Online SignUp Blog by SignUp.com

VolunteerSpotlight | Floating Homes Association

Cheers to FSA for relying on VolunteerSpot to give an extra hand in their volunteer needs.

Please tell us about your organization and your event.

Floating Homes Association (FHA) is an annual event that supports floating homeowners or "houseboats" near Sausalito. This is the 31^st year and will feature a tour of ten homes, along with music and an art show. All proceeds go the Friends of the Marin City Library and to Sausalito Village – a volunteer-based non-profit organization helping older residents stay in their homes and live independently.  

What are your volunteer needs and how do you use VolunteerSpot to coordinate them?

We utilize over 230 volunteers, and there is a great volunteer party after the event! We send out a notice to over 900 former volunteers and those interested in helping through VolunteerSpot to help us put on the show. Last year was our first year using VolunteerSpot and we filled 99% of our positions!

Why did you decide to use VolunteerSpot?

A committee member found it online last year and everyone seemed to like it a lot! The help I received from VolunteerSpot was quick, effective and I appreciated it very much.

What’s one piece of advice you have for volunteers or their leaders out there?

Keep smiling!

What else would you like our readers to know about your organization or volunteering?

The FHA tour is a unique, eye-opening experience. If someone has never been on a floating home, the mental image they have is most likely inaccurate. In Sausalito, the floating homes range from funky to luxurious and all are interesting. Volunteer shifts are 3 hours, and volunteers get to take the tour for free, as well as enjoy the post-tour volunteer party.

We salute the Floating Homes Association and all the other volunteers making a difference in their communities. Check out how VolunteerSpot’s Volunteer Software can save you time and stress and boost parent involvement in your school. Take a tour today!

6 Ways Schools Are Becoming Safer

Trends in School Safety

Thanks to Joey Nutinsky, founder and CEO of Ruvna, for this great guest post!

Parents send their students to school everyday with many thoughts on their minds. Things like, “Did they do their homework?”, or “Is there soccer practice tonight?”. Students as well are thinking endlessly about academics, their social lives, college, and so much more. Instead of thinking about safety, and the state of security in our schools, many leave such thoughts to the school. However, this doesn’t change the fact that security is a huge concern for our schools. While we should be leaving most of these concerns for the school to address, it’s our responsibility to have an understanding of how our schools combat the safety concerns they face.

Here are just a few ways that our schools have been getting safer:

1. Cameras
Security cameras are an increasingly common tool that schools use for a huge variety of reasons. Since 1999, the percentage of public schools with security cameras in place has gone up almost 300%. As the cost of implementing a security camera system continues to go down, it’s safe to say that this number will increase in the coming years.

2. Drills
Lockdowns are some of the scariest situations that can occur in schools. Safety during a lockdown relies on everyone knowing their roles and being prepared. About 61% of schools conduct lockdown drills annually, and these drills are a great way to make sure everyone in a school understands the protocols and expectations during an emergency.

3. Restricting Access
Part of my job involves visiting somewhere around 15 different schools a month. Some of these schools won’t even let me in the door without first scanning my driver’s license to check against various lists. While it’s definitely a hassle for me, it’s a great way to prevent potential incidents as quickly as possible. That being said, I’ve heard more than a few horror stories where the systems flag an individual for no reason (likely their name resembles another name with restricted access), making the systems less than 100% reliable.

4. Security Staff
Here’s a shocking fact: there are over 1,500 incidents of firearm possession at schools every year. For these criminal incidents, many schools have full-time security personnel on-site. The officers vary between on-duty police and private security solutions, but in both cases, their presence is not surprising. Safety should not be a secondary responsibility for school staff. It’s just too important. Hopefully the dedicated security staff spend most of their days dealing with miniscule issues. However, if/when there is a serious security problem, schools absolutely want a security professional on the scene.

5. Emergency Notification
Schools across the country are rethinking and innovating the “typical school day”. More schools are going towards open campuses, where students can leave the building at their leisure, and allowing students to learn more independently. One unfortunate result of this, is that it’s now more difficult for schools to dispense information to students. As such, great new emergency notification systems are being widely adopted. Schools can send texts, emails, and phone call alerts to students with the press of a button.

