missed!
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Photo courtesy of Anne Daigle, Food Pantry volunteer and Board of Directors member
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If you know of anyone in need of food, housing or safe shelter, please pass along this link to the CRC program information on how we can help:
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Ways you can support us now
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COVID-19 and our CRC community
Thank you for all of your support of CRC, especially as the need in our community continues to grow. We are grateful for everything you’ve given – financial gifts, food, cleaning items, face masks and gloves. It is heartening to know that although we can’t be together now, we ARE together in taking care of our community’s vulnerable neighbors.
With your support, together we can continue to help our neighbors who need food, housing and safe shelter!
Make a donation today, start your own fundraiser or share our campaign with your friends and family to help spread the word. Thank you ... we can't do it without you.
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If you have a good story of volunteering, please share with me at
srosenbaum@crcncc.org
. I can include those stories in future newsletters as an encouragement to our team.
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