Christinechou driver and dispatcher

Volunteer!
1

Hi @christinec welcome and thanks so much for volunteering with HelpBerkeley.org!

I just talked with you briefly – here’s the email I promised. Below are 2 notes, our standard responses for dispatcher and for driver volunteers.

Right now, we really need workflow dispatchers (who work at 7 pm and need to be good with spreadsheets) and drivers. (Although we can always used customer care dispatchers, too.) You can find out more about these following the links below. There is training for each of these – please use the links below to sign up for training ASAP.

You work the days and times you choose, as often as you want.

Thanks again for volunteering!

We would love to work with you. Our dispatchers have made you a dispatcher, and you can now access dispatcher areas on the website.

As a dispatcher, you always volunteer from home, working remotely! You can pick one (or more) of these two areas:

  • Customer care: respond to questions from new members on how to register and use the system
    Our volunteers may pick shifts of roughly 3 hours, throughout the day and the week
  • Workflow dispatch: prepare delivery runs for our drivers—a somewhat technical and detailed-oriented task that requires good familiarity with spreadsheets
    Workflow dispatching shifts start at 7:00pm. Volunteer may pick days of the week for their shifts.

What would you like to do? Please let us know by replying to this!

The best way to familiarize yourself with HelpBerkeley.org is to read the New dispatcher welcome (only accessible by dispatchers). Ask if you have any questions!

Thank you for again for volunteering your time with us, we’re glad to have you on board!

DRIVER

Hi @christinec welcome to HelpBerkeley.org and thanks very much for volunteering!

Our dispatchers have made you a driver, so now you can access the driver-only subcategories (subcats) on the website.

The next driver training sessions, on Zoom, are listed on this thread: https://go.helpberkeley.org/t/new-driver-training-this-week/874. Can you reply to the thread and let us know which session you will attend?

Until then, here is a link to the core information required for drivers to ramp up:
https://go.helpberkeley.org/t/new-driver-welcome-please-read-this/66
(only clickable by drivers) . Let us know if you have any questions!

Thank you for again for volunteering your time with us, we’re glad to have you on board!

2

Hi,
I signed up to be either dispatcher and/or driver. Would you recommend I pick one (whichever is more needed), or can I do both?

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You can certainly do both! It’s a question of when you want to volunteer and for how much time. Driving is ~4:30-7 pm; workflow dispatch is 7 pm (from your home). I see your phone is 650 – I don’t know where you live but driving is Berkeley, Kensington, and Albany.

Workflow dispatch is complicated and so, at the beginning, at least, you probably want to do it several times rather than, say, alternating with driving, to get acquainted with the procedures. But it’s up to you.

I’m cc’ing @MichelThouati and @KaelanTdT on this – they know what’s needed most.

Thanks again for volunteering!

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Hi Christine! Thanks so much for volunteering :slight_smile:. I started as a driver and then became a dispatcher after a few months. I personally recommend starting with driving to get hands on experience about how our deliveries work, but we also have many dispatchers who do not drive: it is absolutely your choice which to start with. We also have opportunities in Customer Care Dispatching too, as opposed to Workflow Dispatching - the difference being Customer Care is focused on our members receiving meals, whereas Workflow dispatching is the work of putting together routes for drivers (requires a lot of work with Google Sheets).

Please let us know if you have any questions at all! We are happy to help, and I am more than happy to chat on the phone if that is more convenient. Thanks again, and all the best!

Leonardo

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Michel had said we really need workflow dispatchers…But of course we need people to do everything! Thanks, @Leonardo. I enjoy Customer Care dispatching, dealing with people needing meals and with volunteers. Whatever you do will be great!

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Thanks for the helpful responses! I’ll stick with driving for now and switch to dispatching once I’ve familiarized myself with the process. Thanks again!

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