CityTeam is dedicated to providing immediate and lasting solutions to homelessness, addiction, and poverty. Founded in 1957 as a soup kitchen in downtown San Jose, CityTeam now serves communities across multiple locations by offering meals, shelter, recovery programs, and support for low-income families. Our Director of Marketing, Eric Burger, sat down with Ginou Do, Volunteer Engagement Manager at CityTeam, to discuss the critical role volunteers play in delivering these services—and how VolunteerHub helps CityTeam manage thousands of volunteers, streamline operations, and scale their impact across the communities they serve.
Can You Share a Little Bit About Your Role at CityTeam?
Ginou: My title is technically Volunteer Engagement Manager, but I go by Volunteer Coordinator for the San Jose location. My responsibilities include working with corporate groups, churches, and other organizations that want to volunteer. I help them find suitable events, provide landing page links, make sure waivers are completed, and greet volunteer groups OnSite.
I also train new volunteer coordinators across our different cities, offer technical support, and generate quarterly reports for our executive team using VolunteerHub’s reporting tools. It’s a busy role, especially during the holidays, but it’s been a joy for the six years I’ve been here.
How Did You Personally Become Involved with CityTeam?
Ginou: I actually came to CityTeam as a client first. I struggled with heroin addiction for about six or seven years, and I entered CityTeam’s recovery program. After graduating in 2017, I became an intern in the development department — and eventually transitioned into a full-time role. So, working here is incredibly meaningful to me; CityTeam changed my life, and now I get to help others serve the community.
What Is CityTeam’s Mission, and Where Do Volunteers Fit into That Mission?
Ginou: CityTeam is a Christian nonprofit that began as a soup kitchen in downtown San Jose in 1957. Over time, we expanded to serve those experiencing homelessness, individuals suffering from addiction, and low-income families.
Our mission is to provide immediate and lasting solutions for these groups. Volunteers are absolutely vital to that mission — we rely on them for almost all of our events and programs that support those populations. I don’t think CityTeam could exist without our volunteers and the countless hours they contribute.
Roughly How Many Volunteers Support CityTeam Each Year, and Why Is Volunteer Management So Important?
Ginou: Across all five CityTeam locations, we see roughly 6,000–7,000 unique volunteers each year. That doesn’t count repeated sign-ups — that’s unique individuals giving their time.
Volunteer management is critical because VolunteerHub helps us communicate with volunteers at every stage. They receive detailed confirmation and reminder emails about their shifts, and after events, they get thank-you emails with surveys, newsletter signup options, and donation links. Since we operate solely on donations, that has helped increase giving while keeping volunteers engaged and informed.
How Did You Learn About VolunteerHub, and How Easy Was It to Adopt?
Ginou: When I was hired, CityTeam was already using VolunteerHub. I was trained by someone who knew the platform very well, and that made learning it much easier.
VolunteerHub is one of those tools where the more you use it, the easier it becomes. If you log in every day, you pick it up quickly. If you only use it occasionally, it can feel like a lot. But overall, with regular use, it becomes second nature.
How Do You Use VolunteerHub in Your Day-to-Day Work?
Ginou: Daily use typically involves maintaining our event calendar and making sure everything is updated. For instance, we partner with Second Harvest Food Bank and serve roughly 6,000–8,000 families every month through 40–43 mobile food pantries in the South Bay. Many of those require VolunteerHub events, so volunteers can sign up.
I check who has signed up, manage reservations, and make sure the calendar is accurate and ready for volunteers.
What VolunteerHub Feature Could You Not Live Without?
Ginou: Two features that are essential for us are Kiosk Check-In and Onsite Check-In. Because I’m not always physically present at every distribution, we give pantry leads access to kiosk check-in on their phones. Volunteers sign up, and the pantry leads can check them in right through the app.
OnSite check-in is equally vital — once staff or pantry leads have admin access, they can check volunteers in real time at the event. These tools are indispensable for our daily operations.
How Has VolunteerHub Evolved Over the Years?
Ginou: We’ve seen a number of updates that have made a real difference. Features like Onsite Check-In were added after we were already using the platform, and they’ve helped streamline how we track volunteer attendance, especially across multiple locations. The updates feel practical and solve real problems for us in the field.
What Has Your Experience Been with VolunteerHub Support?
Ginou: Support has been excellent. Whenever I submit a ticket, I usually get a response within the day. The consistency and responsiveness make a big difference when you’re managing a busy volunteer calendar.
How Have Volunteers Responded to Using VolunteerHub?
Ginou: Adoption has been very easy. We can take a calendar landing page and turn it into a QR code to post at a pantry. Volunteers scan it, sign up, complete the waiver, and they’re good to go.
Once they’re in the system, they can continue signing up for events with no issues. Overall, volunteers have had a very positive experience, and honestly, I enjoy using it too — probably because I’ve used it for so long.
Have You Recommended VolunteerHub to Other Organizations?
Ginou: Yes. Other organizations sometimes ask what platform we use, and I always recommend VolunteerHub. It’s the only volunteer management system I’ve used, and I’ve had a great experience with it. It’s straightforward, easy for volunteers to use, and I’ve recommended it to peers and partner organizations over the years.
If Someone in the Community Wants to Volunteer with CityTeam, How Do They Get Started?
Ginou: Visit cityteam.org/volunteer — it couldn’t be easier.
