The Volunteer Coordinator
The success of Family Promise of Greater Wichita will depend upon the efforts and enthusiasm of hundreds of volunteers. The volunteers who organize those volunteers and manage the program in each host congregation are called the Volunteer Coordinator. A primary Coordinator takes overall responsibility for ensuring that the host congregation’s program runs smoothly.
Choosing to be a primary Coordinator means taking one of the most critical roles in the Affiliate, and one of the most rewarding. Being a Coordinator means forming meaningful bonds with the families, solving problems, inviting members of your congregation to share and connecting with other congregations in the Affiliate.
Coordinator’s responsibilities include:
- Attending training provided by Family Promise staff and subsequent trainings, yearly, by the Director
- Reading Family Promise’s Guide for Volunteer Coordinators
- Attending Family Promise Committee meetings, typically once a rotation cycle
- Recruiting volunteers from the congregation
- Communicating with the Director
- Overseeing assistant Coordinators who handle responsibilities such as scheduling, meals, supplies, activities, donations
- Coordinating volunteers and scheduling with support congregation Coordinators
- Acting as primary contact for any emergencies
- Communicating policy, procedures and other information to volunteers, ensuring guest confidentiality and addressing any issues concerning congregation volunteers
Being a Volunteer Coordinator is a big job, but it is important to remember that your congregation will be hosting only 4 weeks out of the year. Most Coordinators work full time and have children and other commitments so the demands are quite manageable. You will also have the support of assistant coordinators, well-trained volunteers and the network director. In most cases, congregations have co-coordinators who share the tasks of directing efforts.
Volunteer Coordinators may serve for a couple of years; in some Affiliates they have served for 15 years or more. (Succession in this role is encouraged; it keeps the congregation engaged and renewed in the outreach.) The reward of seeing families go from despair to independence and volunteers engage in the most meaningful outreach of their lives makes it all worthwhile.