6. Being More Prepared
Of course, the above points on this list contribute here. Emergencies happen in schools, and while that’s unfortunate, schools need to prepare themselves. Thankfully, about 88% of schools today have written procedures in place for the scary situations that we hope will never happen, and that amount continues to increase. We’re seeing technology play a part in the school system, not only in education, but in helping to protect students as completely as possible.

Source: http://nces.ed.gov/programs/crimeindicators/index.asp

 

About the Author: 

Joey Nutinsky is the founder and CEO of Ruvna, software that enables schools to locate and account for their students in real-time during emergencies. Ruvna is being used by K-12 schools across the country to help identify which students require attention during lockdowns, evacuations, routine drills, and more. At only 20 years old, Joey has taken Ruvna from an idea to a member of the DreamIt Accelerator, ranked by Forbes as one of the top 10 startup accelerators in the US.

 

VolunteerSpotlight | Akwaaba

Cheers to Akwaaba for using VolunteerSpot for their volunteering needs.

Please tell us about your organization and your volunteer needs.

Akwaaba is a welcoming space held by volunteers for refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants. We stay true to the word’s meaning of “Welcome,” and connect community members in East London. We aim to eliminate isolation and offer emotional support to those in need. Approximately 15 volunteers and over 40 visitors help prepare meals, share experiences and participate in workshops each Sunday.

Explain how you use VolunteerSpot to coordinate these volunteers.

Our volunteers sign up for various roles required on the day (kitchen helpers, wash-up volunteers, welcome volunteers, children's supervisors, English teachers, bike mechanics, clothes distribution volunteers) up to 4 weeks in advance.

Why did you decide to use VolunteerSpot?

Since Akwaaba is a non-hierarchical organisation, we liked how volunteers can use VolunteerSpot to decide when and in what capacity they can offer their time on their own terms. We encourage regular commitment, but VolunteerSpot is flexible so if people need to take time off, they can do so. It is straightforward to set up so we do not need to have a 'volunteer coordinator' and it is easy to adjust the rotation in response to the changing needs of our visitors.

What’s one piece of advice you have for volunteers or their leaders out there?

If you can't find an organisation in your area to volunteer for, set something up! Tools like VolunteerSpot make it really easy to bring people together and in my experience there is a lot of enthusiasm out there!

What else would you like our readers to know about your organization or volunteering?

We're looking for a treasurer! If you are based in London, England, and are motivated to help refugees and asylum seekers in your area, contact [email protected]. We also accept donations, which we put towards food/activity costs.

We salute Akwaaba and all the other organizations making a difference in their communities. Check out how VolunteerSpot’s Volunteer Software can save you time and stress and boost parent involvement in your school. Take a tour today!

Summer Activities for Families

5 Fun (and Free) Things To Do This Summer

Our friends at GoEnnounce are serving up fun ideas for FREE activities you and yours kid can enjoy this summer! Check out an excerpt of their popular article below and read the entire post here.

3. Attend free events organized by your community

Many cities and towns put together free events for their residents especially in the summer. Look out for signs around your town that offer free movie nights, art classes, and block parties. Most cities and towns have websites, just like NYCGo, that include all the free and local events in your area that you can fill your calendar with. It is always fun to be a tourist in your own hometown!

4. Do some volunteering

Give back to your community by finding a local animal shelter, retirement community, or park in need of a cleanup, etc. Not only will this keep you active while you are given tons of free time, but you can also use this to build up your resume or college application! Check out the GoEnnounce blog for tons of information and tips for students to learn about how they can get more involved in their community and humanitarian efforts, and to learn more about our  our partner sites, VolunteerSpot and Lion’s Heart!

Click here to read the rest of this post >>

 

GoEnnounce.com connects students with their networks to help them achieve more. It's a safe place for students to e-nnounce and track achievements, projects, and goals to get the encouragement and financial help they need to succeed. Start a Student Page and apply for our monthly scholarship here. 

