2024 First Quarter Volunteer Impact Report

Thank you for making a difference this Global Volunteer Month!

As we bid farewell to a month brimming with celebration and appreciation for volunteers worldwide, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who dedicated your time and energy to serving others. Your good deeds have helped communities far and wide, leaving a lasting impact in the lives of others. Kindness is contagious and we're grateful for your efforts in spreading kindness.

Together, we've ignited a spirit of generosity and compassion that knows no bounds. As we reflect on the past month, let's revel in the collective efforts that have made a difference in countless lives.

The numbers from the first Quarter of 2024 are in and we are excited to share them with you!

786 volunteers contributed 5,178 hours of their time to volunteer for GNRC opportunities. You spent this time making a tangible difference in Middle Tennessee communities. 

We also welcomed 338 new users to the volunteer portal this year. Thanks for joining us and helping us make a difference!

The Letter Campaign is a long-time favorite opportunity for many and continues to warm hearts and bring smiles to seniors and disabled individuals in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The residents are feeling your love and look forward to reading your kind notes and admiring your beautiful artwork. In this first Quarter of 2024, you have brightened the lives of 1,836 individuals through the 6,051 letters you sent. It's incredible to see that at the end of March 2024, you have collectively sent 93,319 letters since the start of the letter campaign in April 2020.

Our Friendly Visitors play a vital role in the Guardianship for the Elderly Program, enhancing the quality of life for GNRC's clients through companionship and support. Your presence also better informs our staff about the client's progress and allows us to address concerns more efficiently. We are grateful to the 14 Friendly Visitors who invested 140 hours in the first quarter to make 78 visits to 15 clients. Thank you for not giving up through the difficult times and for showing our clients you are there for them no matter what. Your dedication and compassion truly make a difference in their lives.

We're excited to pilot a new program, Friendly Neighbors, aimed at meeting the unique needs of clients that may not be covered through traditional programming with the help of volunteers like you! The first volunteer in the program spent 7 hours reading mail to a visually impaired client. We are grateful for your willingness to try out these new waters with us and for helping this client stay living independent longer.

Over the next few months, we will be attempting more such matches to grow the program and the neighborhood. Let us know if you are interested in being a Friendly Neighbor.

Medicare Counseling through the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) is another program that could not have such a big community impact if it wasn't for the amazing volunteers who train and keep updating their knowledge so they can help others through the Medicare jungle. 64 volunteers conducted 1,766 one-on-one Medicare Counseling Sessions, staffed 17 outreach events and presentations, and gave a total of 2,558 hours of their time for program activities. One multilingual volunteer spent 6 hours working on translating a Medicare 101 presentation into Spanish and recording it so it can be shared with Spanish speaking beneficiaries and partners. Thank you!

Behind the scenes, our dedicated volunteers provide essential support to various departments, including administrative tasks, quality assurance, legal matters, and community planning. Thank you to our 10 volunteers who helped in the office this quarter! Our office volunteers provided 48 hours of administrative support to our Office Support Team, Quality Assurance Department and Legal Team. 63 hours were spent assisting the Community and Regional Planning Department with Transportation Planning work. Thank you for sharing your expertise with our team!

Thank you for volunteering with us at GNRC or with our partners! We are grateful you are choosing to spend your time making the world just a little bit better one volunteer hour at a time! Your contributions make a meaningful difference, and we're grateful for your continued support and dedication.