Thank You Calvary Volunteers!

Last week, Calvary volunteers, staff and residents gathered at Bar Louie in Chinatown for our annual Volunteer Appreciation Event. The event not only offered an opportunity for Calvary staff and residents to say “thank you,” but also for both veteran and new volunteers to meet and connect.

Volunteer Appreciation Event 2010

Calvary’s Executive Director, Kris Thompson, and a member of our Board of Directors, Tracy Ballard, thanked our devoted volunteers, and shared just how important volunteers are to Calvary.

Did you know:

• Last year, volunteers donated approximately $300,000 in services to Calvary Women’s Services.  That number not only includes direct service hours, but also pro bono professional services and in-kind donations.

• Last year Calvary volunteers cooked about 450 meals and donated over 10,000 hours of their time, which is valued at over $220,000, the equivalent of six full-time staff members.

Two other speakers also shared what Calvary volunteers have meant to them—one was a veteran volunteer, the other a resident of our Sister Circle program.

Jen Smyers, a veteran volunteer, spoke candidly about how important volunteering at Calvary is to her. Jen shared all of the ways she has been able to volunteer—not only overnights,

Veteran Volunteer Jen Smyers after speaking to her fellow volunteers.

but also through numerous Calvary in-kind fundraising drives and walking in the Help the Homeless Walkathon.  Jen offered a call to action for all of our volunteers, as well as their families and friends in attendance.  Here at Calvary, we have a variety of volunteer roles, and we encourage our volunteers to try them all!

Posing with ED Kris Thompson

Patsy, a Sister Circle resident, spoke to the volunteers about how important Calvary has been to her, and shared how essential volunteers are to the women as they move from homelessness to independent living in permanent housing. During the application and interview process, all volunteers are asked how they liked to be rewarded for a job well done. For some, simple words of affirmation or pat on the back are all that’s needed, and for most, the reward is in seeing the residents achieve success. Patsy’s speech was the perfect “thank you.”

On behalf of ALL members of the Calvary family—our staff, residents, and Board of Directors—THANK YOU to all of our dedicated and supportive volunteers!!!

Check out more pictures from the event here.