This Thanksgiving I had the privilege to volunteer some of my time to a great cause called Operation Turkey, a non-profit organization. What I experienced totally exceeded my expectation. This was well planned and organized show. The organizers made the event to help the homeless something that would be memorable and interesting to the volunteers who were participating. They had a simple idea to make and deliver 4,000 hot Thanksgiving meals to the homeless in Austin. They promoted the event with families in mind and then crafted a really clever process that would rally the troops who would be participating. I was awestruck. There were at least 1,500 volunteers if not more who came for the cause (see video). They were told where to come and it was an assembly line process. Here’s the process:
- Get in line and receive two decorated containers for the food. These were designed with drawing for the homeless recipient from local children in the area.
- Mingle with other volunteers while in line. Also don’t forget the cheering for goals reached while in line and listen to upbeat music that kept the line going at a brisk pace.
- Now you encounter a greeter who thanks you for volunteering and gives you brief instructions on the line you will be going to.
- Now you are guided down the assembly line by a team leader who is smiling and appreciative you are there.
- Now you are holding the containers as the stuffing is placed in the appropriate spot in the container.
- Next person places the serving of green beens into the container
- Next person says hello as he puts the piping hot corn into the container
- Next is a high school girl and she puts a scoop of cranberry sauce next to the stuffing
- Next a nice serving of hot turkey
- Next a dinner roll
- And let’s not forget the pumpkin pie
- A person now grabs one of the two containers you are holding and closes the lid
- Another person takes the other container and closes the lid
- Both containers are now being placed in a box of other hot meals
- I am thanked and cheered at the end of the line!
- I continue to watch as drivers (volunteers) are lined up along the street at the end of the line to receive written instructions by one person (see video 2)
- and another person is loading the number of meals for that order.
- Operation Turkey made serving and experience.
- They made it real simple.
- They created a show. They did not leave anything to chance.
- They created a predictable outcome.
- They made you feel important.
- They rallied the volunteers around the goal: Let’s feed 4,000 meals. You heard shouts as the countdown was taking place.
- They made it credible by letting you be part of the story.
- They made it exciting.
- They were prepared by having lots of tshirts on hand that they were selling for $15 a pop. Smart!