Volunteering Tip: Preparing for Your Day of Service

Global Youth Service Day

This article is the second of three in a series about creating a great volunteer experience that I am writing as ambassador of WEVolunteer.tv, a three year initiative by WE tv to get more women to serve.  Read the first article on searching for a good opportunity and the  intro to the series.

Today I will be volunteering with my sister for Children for Children, decorating reusable bags and filling them with healthy foods to be delivered to a local food pantry, an opportunity I found through wevolunteer.tv.

I’ve done one time events before (they are best for people with hectic schedules) and I am really looking forward to it. However, while I may only be helping out for a few hours, there are some tips I keep in mind to make the best of my day:

• Understanding the event: This helps me determine how I should engage and share information. For example, today’s event is in honor of Global Youth Service Day and Volunteer Week and they are sponsoring a variety of events around the city that are family and kid friendly. Not only have I told families but also I have sent info to schools so that everyone knows they are able to participate and am prepared to hang out with kids all day

• Bringing a friend: I like bringing someone with me when I volunteer. I get to bond with them, share my experience with them, and I find introducing myself to people easier when I have a friend near by. I also find that people are more likely to volunteer when asked—so you may be planting a seed for a long time commitment. Plus, many one time events request large numbers of volunteers so it doesn’t hurt to bring more people!

• Dressing appropriately for the event and weather: It is easy to forget the little things like checking the weather and making sure you are prepared. We will be working outside in 85 degree weather, decorating and packing bags, so I need to dress lightly and bring water.

• Being flexible: Things change at the last minute and sometimes you may be asked to do something different. While you should never do anything you are uncomfortable with, being open to changes will help you adapt to the organization’s needs, keeping you connected.

Tomorrow I will follow up with a reflection on my experience. Until then, Happy Global Youth Service Day! If you have any tips leave them in the comments.