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Volunteers In Action receives Points of Light Service Enterprise Certification
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COURTESY PHOTO Volunteers In Action (VIA) Administrative Assistant Victoria Garza-Reyes (from left), VIA Director Linn Hogg, and Meals On Wheels Support Staff Susan Gibson pose in the VIA office after receiving the Points of Light Service Enterprise Certification.

Volunteers In Action (VIA) was recently named a Certified Service Enterprise by Points of Light. VIA is a grant-funded volunteer service organization that manages an AmeriCorps Senior (RSVP) program and is administered through Barton Community College. VIA’s mission is to fill the un-met needs in the community by mobilizing the time and talents of area volunteers. 

This honor means VIA is part of a “group of nonprofits committed to effectively delivering on their missions by strategically engaging volunteer time and talent,” according to a congratulatory letter from the organization.  

“This really is a big deal and I couldn’t be more proud of our team at Volunteers In Action,” said Linn Hogg, director of VIA. “We have some amazing people in Barton County who are so generous with their time. Helping connect them with the organizations in need is very important, and this certification process ensured we are doing this in the most effective way possible. Our ultimate goal is to focus on the volunteer. We know that volunteering really is a freewill offering of a person’s time and we want to show we value that time as well as their gift of knowledge and experience.” 

The goal of the Points of Light Service Enterprise organization is to equip nonprofits to engage and manage volunteers more effectively to meet community needs through comprehensive assessment, training, coaching and certification.  

Training and coaching for the certification were provided through a grant from the Kansas Volunteer Commission. Meg Pearson, deputy director of the Kansas Volunteer Commission, provided the intensive training and coaching that spanned 12 months. 

“Our Commission could not be more proud of your accomplishment because we understand that a Service Enterprise Certification puts your organization at the forefront of volunteer development, volunteer management and organizational performance for our state,” Pearson said. 

VIA’s certification means it is among the top 11 percent of volunteer management organizations in the nation. It required more than 20 hours of training and coaching and an extensive internal planning and change process.  

For more information, visit VIA.bartonccc.edu.