Help Pay Volmoed Staff Wages in lean winter months

GlobalGiving Volmoed Staff Report
December 2024

Warm greetings from Volmoed, where we moved into the summer season about a month ago and happily embraced the warmer, sunny days and the lovely longer days.   

The official update about this particular project for the Volmoed staff is that it was decided that this project will remain a fundraising project specifically for our staff and their particular needs.  Originally the project ran from 2020 through 2022, when Covid-19 was impacting us at Volmoed and no-one could come and stay at the retreat centre, or very few guests were there. It was a project intended to continue to pay staff wages throughout the time of Covid-19. Though it is still a struggle to get enough people consistently staying at Volmoed to pay all the bills all the time, thankfully we are progressing.

The staff wages have been paid at 100% for nearly the two years now. But their wages are sadly not enough to cover the unexpected crises that crop up, like medical emergencies, car or appliance repairs, funeral travel costs and other unplanned events. With ever increasing costs of food, electricity and fuel, together with not yet enough midweek groups coming to stay, Volmoed is not able to pay them as much as we would like. 

This project has now officially become a staff emergency fund that will be available to staff when they have crises and unplanned emergencies for which they cannot pay, and also to help pay staff wages during the winter months when we have fewer guests. This seems to be the best way to  proceed. We are so grateful for the generosity of all our donors, who make this all possible.

In December the staff held their annual Christmas party and we said goodbye to David, a wonderful young volunteer who was here for six months and worked with our maintenance staff and brought fresh, young energy and strength into their midst. 

Our favorite staff and residents times continue to be our weekly gathering on a Wednesday morning, when we have a time of quiet mindfulness and silence and joyful singing!  We reflect, sing, and sometimes share stories. It is a time to catch up with news and to support and encourage those who are experiencing difficult circumstances. A few weeks ago one of our staff wore his red suit to the meeting as he shared his story of what is currently happening in his life. 

Morning teatime is another opportunity to sit and catch up with staff and hear the stories about their families and their children’s achievements, or their current needs and challenges, which is something I personally enjoy. 

As always thank you so much for your donations.  We cannot do what we do without you. 

As this calendar year ends, thank you, thank you, thank you for your generous donations!  

Wilma Jakobsen

Links:

• Volmoed Retreat Centre

• Volmoed Staff Assistance Report for December 2024 (PDF)
  

VOLMOED STAFF REPORT
AUGUST  2024

THANK YOU ALWAYS FOR YOUR  DONATIONS!

Warm greetings from a very chilly Volmoed!  Our winter weather has been exceedingly cold the last couple of months, with snow in places it has never snowed before!  Our Volmoed staff continue to be most amazing. They work hard amidst the cold winter weather, the gale force winds, and the rain that feels like it never ends.  Thankfully every couple of weeks we get a cold sunny day and they all warm up outside on their tea break. Thanks to your donations, we have ensured that each of them has a good warm coat or raincoat to deal with the harsh weather.

One of the big tasks during the winter months is providing firewood for each of the rental houses, and for residents’ houses and the dining room. There have been so many trees falling down over the past year of extreme weather and winds, and others that have needed to be cut down to their age or being in danger of falling, so there is a plentiful supply of wood to be cut.

We are also happy that we have been able to provide internet and wifi at each of the resident staff houses on our property. Thanks to your donations, and David, a young volunteer here for six months, this has hugely improved the quality of our staff’s lives.

Our favorite staff and residents moment is our weekly gathering on a Wednesday morning, when we have a contemplative, quiet time to reflect, sing, and sometimes share stories. It is a time to catch up with news and to support and encourage those who are experiencing difficult circumstances. 

The official update about this project is that it was decided to keep this project as a fundraising project specifically for our staff and their particular needs.  Covid-19 is no longer impacting us at Volmoed, and though it is still a struggle to get enough people staying at Volmoed to pay all the bills, we are progressing.  The staff salaries have been paid at 100% for the last year and more. But their salaries are not enough to cover the crises like medical emergencies, car and appliance repairs, funeral travel costs and other unplanned events.  With increased costs of electricity, fuel and food, together with not yet enough midweek groups coming to stay, Volmoed is not able to pay them as much as we would like. This fund will now become a staff contingency fund that will be available to staff when they have crises and unplanned emergencies for which they cannot pay. This seems to be the best way to proceed. 

As always thank you so much for your donations.  We cannot do what we do without you. 

YOUR GENEROUS DONATIONS ARE MUCH APPRECIATED! 

Links:

• Volmoed Retreat Centre

• Global_Giving_Volmoed_staff_report_Aug_2024.pdf (PDF)