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Live United by Erin Haag

Every year, there’s a noticeable shift in the fall. I used to think it was tied to the weather, that when the weather turned and it started feeling brisk in the air, that was the moment it would shift. I’ve come to realize that it doesn’t always align that way, so there is no real explanation for it. The shift is when the phone starts ringing off the hook and the doorbell never stops. There’s a sudden increase in people stopping by, asking questions and needing resources. It’s corporate partners wanting to learn how to give back, and people cleaning out their houses and wanting to donate to families in need. We’ve had a gentleman ask us how he could put United Way in his will so that we would receive all of his clothes when he dies. All phrasing and word choice belong to him. I was asked if I’d attend a meeting to talk about food insecurity and the resources. You know, 5 to 10 minutes. The asker should know me well enough that I can’t talk about anything in 5 to 10 minutes, but I’ll do my very best.

This is Krissy’s first fall/winter with us. After the fourth donor to sign up to adopt a family for the Jingle family in one day, she looked at me and I told her, “This is what it’s going to be like until Christmas.” I really hope I haven’t scared her away. All of this is incredibly wonderful though. We’re connecting with people who want to give back. Having donors reach out to us well in advance of our programs is amazing. New volunteers show up at our door, and spend their time putting together clothing racks for the Winter Gear Drive.

The challenge has always been keeping up. Responding to volunteers, board members, potential donors all in a reasonable timeframe. Onboarding those new volunteers we need to keep the programs operating. We rarely answer the phone — we just can’t. We focus on logging the calls and returning the voicemail. Yesterday I had a line three deep of people wanting to talk to me. A school social worker came to meet with me, and I looked at her and told her, “I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to eat while we walk and talk.” She told me to go ahead, because gosh, if anyone gets it, it’s going to be a school social worker.

Change is happening again at the team level. Our operations specialist, Rosemary, is moving to Kansas City. Her oldest son, Jonah, has been working for us for the last month, with the fancy job title of “Truck Guy/The Muscle.” We even put it on his name tag. We’ll be saying goodbye to both of them next week, and we’re going to miss them greatly. The plan is for Rosemary to continue working remotely, and we’re working to make sure all of those pesky logistical things are worked out, like insurance and state registration/compliance. Sadly, I can’t magically transport Jonah for the muscle of his job duties, but he’s got a great future ahead of him with graduation and his plans to become an electrician.

With their sad but happy move, our on-site team is down to just Krissy and I. Krissy’s main focus is the pantry and the CFSP boxes for our seniors. That’s a tall order for a part-time position. It needs to stay part-time though, because we need multiple people who can cover for each other during vacations and illness. We’re looking for the right fit for our team, so keep an eye out on our employment page for updated job postings in the next week. It prompts deeper discussion about what’s most helpful to us — and how can we leverage volunteers to ease the load. Our biggest need is someone who can answer the door and our phones. That’s a fast-paced environment, with needing someone who can accurately use our computer systems that log every single phone call and get full details. We need core office hours, where volunteers know when they can just stop in and get help signing up, or drop off those beautiful handmade quilts that have been coming in. I envision someone who can be a hostess, making coffee, setting out our snacks and keeping things humming along. A buffer is sometimes needed — as Krissy adeptly recognized yesterday. Someone came in asking for me, wanting to drop off a donation of winter gear. Krissy knew I was talking with someone else, and that another person was waiting for me, so she asked for details. When she realized it was just dropping things off, she let them know that she could take that!

Thankfully, we have volunteers sharing their time and talents in everything from organizing, taking ownership of the Winter Gear Drive and more. I talked with another executive director about staffing since they have the same challenges as we do. Everyone does, small- to medium-sized nonprofits are just hit a little bit harder. I was told, “I’m not worried. It’ll work out.”

That’s where I’m at. It’ll work out. We’re busy, but busy in a good, beautiful way. When we’re handing out cases of formula and receiving calls about businesses wanting to adopt families for the holiday program, and handmade quilts coming in the door, and service clubs working to buy coats for the Winter Gear Drive, it’s hard to believe that this is a negative. When kids enrolled in the18-21 program at Albert Lea Schools come three days a week, and probation officers are sending kids to do community service hours — and the kids are working hard for us, we’re seeing things come full circle. A volunteer shared that her mother asked if it was depressing to work at the food pantry. Our volunteer told her mother that it’s the opposite, that she feels uplifted by the stories that she sees unfolding every day.

If you have a moment, please send Rosemary and Jonah a note to wish them well. As the muscle/truck guy, Jonah doesn’t have a work email, but notes can be sent to them at Rosemary@unitedwayfc.org or to our office at PO Box 686, Albert Lea, MN 56007. We’ll be sure to pass on any notes in the next few weeks as well.

If you’d like to be part of the beautiful chaos, as a volunteer or potential part-time, flexible job, give us a call or email us. I promise, we’re busy, but we’re not too busy to welcome newcomers to our team, in whatever way you want to give.

Erin Haag is the executive director of the United Way of Freeborn County.