Innovating, Empathizing, and Taking Action

As the Volunteer Coordinator at Make-A-Day, Amanda Radke has brought new life to her organization’s volunteer program. By streamlining the volunteer onboarding process, establishing a volunteer recognition program, and promoting opportunities through social media, she has created lasting capacity for her site.

In her role, Amanda has found herself “continually tinkering” with Make-A-Day’s Pop-Up events, always working to improve the experience of guests, partners, and volunteers. With an ongoing aim to refine these events, she has enjoyed maximizing their impact for Columbus’s unhoused community.

“It’s just been amazing to be a part of the process,” she says. “I hope to carry confidence with trying new ideas into future roles.”

Throughout service, Amanda has found herself rubbing shoulders with many different kinds of people, many of whom are not like her. This has been a helpful learning experience, challenging her to reconsider her approach to volunteer management from new perspectives. Looking beyond her service, she is excited to move into a full-time role at Make-A-Day!

“I am so grateful to stay with this team and continue to develop my project as well as take on some new roles and responsibilities,” she says.

This year, Amanda has been grateful for the opportunity to rally other passionate individuals to volunteer meaningfully in the community. She has cherished the chance to contribute to Make-A-Day’s development, gaining nonprofit experience in the process. Her time as a VISTA member has also greatly expanded her knowledge of housing insecurity and the Columbus community.

“I’ve learned so much about Columbus’ history and culture through the guests we serve, as most of them have lived in the city for a long time, and truly see Columbus without the filter that most people have,” she says. “So, I’ve definitely grown a deeper sense of appreciation for Columbus and Franklinton.”

Thanks for your service, Amanda!