In an era where the pace of change is relentless, maintaining the status quo is not an option, especially for humanitarian organizations. Lagos Food Bank Initiative (LFBI) understands that in order to create lasting change, they must constantly innovate and evolve. Just like a computer that needs regular updates to function effectively, an organization that fails to embrace modern technology risks falling behind in its mission. When systems and processes become outdated, it’s the people aimed to serve who bear the consequences, often left without the timely support they need.

Lagos Food Bank Initiative, understands this well. That’s why they’ve taken a bold step by launching a new Volunteer Hour Tracking System – a web-based platform designed to make volunteering more accessible and rewarding, while streamlining the entire process to enhance operational efficiency and create a greater impact in communities. By making volunteering easier, fulfilling and impactful, the platform benefits both the organization and its volunteers.

In the past, volunteers had to wait for email invitations to learn about upcoming outreach events. Unfortunately, these emails often got lost in crowded inboxes, leaving volunteers unaware of events until it was too late—by then, registration had closed, or they had already committed to other activities. This made it difficult to plan ahead and commit to volunteering.

Now, with the new platform, volunteers can easily view multiple upcoming outreach programs, each complete with key details such as the event date, location, volunteer capacity, and other crucial information that helps them make an informed decision about how to contribute their time. With just a few clicks from their mobile browser, they can register in advance and manage their schedules with ease.

This shift has transformed how both volunteers and the organization approach event planning. With earlier registrations, Lagos Food Bank can now prepare more effectively for logistics and volunteer welfare—ensuring adequate support systems are in place. The result? Outreach events that are better organized, more resourceful, and ultimately more impactful for the communities served.

Volunteering is often seen as a selfless act, but it can also bring personal rewards. One of the key features of the platform is the volunteer hours tracking tool, which automatically records a volunteer’s hours each time they participate in an activity. This makes it easy for volunteers to access their service records, which can be useful for school, work, or personal goals. In addition, volunteers can now quickly request reference letters—something that previously took longer due to the manual process of calculating service hours from hardcopy registers. The automation of hours volunteered makes this process much faster and more efficient.

By leveraging technology, LFBI is not just adapting to change but is proactively using it to fuel its mission. Scaling purpose with tech isn’t about replacing human effort; it’s about empowering people to do better, more efficiently. This approach to innovation is helping us to continue delivering on our mission to create sustainable impact, one outreach at a time.