Service Coordinators are literally in the middle of Village action, even while sitting at home with only a phone and a computer. Here’s how they connect members to the services they need. A Providence Village member calls the on-duty SC to make a request for service at 401-441-5240 (Barrington Village members call their Phone Monitor at 401-400-5599, or email a request to Barrington@VillageCommonRI.org). The SC then forwards the request to the volunteers that the member needs — the ones who will run an errand, drive to a medical appointment or grocery store, who will arrange a caring call, help with computer problems, offer a referral to professional services, or even someone who will shovel their snow.
SCs work from home for half a day, on any day of the week they prefer. I’ve been a Service Coordinator for several years and always look forward to a half-day devoted to cleaning off my desk while waiting for the phone to ring! When a member calls with a request, I type the details into the system, press “GO,” and return to tidying my desk. That’s as simple as it gets, but listen to what four other SCs say about their work.
— I like working with members to solve a problem together. This is when I learn more about our members, and feel that collaborating to solve something engages both of us beyond a simple exchange.
— I just enjoy helping the members. It’s one way I can try to be kind. And most of the members are so delightful, appreciative, and resilient. Sounds trite, but I feel they give me more than I do them, because they set an example & lift my spirits.
— I always like dealing with TW because he’s so kind and friendly and there’s a sense of gratefulness in his manner of speaking.
— I find Jim, Liza and the rest of the Service Coordinating Team a great group with which to be doing this work - lots of support, caring and dedication!
Do you think that this volunteer opportunity might be right for you? We need you! And — you don’t need to be a Village member to be a volunteer.
No one is born a Service Coordinator! Here’s how we bring in a new volunteer. You’ll be shown how to use the computer-based network that is fundamental to the system. Your training is conducted through several Zoom sessions with our leaders, to whom you always have access for help.
Please call a Service Coordinator at 441-5240 and ask to be connected with Eliza in Volunteer Intake. She’ll call you and answer any questions you have about joining the SC team.
|