Every time I walk through the Volunteer Center at our Brooklyn Park facility, I pause to read one of my favorite quotes which is prominently displayed, "May you be proud of the work you do, the person you are and the difference you make." If you are one of over 9,500 volunteers who joined us in 2022, YOU made a difference in helping provide more than 113 million meals to individuals facing hunger this past year. I hope you feel proud of your contribution in ending hunger for our neighbors and thank you for choosing to spend your time with us.
2023 Strategic Priorities
As we enter a new year, the Volunteer Engagement team is already working hard on our strategic priorities:
- Ensure abundant and diverse volunteer support across the organization.
- Increase retention and satisfaction, engage volunteers deeper in our mission.
- Continue to offer a best-in-class experience in our Volunteer Center.
- Support teams' daily operations and strategic goals by further engaging ongoing program and pro bono volunteers.
A Few Highlights
The Volunteer Engagement team's year ahead will be filled with exciting opportunities and new relationships, to note a few:
- Providing the space for volunteers and partners to take a deeper dive into the issue of hunger-especially for neighbors in BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities-and how we are working to solve it.
- Employing a student intern to assist in building a robust youth volunteer experience and make new community connections.
- In addition to our annual November Pack to the Max event, hosting more event days in our Volunteer Center. See below for an upcoming Valentine's Day "Spread the Love" event.
Hunger in Minnesota remains high and there is much work to be done. I invite you to partner with us as we work to ensure our neighbors' needs are met:
- Learn more about hunger, what causes it, and why food insecurity rates are higher for some of our neighbors of color.
- Volunteer with us today! Sign up for a shift in our Volunteer Center or check out opportunities to provide program and project volunteer support.
We hope you will join us in 2023 to make a difference!
