Volunteer Roles

FGA Volunteer Role Descriptions

Below captures what the different roles are like in the Bloomington International Student Ministries (BISM) Annual International Furniture Give-Away at Sherwood Oaks Christian Church (SOCC) that occurs every August before Indiana University (IU) Bloomington Campus students begin school.

Furniture Event Volunteer Roles:

FGA RolesTypeDescription
Truck & Trailer DriverDelivery Drivers & Assistants Team
  • Personal Truck & Trailer Drivers for Furniture Delivery
  • If your trailer is available, pre-load Friday Evening
  • Check-in and Receive assignments from Personal Truck Team Lead (Jeff Huston) near the tent. You can bypass the Acorn Room check-in.
  • Oversee loading and unloading furniture on your truck or trailer
  • Provide required documentation to the Dispatchers
  • Report furniture damage or problems to the Dispatchers
  • Ensure any borrowed trailers are swept out when finished
  • Return any equipment and documentation at the end of the shift
Truck & Trailer Delivery AssistantsDelivery Drivers & Assistants Team
  • Check-in and Receive assignments from Personal Truck Team Lead (Jeff Huston) near the tent. You can bypass the Acorn Room check-in.
  • Provide support to truck drivers during furniture transportation
  • Ensure secure loading and unloading of trucks
  • Provide navigation assistance and check vehicle’s condition
  • Carry furniture to the student’s residences
  • When finished deliveries, help loaders with final loading and cleanup
Stager or LoaderStaging and Loading Teams
  • Responsible for safe and secure staging (Stagers) and loading (Loaders) of trucks and trailers with furniture
  • Work closely with Personal Truck Team Leads (Jeff Huston & Conie Mehalechko), Staging Lead (Kristi Huston), vehicle drivers and assistants
  • Ensure accurate tracking of items loaded onto trucks
  • Handle all types of furniture, including heavier pieces
  • Assist with cleanup including loading leftover items into trailers as designated by leads
  • When Staging:
    • Unload and organize furniture from storage containers
    • Handoff furniture to loaders or place them in designated areas
    • Ensure furniture is free of previous labels
    • Communicate any cleaning or repair needs to the Staging Lead
    • Carry trash to dumpster and items needing repair to Repair Team and repaired items back to staging.
    • Ensure items are relatively clean and clean where needed.
    • Sweep out trailers when emptied using leaf blower to trailer edge and then using broom and dust pan with a trash bag.
Load ControlOther Light Duty
  • Ensure accurate tracking of items loaded onto trucks
  • Mark loaded items clearly on Furniture Delivery Document
  • Work closely with truck drivers and assistants
  • Collaborate with the Truck and Staging Leads
  • To ensure the accuracy of documentation, Load Control is not to handle any furniture
  • Ensure the Driver’s name & phone number is clearly listed on the form
  • Process the Furniture Delivery Document with the Dispatcher before handing it over to the driver
Delivery DispatcherOther Light Duty
  • Send delivery updates to students using our software
  • Use mobile phone for communication
  • Let a Truck Lead know of Incidents as soon as possible that require a delivery.
Student Shuttle Personal DriverShuttle Drivers
  • Operate personal vehicles for student transportation
  • Pick up students from designated residential areas to SOCC following the zone plan
  • Transport students residential areas from SOCC after furniture selection process
Student Shuttle Organizational DriverShuttle Drivers
  • Operate organizational vans (SOCC or other organizations) for student transportation
  • Must be pre-approved to drive SOCC vans
  • Pick up students from designated residential areas to SOCC following the zone plan
  • Transport students residential areas from SOCC after furniture selection process
Kitchen TeamFood-Related
  • Prepare and make available food and drinks for students and volunteers at specified times
  • Maintain cleanliness in food and drink areas
  • Empty trash cans and replace bags
  • Assist with closing activities for volunteers on Wed. or Sat.
Household Goods TeamHousehold Goods
  • Assist students in selecting household goods
  • Clean, sort, and arrange various items
  • Maintain a calm and organized environment
  • Explain item selection limits to students
