![A volunteer holds a sign that says "Ask Me" at a community event](https://convoyofhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/06-02_SpringfieldCE_5Div_614A9412V2-700x368-1.jpg)
Volunteers are at the heart of everything Convoy of Hope does. From bagging groceries for Community Events around the country to removing debris after a devastating storm, Convoy volunteers walk hand in hand with us to help those in need.
We asked a few of our wonderful volunteers to share why they’re passionate about bringing help and hope to impoverished, hungry, and hurting people around the world.
Linda McCalister, a Convoy of Hope volunteer, has served as a Community Event lead volunteer for two years, as a volunteer at Hands of Hope, and serves with Convoy:Women. When asked why she would encourage someone to volunteer with Convoy, she said, “You will make some new friends, learn new things, and join an organization that opens the door to hope for thousands — if not millions — of people. It will change your life.”
Community Events
At Convoy of Hope Community Events, Guests of Honor receive free groceries, health screenings, haircuts, career services, and much more. Linda recalls a story from one event of a mother and her young daughter who had walked two miles to a local Community Event so they could receive shoes.
“All she had to wear were plastic shoes that wore blisters on her feet to the point she could not even try on the [new] shoes. The volunteer found the right shoes for the little girl and bandaged her blisters. Then they connected her with someone who gave them a ride home — something so small that meant so much!”
In 2018, Community Events served more than 96,000 Guests of Honor at 62 Community Events in 48 cities. These events would not have been possible without the nearly 28,000 volunteers who partner with Convoy of Hope.
Hands of Hope
On Tuesday nights, Convoy of Hope opens the World Distribution Center in Springfield, Missouri, and welcomes people for a weekly volunteer opportunity called Hands of Hope. Volunteers sort, pack, count, and label items that are distributed throughout the world.
“It’s a great opportunity to serve and provide others in the local community and around the world with the essential items they might not have been able to get,” says Connor Louthan, a lead Hands of Hope volunteer.
In 2018, Hands of Hope partnered with more than 5,500 volunteers who invested more than 12,500 hours during the year.
Field Teams
Gerald Norz, another Convoy of Hope volunteer, has served on multiple Field Teams during the past five years. He loves working with partners in the field. He said one of the most memorable experiences volunteering with Convoy was, “… seeing the children waving as we arrived at the site in Tanzania … such a great welcome and such warm smiles.”
Eighty-two Field Teams — comprising more than 1,000 volunteers — served in 11 countries around the world in 2018. These teams serve people through projects and interaction connected to Convoy’s Children’s Feeding and Agriculture programs.
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Community Events, Hands of Hope, and Field Teams are just three of several volunteer opportunities with Convoy of Hope. Whether it’s driving a Convoy of Hope truck, answering phones, or deploying with the Disaster Services team, every volunteer makes a difference in a person’s life through the service they provide. In 2018, Convoy had more than 57,000 volunteers serve in the U.S. and internationally. Convoy of Hope is so thankful for each person who serves with their heart and their time! Visit convoyofhope.org/volunteer to learn more about how you can volunteer at Convoy of Hope.