Project Description

Issue: One of the pantry’s priorities is expanding its volunteer base. To that end, we have scheduled an open meeting in September at which time community residents will hear about different volunteer tasks and have an opportunity to express interest. The pantry would benefit from development of a database that includes volunteers’ names, level and extent of interest; availability and expectations. The electronic database should also monitor volunteer training that is required by the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.

 

Goals

We seek to: prevent burnout by what is now a core group through expanding our volunteer base, monitor and assess volunteer successes and failures and make the community more aware of the pantry and its vital role in fighting hunger.

 

Impact

A well-trained and motivated volunteer base will improve operation of the food pantry. By assisting the pantry, students can better appreciate that hunger is real, even in small-town America.

 

Resources

Not aware of resources beyond software/computers.

 

Group Summary

The Lewisburg pantry is having issues with volunteer burnouts and keeping track of volunteer status. There should be a way to track volunteers electronically.

Identified Pains

  • Not enough volunteers and/or burnout amongst volunteers.
  • No way to track volunteer training and membership.

Proposed Problem Description

Create a volunteer database for the pantry that allows easy storage and update of information, and help with scheduling to prevent burnout.

Proposed Goals

Create a database with an attached user-friendly interface that allows the pantry to store information about their volunteers and create efficient schedules.

Brainstorming

While brainstorming we came up with some useful ideas for helping the Lewisburg pantry better coordinate its volunteers and reduce burnout. We felt that an online training system, possibly with social media integration, that reduces the amount of in person training, needed might give volunteers and staff more time to help people at the food bank. We also felt that any scheduling application that the pantry used should allow for the, to keep track of who will be volunteering on any given day, such that there are enough people available.

https://docs.google.com/a/bucknell.edu/spreadsheets/d/1LVP_tS7s1877TIkxbzzzgE7AvWAeHfc9FnblfsXXxX8/edit?usp=sharing

Contributors

Anushikha Sharma

Eric Marshall

Jason Corriveau

Ben Matase

Jingya Wu

Brainstorming by:

Dunni Adenuga

Lucas Nicolois

Matthew Rogge

 

Preproposals:

Lucas Gregory

Dunni Adenuga

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