5 Things to Include in Your Community Impact Statement

Volunteer Impact Report

Whether you're recruiting volunteers, applying for a nonprofit grant, or simply updating your volunteer webpage with the latest and greatest news about your organization, there are a handful of key components to include that help illustrate your group's impact in the community:

 

1. Volunteer Hours: Tracking, measuring and sharing volunteer hours is vital to quantifying your nonprofit's community impact. Online tech tools like VolunteerSpot make it easier for organizers to schedule and track volunteers while hours reports are updated real-time with one-click access. Apps like RewardVolunteers also help volunteers report and track their service hours too. We love this impact report from Manna Food Bank in Western North Carolina that was direct mailed to supports, donors and volunteers >>

 

2. Value of Service: Did you know the national dollar amount placed on an hour of volunteer service is $23.56/hour? That's huge! VolunteeringInAmerica.gov revealed that nationwide in 2015 the estimated value of volunteer service was $184 billion, wow!Tracking your volunteer hours and capturing the value of that time, skill and talent as a dollar amount helps paint the picture of how your group is benefiting the community around them too.

 

3. Money Raised: Donations, contributions and money collected is a reflection on the both the impact your organization can have in the community as well as the loyalty and dedication of your donor base. Did you know volunteers are almost twice as likely to donate to charity than non-volunteer? When you're quantifying donations and community impact 

 

4. Specific Products/Services Given: As seen in the above example, Manna Food Bank illustrates how many pounds of food and produce was distributed, as well as how many food backpacks for resource-limited families were given out. Whatever your group is physically doing, sharing and distributing in the community, share it! Houses built, food distributed, kids tutored, meals cooked, you name it.

 

5. Testimonials: Your community impact story needs to be just that . . . a story. Interviews with willing volunteers and community members who have been affected by the GOOD work of your organization is a must for your community impact statement. Feature quotes and stories on your volunteer webpage, your nonprofit marketing materials and in follow-up appreciation letters to donors and volunteers.

 

Also see:

Nonprofit Fundraising Trends

 

Social Media in Event Management

 

5 Key Elements to a Volunteer Webpage

 

 

VolunteerSpotlight | Wesley Medical Research

VolunteerSpotlight | Wesley Medical Research

Please tell us about your organization and volunteer needs.

Wesley Medical Research (WMR) is a non-profit organization that encourages clinicians and health professionals throughout UnitingCare Health hospitals to initiate research that improves clinical care for patients. We heavily rely on volunteers to help maximize donations and funding for medical research projects.

Explain how you use VolunteerSpot to coordinate these volunteers.

One of WMR’s biggest events is the gift-wrapping benefit at Indooroopilly Shopping Centre in the western suburbs of Brisbane. This fundraiser requires over 400 shifts and 150 volunteers, so we needed a proficient way to organize all of our volunteers.

Why did you use VolunteerSpot?

We reviewed a number of online recruitment sites and found that VolunteerSpot was the easiest to use and maintain, so we decided to give it a try!

One piece of advice for volunteers or their leaders

In addition to VolunteerSpot’s automated reminders, we found that sending SMS messages the day before a shift helped eliminate no shows.

What else would you like to tell readers?

After using VolunteerSpot we could never go back to manual coordination and spreadsheets! Give it a try today!

We salute WMR and all the other organizations making a difference in their communities. Check out how VolunteerSpot’s Volunteer Software can save you time and stress and boost parent involvement in your school. Take a tour today!

5 Rainy Day Volunteer Ideas

Make the Most of a Rainy Day | Family Volunteer Ideas

Rainy days don't have to ruin your kid's summer schedule! If you find yourself cooped up inside because it's too wet outside to play, turn your rainy day into a day of doing GOOD for others.

1. Clean your closets. Rainy days are the perfect reason to stay in and get organized. Spend the time to empty and sort your closets, getting rid of old clothes that don’t fit your kids anymore. In the meantime, your kids can sort through toys to get rid of things they don’t play with or have outgrown. At the end of the day, box up your gently used clothes and toys and donate them to a local charity, like the Salvation Army, Goodwill, or St. Judes.

