Presentation at the RFB (Photo taken by Fahmid Islam, 2014)
Feedback from Presentation
Positive Feedback
The general feedback from the staff and volunteers of the RFB is positive. We received complements from a number of people in the audience at the end of the presentation. The following are specific points that the audience thought were well done:
- Locations presented are good candidates
- One of the potential sites was located at a region that was actually previously suggested by the City of Richmond
- Talking and interviewing clients were the extra steps we took to get a better understanding of the issues
- Website is a good way to communicate the information not only to the RFB’s volunteer coordinator, but all staff/volunteers at the RFB
- Agreement that slow check-in/registration times contribute to parking issues
Improvements to be made
While the audience feedback was generally positive, there are a few points the audience pointed out that our presentation can improve upon.
- Size of current location may not be accurate
- Number of households accessing the RFB is more relevant than the number of people being served by the RFB
- Nearby community services of new location #1 (8791 Beckwith Road) not presented; however, from our research, only businesses/retail services nearby
- Lease duration information missing; will require contacting the landlord
Additional Comments
- An audience member mentioned that involving the government may hinder RFB’s operations as it may impose new laws. Currently, the RFB operates largely independently from the government so there will be an adjustment period for the RFB to adhere to government regulations.
- Partnership with the government has already begun. The staff of RFB has contacted the City of Richmond to inquire about free parking along the streets of the RFB during distribution days.
- Work remains to be done to contact the landlords of the possible new locations to get permission for RFB to lease the warehouse.
- There was concern raised regarding moving and renovation costs. While this is a valid concern, we conclude that it is outside the scope of our project.