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Writer's pictureRobert Hopkins

Update on my Index Finger and FISH, Inc.

Updated: 6 days ago

I rescheduled my index finger appointment with Dr. Mason in Hampton for November 9th—no way am I waiting until January. The pain has been holding back my guitar playing, and my technique has taken a hit. Playing a simple “F” chord in the first position is nearly impossible, and that’s not sustainable since it’s such a fundamental chord. Relying on bar chords as a workaround just isn’t the same.


My first day volunteering at FISH, Inc. was actually inspiring! My business instincts kicked in, and I could see ways to make things smoother there. The computer systems could use an upgrade, ideally two new computers with a wired network setup rather than wireless. And operationally, the food-order process could be optimized—just a few adjustments would save a lot of time. For example, if the layout of items better matched the order sheets, we could really speed up the process.


Small tweaks, like simplifying the item-count per family size and placing visual reminders around, would help new volunteers get up to speed right away. I worked on three orders and realized that these adjustments could easily save up to 15 minutes each time. In the main office, I didn’t spend as much time, but there’s definitely room to improve how they handle forms and paperwork. It may be worth revisiting their process to streamline documentation and reduce the amount of paper used.


Another idea: shopping carts with attached clipboards would allow order pickers to jot down notes if something’s out of stock without losing track. I haven’t had a chance to go over stock-replenishment procedures with anyone yet, but that’ll be next.


The clothing area, on the other hand, could benefit from a computer linked to the network, so they can process orders without having to call. Right now, that part is a bit of a time-waster.


Good stuff all around—there’s a lot of potential to make things run even better!


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