PURPOSE:
This handbook details the volunteer policies of Brigit’s Bounty Community Resources (BBCR). BBCR recognizes the dignity of every individual and expects volunteers to uphold this philosophy in their interactions. The handbook details volunteer conduct, expectations, resources, and relevant policies.
All volunteers must read this manual and sign the acknowledgment page to confirm their understanding and acceptance.
HISTORY:
In 2009, St. Brigit Episcopal Church in Frederick envisioned a community garden. In 2011, BBCR was established as a nonprofit to expand grant opportunities.
BBCR operates a 1-acre Giving Garden in Frederick, CO, annually donating between 2,000 and 4,000 pounds of produce to thousands of households in the Carbon Valley. We also provide low-cost youth programs and educational resources on gardening, nutrition, and the environment.
MISSION AND VALUES:
The mission of BBCR is to provide education, training and resources toward transforming the lives of individuals and strengthening the Carbon Valley Community.
Our Values:
● Positive relationships
● Respect for self, others, and the environment
● Community Engagement
● Compassion
● Commitment
● Diversity
● Collaboration
● Interdependence
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
Garden Volunteer:
●Help maintain our 1-acre garden. No experience needed! Tasks include weeding, watering, pruning, composting, and general upkeep.
Education Program Volunteer:
● The BBCR education program visits local schools, attends community events, and provides classes at the BBCR garden. The goal is to teach adults and children about
gardening, nutrition, and the environment.
Greenhouse Volunteer:
● Come spend some time in our greenhouse, soak in the sun and get your hands in some dirt. While our garden is resting in the cold weather, we grow produce in our greenhouse and start plants from seed.
Beekeepers:
● Help care for our bees by providing water and working with our beekeeper to conduct mite checks, treat hives, harvest and process honey.
Booth/Event worker:
● Engage with the community by representing BBCR at events, recruiting volunteers, and distributing informational materials.
Donation Volunteer:
● Support food security programs by cleaning, packing, and distributing produce to programs such as Weld County Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, and community members in need.
VOLUNTEER RESOURCES:
Volunteer Handbook: (this document)
Volunteer Application: https://brigitsbounty.org/volunteer/
Liability Waiver: https://brigitsbounty.org/waiver/
VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION:
Held between 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM weekdays at the BBCR garden by appointment. (email Jerry Van Sambeek at ib4walnut@gmail.com or text 573-864-8117)
VOLUNTEER SIGN UP:
After Volunteer Orientation is completed and all Volunteer Forms are received the volunteer coordinator will work with each candidate to choose the day(s) and time(s) they would like to volunteer. Volunteers will have names added to a group email list to receive messages about what is going on in the garden or education program. Volunteers will mostly work independently of BBCR staff. The garden coordinator will try to be available between 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM weekdays at the BBCR garden or greenhouse.
CANCELING A VOLUNTEER SHIFT:
If expecting to be absent from a scheduled shift, volunteers should let the Volunteer Coordinator know via text message or email. (Alanna Zimmerman ahijarzimm@gmail.com or 720-231-8713)
VOLUNTEER TASKS:
Here at Brigit’s Bounty, we have open volunteer hours. There will be a white board located at the garden volunteer station with a list of prioritized tasks. The Garden Coordinator and members of the Board will update the list as needed.
CHECK IN AND LOGGING VOLUNTEER HOURS:
A paper log is available at the welcome center to clock in and out. Volunteers can also track their hours in a spreadsheet file showing date, hours worked, and activities performed. Spreadsheets will be requested at the end of the garden season to compile information for our annual report and important grant proposals.
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY:
BBCR supports all applicable federal, state, and/or local laws established to provide equal opportunity for all qualified persons, to prohibit discrimination because of race, color, sex, age, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability. Violations should be reported immediately to a BBCR Board Member. If the BBCR Board determines that a violation of this policy has occurred, it will take appropriate disciplinary action against the offending party, which can include counseling, warnings, suspensions, and termination. Volunteers who report, in good faith, violations of this policy and volunteers who cooperate with investigations into alleged violations of this policy will not be subject to retaliation.
NON-DISCLOSURE/CONFIDENTIALITY:
BBCR strives to be a welcoming and safe space for those we serve and work with. Respecting the privacy of our guests, donors, staff, and volunteers is a fundamental value of BBCR. Volunteers may access confidential information while volunteering at BBCR (e.g., client, donor, or volunteer lists and identifying information, financial records, and other proprietary information). This information must remain private during and after service with BBCR, and should not be disclosed or discussed with anyone outside the organization without permission or authorization from the BBCR Board of Directors. As appropriate, some volunteers, in certain roles, may be asked to sign a Client Confidentiality & Privacy Policy Agreement.
BEHAVIOR STANDARDS:
BBCR volunteers work to serve others and should show a positive attitude and respect for all fellow volunteers and guests at all times. Volunteers shall behave professionally and appropriately in situations of conflict, including those between staff members, between staff members and clients, between staff and/or students, and members of the public.
DRESS CODE:
Volunteers must wear clean, appropriate clothing:
● No crop tops, spaghetti straps, or inappropriate graphics. Shorts and skirts must reach halfway down the palm when standing.
● Recommended in the Garden: Hats, light-colored clothing, closed-toed shoes and long sleeves to minimize sun exposure.
● Required: Slip-proof shoes and name tags when guests are present.
● Events & Schools: Follow dress codes for schools/youth organizations. Business casual is required at professional events.
RESTROOMS:
There are restrooms in the St. Brigit church building that volunteers from Brigit’s Bounty are able to use. When walking towards the church from the garden, walk to the right of the church and go around behind the building. The “Kildare” room entrance is the first door on the left. After entering the 4-digit code, the door will unlock. The door will automatically re-lock in a few seconds.