  • Replenish items as needed
  • Assist with closing activities for volunteers on Wed.
GuideOther Light Duty
  • Assist students in selecting furniture types
  • Familiarize yourself with available choices
  • Provide guidance and answer student questions
  • Assist with closing activities for volunteers on Wed.
Guide Data Entry & Tech Support TeamOther Light Duty
  • Enter student selection data into spreadsheets
  • Provide tech support and troubleshoot issues
  • Ensure accurate record-keeping
Greeter (Part of the Check-in Team)Other Light Duty
  • Engage students and volunteers
  • Guide them to the check-in area
  • At least one should be at the church entrance and one at the door to the gym
  • Assist with umbrellas in the parking lot if raining
  • Provide information and friendly assistance
  • Assist with closing activities for volunteers on Wed.
Ambassador TeamOther Light Duty
  • Welcome students to Bloomington and the US
  • Provide information about activities and services
  • On-site Ambassadors engage with students in the Fellowship Hall or Guide Rooms
Student Walker (Parents and Kids)Other Light Duty
  • Escort students
  • Ensure a smooth flow throughout the venue
  • Guide students between different rooms as directed
  • Assist with closing activities for volunteers on Wed.
Student Flow Management TeamOther Light Duty
  • Direct students after check-in to food and tables in Fellowship Hall
  • Place students in color coded groups by table area
  • Flow Management Details
  • Assist with closing activities for volunteers on Wed.
Welcome Area TeamOther Light Duty
  • Engage with students and volunteers in table discussion
  • Assist students with getting food
  • Inform students about the FGA process
  • Assist with closing activities for volunteers on Wed.
Student & Volunteer Check-in TeamOther Light Duty
  • Welcome volunteers and students, provide instructions and ensure smooth check-in process
  • Register unregistered volunteers
  • Distribute name tags to volunteers and students
  • Distribute volunteer t-shirts to volunteers without one
  • Assist with closing activities for volunteers on Wed. or Sat.
First Aid LeadOther Light Duty
  • Provide first aid assistance and draw on other medical expertise as needed. Each First Aid person could have a special sticker on their nametag.
  • Document all incidents and report any significant ones to the Lead Facilitator.
  • Volunteer for FGA roles that are on site and in one area so as to be easily found (e.g. not facilitator, food, student walker, shuttle, media, truck driver, nor truck driver assistant).
  • The AED on Sun-Wed will be available in its current SOCC location in the hallway around the corner from the main lobby by the coffee station. On Friday and Saturday it will reside in the Acorn room with the first aid kit. The lead Facilitator has the needed keys to access it.
  • Plan to be there during the week-long event: Sun afternoon, Mon evening training, Tues & Wed evening, Fri evening, and Sat morning.
  • Have the list of all people with first aid skills and where and when they plan to be.
Furniture Repair TeamOther Light Duty
  • Identify repairable furniture or toss in trash container
  • Repair furniture Friday and Saturday before event ends
  • Remove old labels from delivery or for repair when furniture repaired
  • Coordinate with Staging team regarding completed items
  • Dispose of any unrepairable items
  • Ensure area is cleaned up after the event
Media TeamOther Light Duty
  • Must have SOCC Media Team experience
  • Setup and manage Fellowship Hall and/or parking lot area sound systems
  • Coordinate with Event Facilitators
  • Take photos and video of the event for use in SOCC promotional materials and for the FGA and BISM websites
  • Post-process the media and provide to FGA Facilitators and Webmaster
Facilitation TeamOther Light Duty
  • Must have FGA leadership experience
  • Facilitators have different roles distributed among the Facilitation team
  • Ensure all leaders are Christian and that the event glorifies God
  • Plan for the event and manage associated meetings, websites, correspondence and promotion
  • Facilitate smooth flow of the furniture and household goods collection and storage
  • Facilitate each day of the event week
  • Conduct post-event assessment meetings
  • Incorporate lessons learned into future event planning