Share Your Time with Medically Special Kids!
Are you looking for a great way to show kindness? Consider sharing your time with medically special kids as a community volunteer at A Day to Play!
As a Day to Play volunteer, you will:
Be a new friend and a kind face
Have an open heart and mind
Share your good spirit with people who should have always been first in everyone's book
Help families navigate the space, laugh, have fun, and feel accepted
Volunteers do not have to be in the medical profession, but they should:
Enjoy working closely with kids
Be calm and kind
Make good eye contact
Enjoy every moment
Some fun, high-profile roles include:
(click headings for more)
+ Balloon Parade Puppeteers
Balloon parade puppeteers will be comfortable and able to walk around the event carrying a balloon puppet on a wooden stick to make everyone feel welcome. These balloon puppets help kids immerse themselves in the magic of this special day, made just for them.
+ Super Sibling Supporters
Super sibling supporters will help instill confidence and show a true interest in siblings at this event. Siblings of special needs kids should be the center of attention during this day wherever they may be, but especially at the Super Sibling Station where activities have been designed just for them to take part and play parallel to their siblings at adapted arts and crafts.
+ Happy Dance Wigglers
Happy dance wigglers will move, groove, spin, clap and have fun to the music played at the event – reminding all that it’s okay to have fun!
+ Helping Hands Volunteers
Helping hand volunteers will use their hands to help guide the hands of a child, young adult or special needs person who would otherwise be unable to make art. Nursing professionals will be available to help you become the supporting hands of a special person. Kind hands and the willingness to help are all you need.
We also have very important roles helping staff with setup and/or breakdown:
(click headings for more)
+ Early Bird Volunteers
Early bird volunteers will help set up the event space before the event begins, help unpack art supplies, arrange chairs and tables, help blow up balloons using an electric pump, and fill the space with joy and good energy before everyone else arrives. Early bird perk: face painters will arrive early and are available to paint the faces of early birds between setting up stations!
+ Tidy Uppers
Tidy uppers play a key role before, during and after the event, making sure the space stays safe, clean, and comfortable for everyone's use. We ask that everyone help be a tidy upper, but we need to make sure that there is always someone on duty at the event.
+ Late Birds
Late bird volunteers will stay after the event and help pack all the supplies. Depending on the number of volunteers, this should take one hour or less. Volunteers will make sure that the end of the event is peaceful, and the space is left cleaner than it was when we arrived!
Other especially important volunteers include videographers, arts and crafts makers, kinetic sand handlers, sensory tubers … and more!
Partners In Play
We love to partner with nursing schools. Encouraging your students to volunteer transforms how they see and interact with pediatric patients, while also transforming how pediatric patients see and interact with healthcare professionals. Physically creating good moments re-establishes trust in healthcare, which is typically pain, power and dynamic. Please contact Audrey to learn more about partnering on an upcoming Day to Play!
Take the Next Step!
Ready to volunteer? Let us know by completing the form below. We’ll be in touch soon.
