Things to Do On the Day of Caring

Allow time for event set up and clean up. Make sure that someone from your agency is setting up and will be ready when the volunteers arrive.
Register your Day of Caring volunteers when they arrive at your site by signing them in on the sheet you will receive prior to the Day of Caring. Ask volunteers to sign their names if present, make changes if needed, and legibly add names of volunteers not on the list. The sign in sheets will be returned to the United Way for recognition, follow-up and to gather statistics.
Give each volunteer a nametag, and thank them for participating.
Give your volunteers a brief orientation and tour of your agency/program.

Introduce your staff to Day of Caring volunteers.
Describe your agency's clients and services.
If you serve a particularly difficult or sensitve client population and they are not directly involved in the project, help volunteers understand why.
Explain any necessary confidentiality issues.
Explain how your partnership with the United Way or the Volunteer Center helps your agency and its clients.
Give volunteers a tour of your agency.
Please keep this as brief as possible. Your volunteers will be excited and ready to work.

Review project details with your volunteer team:
Introduce the agency project coordinator.
Explain what needs to be done.
Explain why it is needed.
Explain who the volunteers will be serving/helping.
Explain how the volunteers' efforts will help the agency make a difference in someone's life or enhance the agency.
Review expected results.
Review any necessary time restaints and limitations.
Inform them where the bathrooms and drinks are, and when lunch will be.
Provided any necessay training or orientation.
Be accessible to volunteers and answer questions as necessary.
Arrange for a break and eating area for volunteers. Make sure they know where it is.
If possible and appropriate, you could invite volunteers to each lunch, or have a snack break with staff and/or clients. Talk with them about the project, and thank them for being there.
Have cold refreshments, including cups, available throughout the day, especially if you have an outdoor event.
Have trash facilities available.
Have extras of things you will need thos most of (hammers, scissors, masking tape, etc.) (Review the supply list).
As in past years, a United Way staff or board member will visit most project sites to thank volunteers.