How Many Volunteers Do We Have? The Myth of the Endless Help

You know that scene in every superhero movie where the hero is surrounded by their loyal team, ready to tackle any problem? Well, welcome to my life. Except instead of superheroes, I have volunteers. Sometimes. Maybe. If I'm lucky.

Let me explain.

There’s a pretty common misconception floating around that TRIBE has an army of volunteers. I blame the articles boasting that we have over 100 volunteers. Sounds impressive, right? Reality check: at one point, we had 50 activities a week, each led by one volunteer. That's 50 people right off the bat. Add a few dozen more for special events, after-school programs, and other activities, and boom – we're at 100.

But here’s the kicker: we’re now running a considerably less robust program. So, how many volunteers do we actually have? Well, that’s a hard question to answer. It’s like trying to nail Jell-O to a wall.

I have a few reliable folks I can call in a pinch – you know, the “let me know if you ever need anything” people. But honestly, asking for help all the time gets old. Imagine being stuck in a never-ending loop of borrowing sugar from your neighbors. Except it’s not sugar, it’s your sanity.

Right now, our volunteer roster includes a lovely lady who helps in the closet, our board members (who technically count but aren’t really in the trenches), a handful of people who assist with outreach events, and some partner organizations. Then there are the college students – bless their hearts. When they're not swamped with finals or binge-watching Netflix, they do lend a hand.

High school volunteers are a whole different story. They require adult supervision, which means more work for us. Plus, they want to do everything with their friends, and they’re teenagers – not exactly the epitome of productivity. As a mom of a teenager, I get it. Asking them to focus is like herding cats.

Now, Spooky Stroll – that’s where high school volunteers shine. It’s offsite, so we can set some boundaries and let them roam (within reason). It’s like giving them a taste of freedom without the chaos of trying to supervise them on our turf.

Managing volunteers is a full-time job, which is why having a Volunteer Coordinator is crucial. Right now, we have Cass, our current Volunteer Coordinator, and I’m thrilled she’s on board. Having her means I don’t have to pull my hair out trying to juggle everything myself.

So, how many volunteers do we have? It’s a moving target. Some days it feels like I’m in a bustling beehive; other days, it’s just me, myself, and I. But we make it work. Somehow.

Next time you hear we have 100 volunteers, just remember: it’s not the quantity, it’s the quality. And sometimes, the sheer will to make it work!