From the Volunteer Office
Hello Volunteers,
As the leaves begin to change and the air turns crisp, we’re excited to share the latest updates to our volunteer community. This season, we are launching a brand-new volunteer portal which enables you to log your hours with greater ease, share your experiences on social media, explore new volunteer opportunities, and so much more! Below, you’ll find inspiring testimonies that highlight the positive impact our volunteers are making through various initiatives. Thank you for being a vital part of our community!
Want to share your story? Insights about your experience are welcome! Just send your comments and feedback to jbrandt@ccmke.org.
What's Inside this Newsletter:
- THE LAUNCH of our New Volunteer Portal (Get Connected by Galaxy Digital). What You Need to Know.
- Seasons of Caring — Volunteer Groups and Special Connections
- Featured Diaper Packing Article — Catholic Charities Partnership with United Way
- New Video Testimonies — Volunteers Share their Experience
- Volunteer Role Highlight: Adoption Support Group Activities Volunteer
- Photo Gallery
We are excited to announce that ...
It's Time!
New Volunteer Portal Launch — Get Connected by Galaxy Digital!
You asked, and we listened! In our 2023 end-of-year survey, many volunteers expressed a desire for a new platform that makes it easier to log hours, take notes, and connect with others. We're excited to address your feedback and introduce our new volunteer platform called "Get Connected" by Galaxy Digital.
After October 21, you will receive an email about how to access your new account: Welcome to Get Connected — Catholic Charities' Volunteer Portal! Once you receive the email, please complete the following three steps:
- Open the email titled: "Welcome to Get Connected — Catholic Charities' Volunteer Portal!" The email sender will appear as "no-reply@galaxydigital.com — Catholic Charities Volunteer Services."
- Within the email, click on your unique volunteer portal profile link to "activate" your new account. Use the email address and temporary password (for the first time logging in) provided in the email.
- Once you're logged in, the system will prompt you to change your password. Please take a moment to confirm your contact information and volunteer role to ensure everything is current and correct. If something appears incorrect, and you have trouble updating the information, please email volunteer@ccmke.org.
Please note, any volunteer hours logged in My Impact during October before the transfer will be moved to Get Connected by the Catholic Charities Volunteer Team. We encourage you to explore the site and begin logging your volunteer hours on the new platform, respond to opportunities, and enjoy exciting features like a dedicated page for volunteer newsletters, filmed testimonials, a photo gallery, and much more!
A Convenient App Makes Everything Easier!
Before you download, you must first activate your new account listed in the steps above. Open the app store on your smart phone and search "Causer" to download. Once activated, provide your new login information into "Causer." Click here to read more about downloading the "Causer" app and to learn about its features.
Get Connected has many helpful resources for volunteers to navigate the site's features. We recommend saving the links below or adding them to your "favorites" in your web browser.
Answers to General Questions about How to Use Get Connected
How to Log Volunteer Hours on Get Connected
Seasons of Caring Overview
This fall, communities across our 10 counties came together for a season of caring. Friends, co-workers, and neighbors gathered with open hearts and rolled up their sleeves to tackle projects that impact our communities. Whether doing a fall clean-up, assisting with an art project, packing hygiene kits, or preparing diapers for families, the spirit of collaboration filled the autumn air.
A Day of Caring
Thank you CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) volunteers!
Since 1934, United Way of Sheboygan County has mobilized the community to action, ensuring everyone can thrive. Their annual Day of Caring took place on Thursday, September 19, with hundreds of volunteers improving lives at more than 40 local nonprofits.
This year, Catholic Charities received a group of volunteers from CliftonLarsonAllen. We are so grateful to all our CLA volunteers who helped beautify our Sheboygan office and packed over 100 hygiene kits!
University School of Milwaukee
Students and their art teacher from University School of Milwaukee visited the Adult Day Center to lead our members in an art project and share their musical talents. They brought so much joy and excitement to our members! One of the students, a piano player, inspired one of our members to begin playing the piano after years of not playing. Thank you for inspiring our members!
Bonding over music
When ADC member, James (left) heard that a trumpet player might visit, he eagerly began asking everyone if they played. John, a Seminarian from St. Francis de Sales Seminary, enthusiastically agreed to bring his trumpet and perform for our members. The two bonded over the instrument, creating a special moment that illustrates the profound impact our volunteers have on the lives of those we serve. At Catholic Charities, we are committed to adapting our programming to align with the interests of both our members and volunteers, creating connections that make a lasting impact.
What Does It Mean To Be a Diaper Hub?
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee shares how it supports the community with help from United Way, and how they pass on their values through diaper packing events.
Recently, Catholic Charities teamed up with first-year students from Carroll University for a diaper packing event at United Way’s Milwaukee office. The two groups often collaborate for Carroll’s Freshman Day of Service and enjoy it when they can support United Way’s Diaper Bank. Jessica Brandt, Parish and Volunteer Coordinator at Catholic Charities, spoke about diaper needs in our community and what it means to be a Diaper Hub.
"If you attended college, you likely remember the shoestring budget that you were on. Housing, books, food, gas, and the occasional (at least, that’s what you told your parents) night out would add up before you knew it. Imagine if you also had a family to feed and diapers to buy. Even if you cut back on your expenses, the cost of raising young children would continue to rise. What would you do?"
First-year students at Carroll University were shocked to hear that most clients of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee make less than $12,000 annually, putting their college expenses into perspective.
Together, the team packed 9,625 diapers for hubs, (like Catholic Charities) that support local families. Way to serve your community!
RIS VOLUNTEERS SHARE THEIR TESTIMONIES
As Catholic Charities volunteer program continues to grow, we are collecting volunteer testimonials! These testimonials enable volunteers to share their experience and provide valuable insight for prospective volunteers looking to join us in our mission to provide service to those in need, to advocate for justice, and to call upon others to do the same. Click below to view our RIS volunteers' testimonies.
Watch Maisoun's Video Below!
Want to share your story?
Calling upon others to serve is part of our mission! We invite and encourage volunteers in all roles to share your story with us! It is a great way to encourage prospective volunteers to join us.
"I love the connection that Catholic Charities allows me to have with a refugee family. It is a personal and trusting environment where I feel as though I can make an impact." — 2021 Volunteer Survey
SPOTLIGHT: Volunteer ROle
Adoption Support Group (November Sign-Up)
Current and prospective adoptive parents are opening their hearts and loving home to a child and making their family whole through adoption. Catholic Charities walks alongside these Forever Families providing a strong network of support.
In November, we are looking for volunteers to engage with kids and play during our support group. This enables parents to receive support while they build community with other families who have adopted or are seeking to adopt.
Please note: Completion of Safe Environment Training is required in order to participate.
Do you love volunteering with us?
Let us know!
If you have 90 seconds to spare, we would love it if you wrote us a review on Volunteer Match. We want to recruit more amazing volunteers like you!
This enables us to continue providing the best volunteer experience possible. It also encourages prospective volunteers to join us in our mission to serve our neighbors in need.
We love new ideas!
Have an idea about volunteering? Please don't hesitate to share it with us! Email Jessica at jbrandt@ccmke.org