Greg Rockwell solved a marketing problem and an education problem with four simple questions. Along the way, he created a more meaningful volunteer experience.

Greg, the Community Relations Manager for THRIVE DC, a nonprofit that serves the homeless in Washington, DC, observed that the groups showing up to assist with meal preparation knew very little about homelessness – or about the organization. At the end of their shifts, the groups were leaving with the satisfaction in a job well done but without much-added insight into the needs of the clients they served or how THRIVE DC helps to turn their lives around.

For Greg and his team, the answer was to build reflection time into the volunteer experience. They created a four-question handout that is given to group members at the end of the volunteer shift. Then, the group and THRIVE DC staff sit down together to consider the questions and discuss the takeaways.

The questions are:

  • What are your impressions of THRIVE DC?
  • What are things that you discovered you had in common with our clients?
  • What moment, conversation, or realization stood out for you today?
  • When you leave here, what can you do to end or prevent homelessness?

Read the full article by Elisa Kosarin about volunteer experience from VolunteerMatch