Sometimes trying something new means not knowing what to expect.
That was the case when Midwest Food Bank New England hosted its first Hand-in-Hand Open House & Volunteer Expo in August. The team hoped the event would introduce new people to Midwest Food Bank while also connecting guests with other nonprofits serving the community.
With help from Midwest Food Bank ambassadors, 10 nonprofit organizations joined the expo. Three food trucks served guests outside, and free Ben & Jerry’s added a sweet incentive to stop by.
Before the doors opened, expectations were modest. The team would have been thrilled to welcome 50 people and felt the event would be worthwhile even if only 10 attended.
Despite uncertain weather, more than 150 people came through during the day. Even more encouraging, over 110 were new to Midwest Food Bank, and more than 30 shared their contact information to learn about future opportunities.
The connections did not end when the event was over. Several first-time guests have already registered to volunteer, including a Class A CDL driver. Participating nonprofits also shared positive feedback about the experience.
For a first-time event with plenty of unknowns, the day offered a simple reminder to the New England team: sometimes it pays to dream big.
