PT Day of Service: Tips to a Successful Volunteer Experience

PT Day of Service is fast approaching! I hope that you all will consider participating as it is anticipated to be the biggest one yet! 

Below are some tips and hints for a successful volunteer experience so you will want to keep coming back for more:

1. Contact Locations Early: Sometimes companies can take a while to get back to you if they are really busy. They also may have a long list of groups of volunteers that want to get in to help, so you may need to reserve a spot a month or more ahead of time. This will differ from place to place, but the sooner you call, the sooner you are likely to get a response!
2. Don't Forget the Details: Make sure you do your homework on the place you are volunteering. do they require a specific time contract( 1 day versus a year)? Where are they located? Where should you park/where is the nearest transit stop? What should you bring? How many hours will you spend there? What is the name of the person you need to meet up with? Will it be outdoors/indoors? Should you bring your own water? Getting all of these details early will help you to feel calm and relaxed about your volunteer experience. You may even enjoy it! 
3. Create a Group: Volunteering is much more fun when you do it with someone you know. Take this as an opportunity to build connections and make new friends! You can even create shirts to commemorate the day or take a celebratory selfie. 
4. Contact your Local DPT or PTA Programs: Physical therapy programs in the area may have events already set up and usually need some help as the time grows closer. Contact local schools to see what they are offering for PT Day of Service, and if they aren't planning anything, maybe you can offer an idea or your time/support. It would be a great way for both you and the students to make a community connection!
5. Ask Your Ambassador: Each state usually has 1-2 ambassadors that are running individual service projects. By contacting them, you can easily jump onto a project. 
6. Create Your Own Project! Are you passionate about a community or an organization that would benefit from a service project? Create your own project and notify the ambassador in your area so they can help provide attention to you project as an alternative to theother events occuring throughout the 2 week period. 

If you have not yet pledged, you can do so here!