2025 First Quarter Volunteer Impact Report

May 8, 2025

by Rebecca Nofi

Special Edition: Q1 Volunteer Impact Report

Your kindness, dedication, and hard work continue to make a meaningful impact across Middle Tennessee, and we couldn't be more grateful. Thank you to everyone who celebrated Global Volunteer Month with us in April-we loved honoring the incredible work you do! As we move into May, we're also excited to recognize Older Americans Month, a time to celebrate the strength, resilience, and contributions of older adults. It's a perfect reminder of why your service matters so deeply.

We would like to invite you to celebrate with us at our Older Americans Month Celebration event on Thursday, May 22, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the GNRC Office. Co-hosted with AARP Tennessee, this free, open-house-style event will feature:

Document Shred Truck
Prescription Medication Disposal
Learning Sessions
Medicare Check-Ups
Community Resources
Musical BINGO

We'd love to see you there-come learn, connect, and help us flip the script on aging together! Light refreshments will be available. For more information visit GNRC.org/OAM.

If you'd like to volunteer to help make the event a success, you can sign up here.

Vol Highlights -GNRC Staff 2025 Q1 copy-2

Spreading Joy and Doing Good Deeds in April

In the spirit of Global Volunteer Month, GNRC staff also rolled up their sleeves to give back, joining volunteers in acts of service throughout April.

Highlights included a team volunteer day at Second Harvest Food Bank, where GNRC staff packed 5,514 pounds of food-enough to provide 4,595 meals for families in need. Staff also organized a donation drive and assembled 120 snack packs for individuals experiencing homelessness in partnership with Jumbled Dreams Changing Lives. Both efforts offered meaningful, hands-on ways to give back and demonstrate GNRC's ongoing commitment to serving the community.

Volunteers also gathered for a special Game Break event at Wedgewood Towers, bringing laughter, connection, and friendly competition to older and disabled low-income residents. From board games to card games, the afternoon was filled with joy, conversation, and meaningful interaction. Events like these offer a simple yet powerful way to build relationships and brighten someone's day-thank you to everyone who joined us for this fun event!

First Quarter Overview

This section of our blog features the Quarterly Volunteer Impact Report for Q1 2025, where you'll see just how much your time and effort have meant to the community. We hope you enjoy seeing how your volunteer activity fits in with other efforts and how we've already made an impressive splash together this year!

Between January and March, 488 volunteers contributed 4,132 hours of service to GNRC opportunities. According to the Independent Sector, that time holds an impressive value of $126,233 in service to our communities. We were thrilled to welcome 165 new users to the volunteer portal-thank you for joining us and sharing your time and talents!

Friendly Visitor/ Neighbor Program

Friendly Visitors with the Guardianship program bring incredible compassion and kindness to their clients. 10 Friendly Visitors made 76 visits to 14 clients in Q1. Overall, volunteers contributed 142 hours to the guardianship program. One Friendly Neighbor also gave 9 hours visiting with her client and assisting with errands, providing meaningful support and companionship.

Medicare Program

Our Medicare Counseling Program saw tremendous activity this quarter. Volunteers provided one-on-one counseling to 1,693 clients, staffed 21 outreach events reaching 679 individuals, and gave 16 presentations to a total of 659 attendees. Altogether, they contributed an incredible 2,165 hours to this vital work-thank you for empowering others with information and support!

Letter Writing Campaign

Thanks to your creativity and compassion, the letter campaign continues to thrive. In Q1 alone, volunteers sent 5,303 letters, offering encouragement and joy to 1,876 residents each month. Since launching in April 2020, we've now reached a grand total of 112,587 letters sent! Your words truly help older adults and disabled individuals feel seen and cared for.

Administrative Services

Behind the scenes, volunteers supporting administrative and quality assurance tasks are essential to keeping everything running smoothly. In Q1, 15 volunteers contributed 65.25 hours in the office, helping with everything from data entry to organizational tasks. Your time and attention to detail are deeply appreciated.