Qualities of a Great Volunteer
Having worked in several different parishes, I have encountered many volunteers along the way. Let's face it, volunteers are the lifeblood of every church. In order for a parish to be good stewards of the offerings given, it is necessary to control costs. By having volunteers fill the many needs of a parish under the guidance of a ministry leader or staff member, many programs and projects can be made available to parishioners.
The volunteers I work with at St. Francis of Assisi are especially kind and generous. There are the people who come in once or twice a month to help count our offertory. They follow rigorous rules set forth by the Archdiocese and their diligence pays off by our receiving good audit reports. Many of these volunteers have been committed to being here for years and recently we took on some new ones. We are most grateful for all their gifts of time and talent!
The volunteers who work the Welcome Desk and answer the phones are truly a blessing. They are the cheerful voice you hear when you call for answers or assistance. They are always willing to assist with any special projects in the Business Office. Most recently they helped with all the mailings in January. A couple of them have taken on specific tasks such as scheduling Mass intentions and recording sacramental records.
Our Scrip/Gift Card program is also run by a volunteer, Peg Foye. She has been doing this for over 10 years (thank you, Peg!). This program has raised an average of $30,000 a year for our Building Fund - both Phase I and Phase II Capital Campaigns. Her dedication to our parish is amazing to watch and she makes a positive impact in so many ways.
When deciding where you might offer your time and talents as a volunteer, consider what your strengths are and look for things you are passionate about. Someone who prefers to work with adults would not be comfortable working with small children. Someone with great language skills would not want to work with numbers. Additionally, you should determine how committed you are. If you volunteer for a position that requires some special training, plan to try it at least 6 months before you decide it's not right for you.
We are all humbled by these volunteers and are extremely grateful for each and every one of them. Our parish runs more smoothly because of their gifts and together we all work for the Kingdom of God.