Below is Barrington Area Volunteer Connection’s first installment of their new profile program, highlighting featured non-profits using BAVC. Keep reading for the profile of Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital.
Interview with Magda Scanlan, CAVS – Manager, Volunteer Services – Advocate Lutheran General Hospital | Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
What advice or tips do you have for Volunteers?
Do your research to find an organization that you feel connected to and are passionate about. When you make a commitment, stick to it. Volunteers help make great things happen and organizations need you and count on you.
What are the benefits of volunteering as it relates to your organization?
What advice or tips would you give to other nonprofits that need to utilize volunteers?
Create meaningful assignments with clear requirements. This helps you connect volunteers to opportunities that match their passions and skills, and it helps volunteers know the expectations and feel successful when they fulfill them.
Have a training program. This allows you to share information about your organization, teach volunteers their roles, and helps prepare them for success.
Have a person designated to overseeing volunteers. Volunteers need a go-to person to answer their questions, provide training, keep schedules and communication up to date.
Make volunteers feel welcome and recognized. Volunteers feel welcome when there is someone greeting them when they come in and acknowledging their presence. They feel appreciated when they receive sincere expressions of thanks (simple thank you at the end of their shift, a note left on their desk or sent to their home, coffee/tea or a piece of chocolate, etc.) when they feel part of your organization by receiving updates and communication about the organization happenings (be transparent with your volunteers and keep them in the loop), when you share with them the impact of their service (forward notes you get from customers or share numbers that volunteers impacted) or when you solicit their feedback about their feelings about volunteering for you and improvement suggestions they may have for the program or your organization.
What do you feel is the most important benefit your organization provides to the community?
How has your organization handled the challenges during Covid, as far as your services, programs, staffing, etc?
Can you share your favorite volunteer moment or story?

Interesting in becoming a part of Barrington Area Volunteer Connection? Join today at volunteer.thebavc.org!