At a Little League game, you usually think about bases being stolen, not cash. Unfortunately, the same volunteers selling hotdogs and cotton candy at the concession stand may also be taking advantage of their volunteer position and stealing. One woman recently pocketed more than $2,000.00 from the team’s concession stand.
Volunteer theft from concession stands is a growing problem that is affecting many organizations and events. Concession stands are a vital source of revenue for many non-profit organizations and they rely heavily on the support and dedication of volunteers to help run these stands.
"If you do not have a
concession stand, you're not going to be able to stay strong,” said Dawn Ozack,
president of the Largo Little League in Florida. “I will say at least 80 to 90%
of our funds come from people volunteering and helping at concession stands."
There are many ways in which
volunteers steal from concession stands. One common method is taking money from
the cash register or collection box. Volunteers may also take food or beverages
without paying for them, or give away items to family and friends for free. In
some cases, volunteers may even steal equipment or supplies from the concession
stand.
The impact of volunteer theft from
concession stands can be significant. Non-profit organizations rely on the
revenue generated by concession stands to support their programs and
activities. When volunteers steal from the concession stand, it directly
affects the organization’s ability to fund their initiatives. Additionally,
volunteer theft can damage the reputation of the organization and discourage
future volunteers from getting involved.
Preventing volunteer theft from
concession stands requires a proactive approach. Organizations should implement
clear policies and procedures for handling cash and inventory. Volunteers
should be trained on these policies and should understand the consequences of
theft. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular audits of their
concession stand operations to ensure that everything is accounted for.
Volunteer theft isn’t something
many organizations consider. After all, these stands are run to raise money for
youth activities—from sporting events to high school theater productions. The
volunteers are usually family members and friends.
“There’s probably a stronger level
of family trust, therefore someone may be more apt to think that they’re going
to get away with it,” said Sally Johnson, executive director of the National
Council on Youth Sport.
Organizations can also take steps
to deter theft from concession stands. For example, they can install security
cameras or hire security personnel to monitor the concession stand during
events. They can also assign volunteers to work in pairs or teams to hold each
other accountable and discourage theft.
Volunteer theft from concession
stands is a serious problem that can have significant consequences for
non-profit organizations. Preventing theft requires a proactive approach that
includes clear policies, training, and monitoring. By taking these steps,
organizations can protect their revenue and reputation, and ensure that
volunteers are supporting their mission rather than undermining it.
--
Fazan, Sarina. “Little leagues come
together after league president was arrested for stealing.” ABC News,
November 4, 2016. https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-north-pinellas/largo/little-leagues-come-together-after-league-president-was-arrested-for-stealing.
Last accessed March 28, 2023.
No comments:
Post a Comment