Gary Craig, Christine Lee, and John Elliott
Thank you for your interest in volunteering for We Are The Children on Christmas Day 2009! If you are interested, there is a MANDATORY recruitment day at the Expo Center in Hartford on Tuesday, December 8th from 5:30p - 7:30p.
The possible volunteer opportunities are listed below. They are filled on a first come, first serve basis, so if you are interested in a certain position, please make sure you arrive early! Once you are assigned your task for Christmas Day, you’ll be given your directions for the day, and the t-shirt you’ll need to wear on Christmas morning. Bring a photo ID with you for registration!
There are other volunteer opportunities for the sorting of the toys, decoration of the Expo Center and breakdown after the event. If you are interested in volunteering for toy sorting, decoration or breakdown, please call 860-677-KIDS.
On Christmas Day many volunteers are needed to make the party a success for the children. All volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and must wear their Volunteer long sleeve t-shirts that will be provided to you today. Volunteers at Christmas Day are expected to arrive between 9am and 10:15am depending on their role and will leave after the party ends at 2pm. The following is an outline of the volunteer roles:
Waiters & Waitress
30 volunteers are needed as wait staff to work with Bruce Maneeley of Maneeley’s Catering. No experience necessary. Volunteers will greet the children as they come into the Ct Expo Center and escort them to their assigned table. They will be assigned a food station and will distribute lunch and keep the lunch stations stocked and tidy. The position requires some lifting and a lot of patience.
Elves
300 volunteers are needed to be Santa’s Helpers. There will be 2 elves assigned to each table (you will get your table assignment on Christmas Day). Once the children are sat at your table, you will be required to fill out a toy sheet that will be located on each table. Someone from the toy room will come and pick up for you completed toy sheet. Elves will escort the children to various attractions, play with the childrens, bring them their lunch and retrive the bags of toys to be delivered back to your table. Elves may escort children to the bathroom. Elves are responsible for any clean up at their table/area. Elves are responsible for the children at their table- especially the little ones!
6 Elves are needed to assist at the Arts & Crafts table.
Toy Room
60 volunteers are needed in the toy room on Christmas Day. Assigned Toy Room volunteers will retireve the completed toy sheets from the individual tables. The other Toy Room volunteers will coordinate the toys in piles per table. This job requires lifting!
Costumed Characters
35 volunteers are needed to dress up and entertain the children as various fun characters. The costume will be provided when you arrive Christmas Day. Please bring a change of clothes including socks, shorts, and t-shirts for underneath costumes- it gets hot in there!
Face Painters
20 face painters are needed. If you are creative and familiar with face painting, your skills are needed as a face painter. You will be asked to paint children’s faces with holiday figures (snowmen, Christmas tress, snowflakes) Face Painting Kits provided.
Transportation
26 volunteers are needed for transportation. The transportation staff will be asked to greet the buses and escort the children into the and assist in escorting children back to their bus after the party. Please wear warm, comfortable clothes. You will be outside to get kids on and off the buses. During the party you will be assisting on the inflatable slides.
Photographers
15 volunteers are needed to take Polaroid pictures of children with Costume Characters. Film and cameras will be provided. Photographers will be assigned to a face painting station.