Good news - it's something we all need a little (or a lot) more of these days. One of the wonderful things about working at VolunteerSpot, is we see good news every day - YOURS! Our volunteers are doing wonderful work for a variety of schools, community groups and nonprofits, and our simple volunteer software is helping them do it more efficiently and with less hassle. We'd like share good news and uplifting stories by putting our volunteer leaders in the Spotlight -- Today we’re speaking with Shelly-Marie Rios of Heart House.
How did you get started working with nonprofits?
When I was 15, I volunteered at our local Dept. of Social Services for the summer. One afternoon I completely reorganized their filing system, innocently unaware of how disruptive that would be! In the twenty years since, I have worked with nothing but non-profit organizations in the Arts and Education in Texas and Michigan. At Heart House, I always make sure I thoroughly explain our filing system to our interns and volunteers....ha!
How does Heart House serve the community?
Heart House is a nonprofit that provides a safe haven and after-school tutoring and mentoring to children k – 6th grade from working families in Austin, TX. Our clubhouses are located in the heart of large apartment complexes where most of our kids live. We provide a caring learning environment that's also fun and familiar. Our vision is to create a community that cares for children, creating children that care for their community.
What advice do you have for volunteer leaders?
Be sincere, warm and engaging. And, always listen to what volunteers have to say about your volunteer program. They have fresh eyes and see it in ways you cannot.
Why did you decide to use VolunteerSpot?
Most people are online now, and using this tool is super
way of making it easy for volunteers to not only sign-up, but also to keep
their schedule and be reminded automatically. VolunteerSpot is also wonderfully assessable
for me from anywhere -- I split my time between two campuses.
What else would you like our readers to know?
We are in need of tutoring volunteers at both our north and south Austin locations. Most of our kids don’t have the resources at home to help them with homework. This means our homework time is critical to their success in school and life. We like to call our volunteers Super Hero’s because, really, that’s what they are.
Readers interested in volunteering can contact me at [email protected]. Those interested in learning more about Heart House or making a donation, please do so here: HeartHouse.org.
Shelly-Marie Rios
Volunteer Coordinator
Heart House Austin
