Fangirling Over FanFood

June 28, 2017 Lucy Williams

You’ve been waiting all year to see your favorite team play against their rivals. The game is a nailbiter, and you’re eating away at your fingers. But you’re hungry and thirsty for more. You need a jumbo hot dog and a cold one before they run the clock, but you don’t want to miss a second of it. Why not skip the lines at the concession stand instead? Meet FanFood, an app that will have you cheering from the sidelines.

FanFood is a mobile concession platform that allows fans at live events to order their favorite concessions of choice and have them delivered directly to their seats. The app was originally started in 2015 by three college guys: Carson Goodale, Will Anderson, and Elijah Doetsch. Soon after, Dustin Hemesath fell in love with their idea, and became a co-founder of the company. He’s been devoted to improving the fan experience ever since.

“Everyone who attends live events can relate to an experience with long lines and feeling like they missed out on the action,” says Hemesath. “Every day, this drives me to continue to create new avenues for FanFood to change the concession experience forever.”

Those avenues have helped make FanFood more than just another app on the market. “We work with our venue partners on the execution of marketing, staffing, and logistical plans to make sure every fan in attendance has an amazing experience,” explains Hemesath.

FanFood is able to offer the best and tastiest possible experience with the help of some fantastic (see what we did there?) volunteers. Using the FanFood app, event goers choose what food or beverages they would like to order. FanFood receives the orders, which are sent to Concession Operators. They take orders from the FanFood tablet and prepare to give them to the Runners. The Runners use their mobile phone to collect orders and deliver them directly to the fans’ seats.

The goodness extends beyond the stadium, however. FanFood is serving food to live events as well as to their local community. “For us, we love seeing people opening up and giving of their time for the outcome on the other side. For instance, in giving to the Iowa Food Bank as we feed hungry fans, we also help feed hungry Iowans at the same time,” says Hemesath.

“In the future, there is no reason fans should ever wait in line at a concession stand.”

Hungry for more? Ready to help deliver food to the masses? Volunteer at an event near you!

Shining Light on Sunset’s Celebration Weekend

March 31, 2017April 5, 2017 Lucy Williams

Spring is finally here, bringing with it the warmth that so many of us have been craving. That’s part of the reason why we’re so thrilled to welcome Sunset into our VolunteerLocal family, a new client who is sure to brighten up our workdays.

Sunset is a magazine dedicated to spreading sunshine and inspiring readers, with every edition featuring garden design tips, fresh recipes, delicious wines, home decorating ideas, and travel recommendations specific to the Western states. Beyond sprucing up your diet and decor, the organization annually invites their fans to their Sunset Celebration Weekend. In its 19th year, now taking place in Sonoma, this event offers avid readers the chance to enjoy the best of Western living while surrounded by vineyards and gardens.

“Celebration Weekend is the purest essence of Sunset, and an opportunity we look forward to each year to meet our fans and loyal readers,” says Heather Bowden, Senior Marketing Manager. “Sunset is a small but mighty magazine, and we are grateful for the work of our volunteers to help bring our brand to life for all attendees.”

Attendees can immerse themselves in a wide variety of activities, with tents featuring the latest smart home technology to the best glamping gear and inspiration. Tour the flourishing Test Gardens, check out celebrity chef demonstrations, and dance by the new Music Stage featuring local Bay Area favorite bands. Enjoy seminars, gourmet food, exceptional wine, and fantastic shopping.

We think one of the best and brightest things about VolunteerLocal is that our platform allows so many different types of organizations, such as Sunset, to benefit from our system. And it doesn’t hurt that it gives us the opportunity to work with such a huge variety of people who brighten our work!

Speaking of opportunities, if you’re ready to be a ray of sunshine at Sunset Celebration Weekend, register to volunteer today!

Bouncing for Joy with Insane Inflatable

November 18, 2016 Lucy Williams

Climb up inflatable walls. Avoid blown-up obstacles while sliding back down them. Run your fastest while weaving and dodging bouncy balls in the ball pit, and be careful where you sink your feet while traversing strategically placed potholes in the middle of a huge, cushy mattress. Sound like fun? Recess may be long gone, but the Insane Inflatable 5K is here to let you feel like a kid again (all while seriously working on your hamstrings).

Insane Inflatable is a 5K whose course is made up solely of inflatable obstacles, promising a uniquely fun, challenging run. Fitting with it’s name, Insane Inflatable was brainstormed on a hotel bar napkin by the company’s Vice President of Live Events and the Director of Live Events. Since it’s creation, it has bounced it’s way across the country (and even into friendly neighbor Canada), with over 120 tour stops planned for 2017. There are 11 different inflatable courses, with each 3.1 mile run providing its own unique terrain and running experience.

If that’s not enough to get you elated (or should we say inflated?), this 5K brings joy to their participants as well as the local communities they stop in. Alexa Cole, the Volunteer Coordinator at Insane Inflatable, works with local charities at each event location. “They help to provide us volunteers needed for event execution, and we provide donations, marketing, and sponsorship perks,” explains Cole.

Those local organizations are one of the reasons Insane Inflatable decided to join the VolunteerLocal team. “Because we have the unique opportunity to partner with local organizations at each event, VolunteerLocal will help to greatly streamline our recruitment and sign up process across the country,” says Cole.

Partnering with VolunteerLocal has Cole and her team swelling with excitement – for more than one reason. “Due to our recruitment of a mass amount of volunteers for each event, and our various charity partnerships, we’re really looking forward to two specific features with VolunteerLocal,” says Cole. “The first is being able to send out mass messages through the system to all volunteers, which is great in case of changes, no show volunteers, weather, etc. And the other is the ability to have charities sign up as a password protected group for specific events.”

“For the first time we will get to have all of our volunteers in one place!” – Alexa Cole, Volunteer Coordinator at Insane Inflatable

It’s safe to say that both Insane Inflatable and VolunteerLocal are jumping up and down with joy to be working with each other. Want to join in on the fun? Bounce on over to Insane Inflatable’s volunteer opportunities and discover the next insane event happening near you.

Photos courtesy of Insane Inflatable

Happy Volunteering Blog

New Client

Thank you! Please check your inbox & confirm the opt-in.