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GulfQuest Volunteers Log Nearly 10,000 Hours During Inaugural Year
Oct 7, 2016
Volunteers are a tremendous resource for any non-profit organization, and GulfQuest’s volunteers are no exception. During the first year of operation, GulfQuest volunteers accumulated nearly 10,000 hours of service and saved the museum over $230,000 in manpower.
“These are the people who truly believe in GulfQuest,” GulfQuest Volunteer Services Director Traci Swoboda said. “They volunteer their time to support something they believe in and to be a part of a community that celebrates the maritime industry and culture of the Gulf Coast.”
GulfQuest’s 128 volunteers worked 9,780.1 hours during the museum’s first 12 months of operation.
“Our volunteers come from all backgrounds in life,” Swoboda said. “They include active and retired military, merchant mariners, professors and community leaders, each with their own expertise.
They are passionate about sharing our mission with the community and inspiring people of all ages to appreciate the Gulf Coast’s rich maritime heritage.”
Using the National Economic Impact of Volunteers Calculator provided by Points of Light, an international, non-profit organization that helps promote the spirit of volunteerism, GulfQuest volunteers saved the museum approximately $230,400 in revenue over the past 12 months. GulfQuest volunteers provide manpower throughout the museum, including serving as museum greeters, floaters on the exhibit floors and exhibit facilitators. They also work in Treasures, the museum store, special events, education and administration.
On Monday, October 10, GulfQuest will host a Volunteer Appreciation Brunch in honor of the nearly 10,000 hours of volunteerism.
“It’s just a small way of showing thanks to our wonderful volunteers,” Swoboda said. “They’re more than just volunteers, they’re family. Without them, we simply couldn’t operate, and that’s a fact.”