Cleveland Foodbank in Cleveland, Ohio
I want to begin this statement by saying that this was a VOLUNTEER effort. For the last couple of weeks, two of my students and I have been volunteering at the Cleveland Foodbank. I wanted them to have the exposure to a work type environment while I was there to work right alongside. The beginning of our experience, meaning the orientation and training with Ms. Tiffany Williams on 1/22/08, was wonderful, BUT that is where it ended. On our first foray into the warehouse, we were instructed regarding our, “job.” The woman who told us was decent as well as was Ms. Williams. After about an hour and ½ of work, FREE work mind you, an older, gray haired gentleman was driving by on his forklift, something we saw him do, mostly without a load, for most of the time that day, (In fact, I would estimate it at about 75%.) said something regarding my folder which was on a box. I said it was mine and he said, “Move it.”
I have no problem following direction from someone with more experience, BUT being treated as though I am to jump to someone’s order just because, is not what I wanted these kids to get out of this experience. The man could have asked, but he ordered. I was there to volunteer and it was very difficult to come back but the kids wanted to. Too bad for us.
The second day, 1/24/08, after doing what they had asked, two of the workers, the one from the previous day and a younger man, ordered us to take down two entire rows we had stacked on a pallet. Again, and order!!!!! Both men had ridden around us on their forklifts at least five times but never said anything until AFTER to boxes were stacked. This is rotten. If they wanted it moved they should have done or at least asked. It is very disheartening as a volunteer to watch the people who actually get paid doing nothing but riding around a complaining about what we just did for FREE.
The last day we worked, and it probably will be the last day because these people should have no contact with the public whatsoever. The woman in the warehouse section where we worked was fine, the men, on the other hand, need to learn some people skills. Honest to God, I would have fired both of them for treating a volunteer such as they treated us. Anyway, Mr. Friendly, as I have sarcastically named the guy from the first day, told the boys what to do while I was doing some observational paperwork. There are tables in the warehouse with scales to weigh various cartons. Now, these scales are steel, with nicks and scrapes, but very sturdy. They are probably able to weight more than 300 pounds, but I admit I do not know. I was using one of the scales to write my observation and this man decided he had to prove his “superiority” by telling me I shouldn’t write on the scale. I am sorry, but there is absolutely NOTHING you can say that would justify such an, “I more powerful than you so you WILL listen to me,” statement. The scale was about eight inches taller than the tabletop which made it much easier on my back to write.
Your organization really needs to find a person that has people skills as a volunteer supervisor in the warehouse. These men might be great behind the scenes, but they had definitely given me a “teachable moment.” I have gone on. At length, with my kids how the manner in which these men treated us is most definitely NOT the way they should act in any supervisory position. I would love to continue working with your organization, AND bring even more kids, BUT I will not subject them to the above mentioned men.
Volunteers need to be treated very well due to what they do. Do not EVER make me feel as though you consider yourself superior in any way. No one is better than anyone else and, if you want to see it from my eyes, we are the ones giving our time away while they were getting paid, so who is better in a Karmic sense?
I have no problem following direction from someone with more experience, BUT being treated as though I am to jump to someone’s order just because, is not what I wanted these kids to get out of this experience. The man could have asked, but he ordered. I was there to volunteer and it was very difficult to come back but the kids wanted to. Too bad for us.
The second day, 1/24/08, after doing what they had asked, two of the workers, the one from the previous day and a younger man, ordered us to take down two entire rows we had stacked on a pallet. Again, and order!!!!! Both men had ridden around us on their forklifts at least five times but never said anything until AFTER to boxes were stacked. This is rotten. If they wanted it moved they should have done or at least asked. It is very disheartening as a volunteer to watch the people who actually get paid doing nothing but riding around a complaining about what we just did for FREE.
The last day we worked, and it probably will be the last day because these people should have no contact with the public whatsoever. The woman in the warehouse section where we worked was fine, the men, on the other hand, need to learn some people skills. Honest to God, I would have fired both of them for treating a volunteer such as they treated us. Anyway, Mr. Friendly, as I have sarcastically named the guy from the first day, told the boys what to do while I was doing some observational paperwork. There are tables in the warehouse with scales to weigh various cartons. Now, these scales are steel, with nicks and scrapes, but very sturdy. They are probably able to weight more than 300 pounds, but I admit I do not know. I was using one of the scales to write my observation and this man decided he had to prove his “superiority” by telling me I shouldn’t write on the scale. I am sorry, but there is absolutely NOTHING you can say that would justify such an, “I more powerful than you so you WILL listen to me,” statement. The scale was about eight inches taller than the tabletop which made it much easier on my back to write.
Your organization really needs to find a person that has people skills as a volunteer supervisor in the warehouse. These men might be great behind the scenes, but they had definitely given me a “teachable moment.” I have gone on. At length, with my kids how the manner in which these men treated us is most definitely NOT the way they should act in any supervisory position. I would love to continue working with your organization, AND bring even more kids, BUT I will not subject them to the above mentioned men.
Volunteers need to be treated very well due to what they do. Do not EVER make me feel as though you consider yourself superior in any way. No one is better than anyone else and, if you want to see it from my eyes, we are the ones giving our time away while they were getting paid, so who is better in a Karmic sense?
posted by johnathan e at 12:45 PM
1 Comments:
I don't doubt what you say. After the director, or whatever he was, catered his daughter's wedding with the foodbank's food, then got caught, somehow, my brother-in-law, who was working there, became their patsy and lost his job. He didn't even know about what was going on. That place is a bunch of scamsters.
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