b'DAYTODAY VITAL VOLUNTEERSJosh WindhamGaining Momentum Keep your volunteers engaged in the new yearN ow that weve finished another busywe are able to have conversations about what our holiday season at rescue missions andvolunteers are feeling, sensing, and questioning like-minded organizations, it is impor- during their volunteer experiences. I believe that tant that we find ways to stay engaged withwhen volunteers feel like they are growing in their volunteers into the new year. We have an oppor- knowledge and faith, that is when they will be tunity to harness the passion and impact that ourcommitted for the long term to our organizations. volunteers bring with them when they serve.In addition, we have also established a Volunteer Here are some topAdvisory Committee at Union Gospel Mission ways you canTwin Cities, made up of volunteer leaders nomi-engage volunteersnated by our program staff. This committee helps during this seasonto give volunteers who have shown leadership and beyond: skills the opportunity to serve in a high-level, Ask for contactstrategic capacity for our volunteer program.information to Intentionally share testimonies. Finally, we follow up. Everyare very intentional about having residents in our holiday season, weprogramming share their testimonies with our get a lot of first- volunteers. This helps personalize what our min-time volunteersistry is all about. Our volunteers are so impacted that serve with us at Union Gospel Mission Twinby the real-life testimonies of our residents, that Cities. Our hope is to send out regular communi- many of them are compelled to do more with us. cations, especially right after they volunteer, toOne of our current focus areas is establishing encourage them to sign up for one of our ongo- more mentors in our adult programming, along ing volunteer opportunities. Anytime we can bewith utilizing skills-based volunteering to support front and center with new volunteers, the hope isprograms across Union Gospel Mission Twin that they think about committing to serving withCities. Our hope is that we can break throughJosh is the volunteer servicesus on a regular basis. Regular communicationthe fears and misunderstandings people have of manager at Union Gospel Missionalso helps us with surveys, offering ways toour community, by simply bringing people into Twin Cities in Minnesota. He hasdonate not only time but monetarily as well.one-on-one relationships with each other, and been able to work in a variety ofOffer great benefits to volunteering. Anotherallowing volunteers to give back with their talents.nonprofit settings, in volunteer management, and in communityway we encourage individuals to stay volunteer- These are just a few ways that our organiza-development. He is passionateing with us is to offer great benefits like freetions can capture the momentum of the holiday about bringing people in histrainings, retreats, leadership, and educationalseason. Im sure there are many other creative community to a deeper understanding of issues like socialopportunities. We know that volunteers are eagerways rescue missions and like-minded organiza-justice, homelessness, andto learn more about homelessness, and throughtions are thinking about volunteer engagement poverty. You may email Joshour orientations and other gathering sessions,in 2022 and beyond. \x03at jwindham@ugmtc.org.52 WWW.CITYGATENETWORK.ORG JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2022'