Service Learning Log 1-Devyn Parnes

My first service-learning project for this class was working at check-in for three of the Project Homeless Connect training sessions. When I completed this work, I sat outside the Gottesfield Room at a large table and checked people off a list as they came for their trainings. I then handed them an information packet and a testimonial from a person who worked Project Homeless Connect last year and sent them into the room for their training. Most people would arrive between five minutes before and five minutes after the starting time, and I stayed outside the room and waited for stragglers. I interacted little with the other volunteers because all I did was see if they were on the list, check if they were bi-lingual or an area leader (so I could tell them they needed a different color tee-shirt) and then made sure they knew they had to sign the volunteer consent form before the end of the day.
After I was pretty sure that everyone who was going to come was there, I moved into the atrium in the Gottesfield Room and waited to hand out tee-shirts. By the time the training was over, just about one hour, everyone swarmed into the atrium to try to get their shirts and leave. I stood behind a table, usually with Kara, the coordinator from Denver’s Road Home, and asked people what size they needed and in exchange they handed me their consent form.
All three of the days I completed these same tasks, and while they were mindless, menial jobs, I really realized the importance of the little jobs in preparing for an event like this. Checking people in was of utmost importance because Kara had to know that every single person that planned on helping the day of Project Homeless Connect had been properly trained and was prepared for the experience. Also, with the tee shirts, it was crucial that people get the correct color so that they could be differentiated on the day of the event. This really gave me a clearer understanding of everything that goes in to coordinating a huge event like this. I have worked many events previously, but I usually work the actual event and I don’t always do the background logistics.
Another thought that occurred to me as I reflected on this experience was how hard it would be to run a non-profit or other volunteer organization. There were so many little details behind this event that lasts only one day and trying to find volunteers for just one day, that it makes it hard to imagine running an organization that volunteers to help others every single day. People like Kara and others, must be completely organized, able to handle stress, and ultimately love what they are doing in order to manage this challenge. This experience really helped me put in perspective the amount of work that happens behind the scenes.
This is an important realization for a couple of reasons. Personally, I can see myself coordinating a large-scale event like this in the future and now I have a better perspective of how much work would have to go in behind the scenes. This was a valuable learning experience for me. Also, as I said, all the behind the scenes work often does not get recognized to the extent that it should be, so it is important that we give credit to everybody who spends there time helping others, no matter what form it comes in.