2. Bake sweets for your neighbors. Make the best of a rainy afternoon indoors by baking some sweet treats for your neighbors, be it an elderly neighbor who lives by themselves, a new mom, you name it. Incorporate summer learning math and science lessons by asking kids to help count and measure ingredients, set timers, stir, mix, etc. At the end of the day, keep a few treats for home, and have your kids deliver the rest to neighbors. (See more: 4 Ways to Help Your Elderly Neighbor)

3. Write cards to a nursing home or homeless shelter. Brighten a strangers day with a simple handwritten card! This rainy day volunteer activity is a great boredom buster too, encouraging kids to get creative and use all the arts and crafts supplies at their disposal. When they’re finished, have them seal the cards in envelopes and practice addressing the letters to a local nursing home or children's shelter.

4. Get some shopping done, while doing good. If you're stuck inside and getting some online shopping done anyways, why not give back at the same time? There are a ton of online platforms that support "cause shopping" where by with each purchase you make, you donate to a cause or group you care about. Sites like Amazon Smile and iGive are great example - find these and more in our Shopping for Good blog post. You can get everything you need purchased online, while knowing  you made a difference too.

5. Pack "Blessing Bags". Add a few items to your next grocery list - small toiletries, granola bars, bottles of water, socks, gum, etc. Store somewhere dry for your next rainy day inside with the kids so that you have everything you need to pack "blessings bags." Pack a couple of each item in a gallon size plastic bag with a handwritten note saying "Hi, hope you have a GOOD day!". Next time you're out running errands, hand out these bags to the homeless or other people you see in need on the streets, on the sides of the highways, etc.More ideas for goodies here. 

 

 

Read More: 

Summer Volunteering for Teens and Tweens

DIY Summer Games for Kids

Family Summer Tech Plan

Feel Good Friday | June

Start your weekend off with these feel good stories!

Looking for GOOD news of inspiration, compassion and hope, to put a smile on your face? We've got you covered! Check out these 5 feel good stories . . .

2-Year-Old Triplets And 3 Garbage Collectors Are The Cutest Best Friends Ever

(via Sunny Skyz)

~~~

Story Behind Photo Of Cop Asleep Next To Pup He Rescued Is Doggone Sweet

(via Huffington Post)

~~~

13-Year-Old Opera Singer Steals the Show on America’s Got Talent

(via America’s Got Talent)

~ ~ ~

This 14-Year-old CEO Turned Down $30 Million Offer for His Start Up

(via Good News Network)

~~~

A 104-year-old WWII veteran realizes his dream of becoming a college student

(via The Today Show)

~~~

 

See Also:

More Feel Good Friday Stories

 

15 Springtime Potluck Decoration Ideas

Decorations For Your Spring & Summer Potlucks

The sunny seasons bring tons of occasions to come together and lots of fresh, fun ideas for your community and family gatherings. When it comes to DIY decoration and dish ideas, we've got you covered for all those graduation parties, end of the school year celebrations, sports banquets and summertime reunions!

Peanut Butter Grad Caps via Pinterest

***

Tassel Garland via Inspired By Charm

***

Tissue Paper Party Sign via Sugar Bee Crafts

***

Apple Balloons via Studio DIY

***

Ruler Table Runner via Today's Mama

***

Custom Appreciation Banner via Design. Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

***

Pencil Mason Jars via Hobby Lobby

***

Teacher Appreciation Cookie Set via Sugar Cravings

***

Pencil Wreath via eHow

***

Penalty Flags via Kara's Party Ideas

***

 Autograph Coach Chalkboard via Chalk Talk Sports

***

Sports Tables via The Celebration Society

***

Mother's Day Printables via Kara's Party Ideas

***

Floral Centerpieces via Domino

***

Mom Cookies via Clough'D 9 Cookies & Sweets

***

Related Posts

5 Steps to Potluck Perfection

Potluck Printables

Fun Potluck Themes

VolunteerSpotlight | Tim Horton Children's Foundation

Cheers to the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation for using VolunteerSpot to help organize their camps!

