UNI Day of Service | Lead Volunteer Tips

Thank you for your willingness to participate in the UNI Days of Service. It is with support from Panthers like you that we are able to make a difference in the world — thank you! Below are tips to help make your volunteer project a success. 

UNI Alumni Association

Finding a project site

Pick a place that means something to you. Somewhere you love to go that may need a few extra volunteer hours — a favorite park, a zoo, a community center, etc.  

Talk to other alumni or friends in the area to solicit ideas for nonprofit project sites in your area.  

Your local United Way or other social service organizations such as Rotary and Kiwanis clubs may have suggestions as to who to work with. Suggestions could include local schools, nursing homes, humane societies and city parks.  

Partnering with a local club such as Rotary, may allow you to plug into an already existing service project. This may free you to concentrate on finding volunteers while the local club works on site logistics. 

Approaching an organization

Before calling an organization, determine who may be the best person to talk to. Look for a volunteer coordinator or a top-level administrator to find out who your best contact may be.  

When approaching an organization to talk about the UNI Community Day of Service, tell them the event will be part of a national service days sponsored by the UNI Alumni Association. On this day, Panthers across the nation will be volunteering to make a positive impact in their local community.  

Ask about the kind of work that is available. Find out the number of people they can accommodate and skills needed. Keep in mind that some volunteer groups will have elderly individuals, children and folks with varying levels of abilities. 

Ask about parking, attire, needed supplies or tools and if there is a place to gather for lunch or refreshments at the end of the day. Don’t forget sunscreen or bug spray if we are lucky to have a sunny day!

Have a “bad weather” plan in place if your project site is outside (ie: we meet rain or shine, or in case of rain call …, concerned about the weather, call your UNI Alumni representative for updates) .

Communicating with the UNI Alumni Association

Keep in communication with your UNI representative regarding the chosen site and volunteer registrations. Your representative can help answer questions and help you determine if your site is appropriate for the community day of service.  

Solicit local business for food donations. Ideally, at each site, volunteers should have access to water and refreshments such as coffee, snacks or lunch. Your project site may have suggestions as to whom to ask for donations. Folks may not want to stay and eat as a group, so providing food that they can take as they leave may be a good options. Food suggestions include:  

  • Coffee
  • breakfast bars/scones/muffins
  • small sandwiches
  • Fruit
  • bottled water  

Stay in contact with your UNI Alumni representative for last minute questions, dilemmas, etc. the day of.  

If anyone asks about how they can stay connected to UNI and the UNI Alumni Association, feel free to give that person your UNI Alumni representative’s contact information. We will be happy to talk to them about the association and how they can stay involved.  

Let us know how you did! We love to know fun statistics such as: number of plants planted, pints of blood donated, books read aloud, meals delivered, gardens weeded, gallons of paint used, nails pounded, etc. PICTURES, PICTURES, PICTURES of the day!