Second Helpings has amazing volunteers who donate their time and energy to transforming lives. Who introduces new volunteers to Second Helpings and helps current volunteers with anything they need? That smiling face and half of the incredible volunteer team is Manager of Volunteer Services Adriane Rios.
A nonnative Hoosier, Adriane grew up and went to school in Alabama. While she started working for a marketing research firm after college, she realized that she wanted to return to school and then work for a nonprofit. With her family nearby, she and her friends were determined to lift up the city of Birmingham up from “the shadows of its tragic past.” Loving her job and loving her life, Adriane did not anticipate what was to come next.
Two years ago, life happened and Adriane moved to Indianapolis to accommodate her then-fiancé’s, now-husband’s new job. Unhappy in the job landed after the move, Adriane decided to take a break and learn more about other organizations around Indy. She began volunteering at various organizations with missions she felt passionate about, one of which included Girls, Inc. She and another volunteer co-facilitated at program at a local IPS school titled “How to Be a Good Friend.” The other volunteer excitedly spoke to Adriane about another organization she volunteered at and its mission – Second Helpings. Interested, Adriane came to Second Helpings and it’s safe to say she fell hard for the organization, its mission, and the people who serve there. She soon found herself applying for the Administrative Program Assistant that works with culinary students and graduates. While she did not get that position, she was determined to return. “I kind of have to be there. I’m going to take whatever it takes to be there,” she told herself. Soon after, the job of part-time Scheduling Assistant for Volunteer Services opened. Adriane knew she wanted to work at Second Helpings, so she applied for and then accepted that job.
For three months, Adriane worked diligently in the part-time role, learning about Second Helpings and becoming more and more passionate about the mission. Then, the position of Manager of Volunteer Services opened, and Adriane jumped at the opportunity to work full-time at Second Helpings with all of its incredible volunteers. Now, she oversees all volunteer operations, including training new volunteers, scheduling volunteers (with the help of scheduling assistant Annie Hostetter), and ensuring that each program’s needs are met with the necessary numbers of volunteers.
Adriane makes sure that each and every volunteer here, whether a traditional volunteer, one fulfilling community service requirements, or one undergoing assessments to rejoin the workforce, has the most fulfilling experience possible. “I want to make sure every volunteer here feels loved and appreciated, and also feel like they have responsibility here without overburdening them. I make a point to walk around and speak with every volunteer each day to know what is going on in their lives. It is important to know each and every one of them on a personal level so that they know they aren’t just a kitchen assistant or a driver, but they are someone who this organization needs and cannot live without. It feels like a big family here – our volunteers are very close to one another.”
Ask any volunteer, and they will confirm that Adriane successfully fulfills her job. They rave about her, and how approachable she is and how she welcomes each one with love into the Second Helpings family. “I always worry about when we get a new Volunteer Services Manager, but Adriane has stepped up into the plate. You feel cared for and appreciated when speaking with her,” one volunteer stated.
For Adriane, her favorite memories come from every new volunteer orientation. “It is always a great feeling to stand up in a room of 20-25 people and know they are all here to support the mission of Second Helpings.” She always starts with the question, “What is your favorite childhood memory of food?” A room full of silent people always bursts into a cacophony of noise after that! “You can also see how excited they are to learn about Second Helpings and I love having them see how important it is.”
Adriane feels the most pride in how Second Helpings has delivered over 10 million meals in its history. “Those meals would not be possible without our volunteers and I am honored to be in a position where it is my job to manage such an incredible family of individuals who work so tirelessly to make our mission succeed.”
Every day, Adriane positively impacts the volunteers who come here with her smile, bright attitude, and general care and interest for the volunteers and their lives. While she helps Second Helpings continue its mission to transform lives through the power of food, Second Helpings has also changed Adriane’s life for the better. “I am happier than I have ever been in my life (here). I feel like Second Helpings has healed me in ways I can’t even imagine. It really allows me to put things into perspective and understand that the struggles many of our neighbors face are unimaginable. I have realized that most everyone here is healing from something… everyone has a story of how they got here. We provide warm, nutritious meals to those who need them the most, but we also provide a friendly, safe place for people to volunteer who are searching to find purpose by doing something that is bigger than any of us can really define.”
Second Helpings staff devote their lives to helping others. In return, Second Helpings changes those lives in ways that can be completely unexpected and wonderful.
Are you interested in working with Adriane, and the dedicated volunteers at Second Helpings?
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Written by Abby Rolland