Please tell us about your organization and your volunteer needs.

The Tim Horton Children’s Foundation was founded in the 70s to honor the hockey player Tim Horton and his love for children. The first camp was formed in Ontario and welcomed 200 campers, which has expanded to six camps across Canada. We host 18,000 young adults from low-income families and rely on nearly 1,000 volunteers to enrich their experience by organizing over 40 events each year.

Explain how you use VolunteerSpot to coordinate volunteers.

Our volunteer website links to VolunteerSpot sign-ups so volunteers can sign up on their own time and receive automatic confirmations and reminders. We want volunteers to be able to register for a time slot that is timely convenient in addition to geographically convenient. We have four different camps in four different time ones and two countries, so VolunteerSpot helps keep all of our lists in one place.

Why did you decide to use VolunteerSpot?

After comparing the capabilities of the different online sign up systems, VolunteerSpot offered the most flexibility with set up, and is easiest for our volunteers to use. As we rely completely on donations from individuals and businesses, the no ad option was a plus as well.

What’s one piece of advice you have for volunteers or their leaders out there?

Volunteers are unpaid not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless!

What else would you like our readers to know about your organization or volunteering?

We heard comments last year such as: “It was the highlight of my year”, “Best day yet”, “I know the day only goes until 5:00 pm, but I’m staying later”, “Next year, can I come more often?”, “Those kids are so amazing! What strength they have”, “My day with the Youth Leadership campers was awesome. These boys have truly great leadership and communication skills.”

We salute THCF and all the other programs making a difference in their communities. Check out how VolunteerSpot’s Volunteer Software can save you time and stress and boost parent involvement in your school. Take a tour today!

4 Ways to Help Your Elderly Neighbor

Help Your Neighbor, While Teaching your Kids Valuable Lessons

Looking for opportunities to volunteer with your kids isn't always easy. Some organizations require orientations or time commitments that just don't work with your schedule. Instead of seeking out opportunities far and wide, why not help your own neighbors? Elderly neighbors especially can use assistance with even little things like errands and meals, but sometimes they don't have family close to help out or are too afraid to ask. Here are some ways your whole family can get involved (and learn a little too):

1. Cook a Warm Meal

Everyone loves a good home-cooked meal, but a gourmet stovetop creation might not be feasible for your elderly neighbor. Prepare a healthy meal (with enough leftovers your neighbor can heat later), and either bring the kids along to deliver it or invite your neighbor over to dine with your family. Your neighbor will benefit from a healthy meal and the time socializing with others while your kids can learn important skills about interecting with and respecting their elders, sharing, and appropriate behavior around company.

Related: Volunteer Your Family Hobby

2. Help Around the House

Shoveling snow in the winter or cutting grass in the summer can be dangerous for the elderly, but keeping their yards and gardens neat is a favorite hobby for many. How can your family help? Pitch in with yardwork - raking leaves, mowing the lawn, digging holes for plants, etc. Occaional inside chores like dusting or vacuuming are super helpful too. Finish up your family day of helping out with shared lemonade and cookies with your neighbor. Your kids can take the lead on finding fun projects to help with and communicating with your neighbor about schedules while learning important lessons around compassion, dedication and time management.

Check out how one college student started a volunteer-powered lawn service for the elderly in his community >>

3. Run Errands

Have a teenager who can drive? A great service opportunity for them (and something to do while they're off school for the summer) is help an elderly neighbor get around. Grabbing groceries, prescriptions, pet food and other errands can be huge taks for an elderly person who cannot drive or who tires easily when shopping. Simple quick trips like this give your teen time to interact with another person who has lots of stories and experience to share too!

Related: 5 Lessons Teens Learn When They Volunteer

4. Don’t be afraid to ASK!

Sometimes the best thing you can do is just ask. You can’t really know what someone needs without asking and your neighbor might surprise you - maybe the best way to help them out is a simple trip, a short visit or a hand-drawn card from your kids, you never know!