Four tips to make your volunteer events shine

Volunteering is a core purpose of DAV; it’s right in Article II of our Constitution and Bylaws: “to serve our comrades, our communities and our country.”

I firmly believe we do this better than any veterans organization in the country. From our DAV Transportation Network drivers to homeless veteran stand downs to helping veterans who are homebound and so much more, DAV and Auxiliary volunteers are a wonderful, visible reminder of the promise we made to care for our nation’s veterans.

It’s in that spirit of service and care that we host DAV Community Impact Day. This year it takes place on April 5. And I’m hoping to see nationwide participation (everyone can pledge their time here).

While your efforts don’t need to be a grand gesture, I encourage our leaders within DAV to plan and organize department or chapter volunteer events that day to bring your communities together to serve veterans in need.

To help make your event stand out as a “must-do” activity for people to attend, here are four tips to consider:

1. Impact

What are you going to do? Think about the scope and scale of your volunteer event. For example, do you want to focus on one veteran in need, on a public veteran space on a veteran community resource or something else?

• • Some events can require more planning and resources than others. Can your team support the undertaking? Do you have time to achieve excellence? Do you have the funding to support it?
  • Our QuickStart Guide shares several ideas of projects to consider.
  • Will you invite media Inviting local reporters to see what you’re doing can help spread the word about helping veterans in need. Our DAV Community Impact Day Media Guide shares best practices for getting news coverage.
  • Even if you don’t invite media, identify someone to take photos and videos to document your event. You can share those on your social media channels and with us here. Cell phones work well for this!

2. Involvement

Considering how you’re going to use your volunteers is just as important as the project you choose.

• • Keep ’em busy. People want to be involved, and there’s nothing more frustrating for a volunteer than leaving an event feeling like they didn’t accomplish anything. Make sure you consider the different ages, skill levels and abilities of your volunteers. Have something for everyone! If possible, make sure your event is family friendly. If that’s not feasible, communicate the age restriction.
  • Have a backup plan. What happens if more or fewer volunteers show up? Can you scale to accommodate both scenarios? Is your event dependent on the weather, and if so, do you have an alternate date or location?
  • Anticipate people’s needs during your event. As you plan, think through the supplies and materials you’ll need to have on hand for your project. Will volunteers be able to show up and accomplish the goal you’ve set? Also, don’t forget details like restroom access, parking and safety considerations.
  • Communicate ahead of the event any special instructions people will need to know. Is there specific attire they should wear or bring (garden gloves, work clothes, etc.)?
  • Make sure each person pledges their time on our Community Impact Day website! We want to show veterans the impact we can have when we all come together. Also, don’t forget to report your members’ hours in the system.

3. Interest. The more thought you put in to keeping you volunteers happy and engaged, the more they’re going to want to come back for other events.

• • Set a time limit (or shifts) of no more than three hours for your event. You want people to leave feeling accomplished but not completely wiped out. Shorter events hold peoples’ interest more and allows for them to more easily fit it into their schedules.
  • Feed your volunteers! Make sure you at least have plenty of water and some snacks on hand. If you want to do more, consider asking local restaurants to provide food. Many are often willing to provide deep discounts for community service events.
  • Keep the energy up with music and/or an event host. Volunteer events should be as much fun as they are impactful. You want to make sure people are smiling and enjoying their experience while they serve, so find creative ways to boost energy.
  • Never pass on an opportunity to say thank you to volunteers. The most precious resource anyone can give is their time. Not only should you be a good steward of that time, but making people feel seen and appreciated will all but guarantee they’ll be back to help in future events.

4. Information. What you say is just as important as what you do. Do people understand the impact they’re making or what DAV is about?

• • Take the time at your event to share the mission of DAV and the services it provides. Events like DAV Community Impact Day are great touchpoints to connect veterans to our organization—both for services they need and for growing our membership ranks. Those who aren’t eligible for DAV membership can learn about the benefits of the Auxiliary.
  • Remind people that they don’t need to be a veteran to volunteer with DAV. Share with them other opportunities to serve veterans—whether through the Department of Veterans Affairs or through your department or chapter. (And let students know DAV Community Impact Day hours count towards DAV scholarship eligibility!)
  • Stay in touch with event attendees. Send out email newsletters or regular posts on social media about what your department or chapter is up to. Volunteers are more likely to stay involved if you demonstrate your consistent and active in your community.

The biggest thing we saw from last year’s DAV Community Impact Day is that those departments and chapters who participated used it as a catalyst to do more. One example of this is DAV Chapter 16 in Longwood, Florida and Auxiliary Unit 16 in nearby Altamonte Springs. Last April, they visited veterans in area nursing homes in the Orlando area, and it’s become a regular event for them. Since then, they’ve also hosted holiday meals, claims assistance clinics, and information tables at state veterans homes.

When we volunteer our time, we’re showing our ill and injured veterans and their families that “thank you for your service” is more than just words; it’s action. Keep up the great work! I’ll see you out there April 5.