Thank you for keeping the facilities clean!
COMMUNICATION:
● All communication must be kept professional and timely. Grammar and tone should be professional and refrain from using abbreviations or acronyms such as ‘lol’ or ‘idk’
● All communications should occur during appropriate hours ( suggested 9:00AM to 9:00PM MT)
● All communication must be in accordance with BBCR’s non-discrimination policy as well as our sexual harassment policy. Communication must be free of profanities and conducive to a positive work atmosphere.
● Do not share personal contact information of Board members, staff, volunteers without permission of the specific person or the BBCR Board.
SMOKING/VAPING POLICY: (please note that any reference to smoking includes vaping)
● Smoking is only allowed in designated areas and only during breaks.
● No smoking inside BBCR or St. Brigit’s structures, within 25 feet of any door, in the garden, or near children’s areas.
● Cigarette butts must be disposed of immediately in trash bins.
● Volunteers must wash hands and freshen clothing after smoking.
DRUGS AND ALCOHOL:
● Volunteers must not be under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or impairing prescription medications while working for BBCR in any capacity.
● Volunteers required to take any kind of prescription or nonprescription medication which may potentially affect their job performance are required to report this to their supervisor, who will determine if it is necessary to temporarily place them on another assignment to ensure their safety and the safety of others.
● No alcohol, marijuana, or illegal drugs are allowed on BBCR or St. Brigit premises.
● Searches of people and personal property, which may be conducted by law enforcement authorities, as well as drug and/or alcohol tests may be used if intoxication is suspected. Refusal to submit could result in immediate removal from the premises and may result in termination.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
The following principles apply to professional use of social media on behalf of BBCR and for personal use of social media when referencing BBCR.
● Volunteers should use their best judgment in posting material that is neither inappropriate nor harmful to BBCR, its volunteers, employees, or students. Some examples of prohibited social media conduct include:
○posting commentary, content, or images that are defamatory, pornographic, proprietary, harassing, libelous, that can create a hostile work environment or maliciously affect our youth.
● Volunteers are not to publish, post or release any information that is considered confidential or not public.
● Volunteers will not add youth to their social media accounts or be involved in any online association with current or former youth in any way.
WORKPLACE VIOLENCE, DISCRIMINATION & HARASSMENT PREVENTION
BBCR prohibits workplace violence, harassment, and sexual harassment. Examples of harassment include unwanted advances, offensive jokes, or inappropriate discussions.
WORKPLACE VIOLENCE:
Workplace violence is the exercise of physical force by a person against a worker (volunteer or staff member), an attempt to exercise physical force against a worker, or a statement or behavior that it is reasonable for a worker to interpret as a threat to exercise physical force against the worker, in a workplace, that could cause physical injury to the worker.
HARASSMENT:
A course of comments or actions that are known, or ought reasonably to be known, to be unwelcome. It can involve words or actions that are known or should be known to be offensive, embarrassing, humiliating, demeaning or unwelcome.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION:
Sexual harassment is unethical, unprofessional, and illegal behavior. Any form of such behavior towards staff, volunteers, or persons doing business with BBCR is prohibited. Generally defined under both state and federal law sexual harassment is unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Other sexually oriented conduct, whether intended or not, that is unwelcome and has the effect of creating a work environment that is hostile, offensive, intimidating, or humiliating to workers may also constitute as sexual harassment. While it is not possible to list all those additional circumstances that may constitute sexual harassment, the following are some examples of conduct that, if unwelcome, may constitute sexual harassment depending on the totality of the circumstances, including the severity of the conduct and its pervasiveness:
● Unwanted sexual advances, whether they involve physical touching or not;
● Sexual epithets, jokes, written or oral references to sexual conduct, gossip regarding one’s sex life, comments about an individual’s body, comments about an individual’s sexual activity, deficiencies, or prowess;
● Displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures, or cartoons;
● Unwelcome leering, whistling, brushing up against the body, sexual gestures, or suggestive or insulting comments;
● Inquiries into one’s sexual experiences
● Discussion of one’s sexual activities
COMPLAINT PROCEDURE:
A volunteer can contact the Garden Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, a member of the Board of Directors, or another appropriate staff member, with a complaint. Written complaints are preferred but they do not need to be in writing. Complaints will be kept as confidential as possible, with disclosure only occurring if deemed necessary to adequately resolve issues. The BBCR member receiving the complaint will acknowledge the complaint with the use of an Incident Report Form. The complaint will be reviewed by the BBCR Board and necessary action will be taken.
Volunteers who lodge good faith complaints may do so without fear of retaliation or reprisal. Complaints issued that are found to have been made in bad faith will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
● Jerry VanSambeek: Garden Coordinator: cm5jwvs@gmail.com
● Michelle Mrsan, Board President: president@brigitsbounty.org
● Kristie Conroy: Board Treasurer: bbcrgivinggarden@gmail.com
● Jeff Nieusma: Board Secretary: jeffnieusma@gmail.com
● George Andrews: Board Member – Grounds and Repairs: georgeandrews398@gmail.com
● Tim Backus: Board Member: rev.stbrigit@hotmail.com
● Sharon Stitch: Board Member: wwr4521@gmail.com
● Alanna Zimmerman: Board Member – Volunteer Coordinator: ahijarzimm@gmail.com
● Ginger Miller: Grants, Education, and Training: gkm84@aol.com
Some information for this handbook was taken from: https://volunteer.communityactionhouse.org/cah-volunteer-handbook/ https://www.galaxydigital.com/blog/volunteer-handbook
(last update 05-2026)