Special Event Details
Potluck in the Park Christmas Dinner 2012
Dates: 12/24/2012 - 12/25/2012
Potluck in the Park in Partnership with the
YWCA of Greater Portland
invites you to volunteer at the Potluck Christmas Dinner
December 25th, 2012
Potluck will be holding a special Christmas Day Dinner at the Portland YWCA in addition to its usual Sunday dinner (held as normal at O'Bryant Square on December 23rd.) To make it a success we need YOU! There's plenty to be done, both on Preparation Day (December 24th) and the day of the meal itself, the 25th! So much so in fact that this year we have divided the work into 'shifts' - each of which has its own requirements, sign-up, start time, and duration. They are ALL based at the Downtown Portland YWCA.
Here's how to volunteer:
Please read everything below carefully BEFORE signing up for a shift.
Both days have been broken up into a number of 'shifts' and apart from those volunteering for Transport, you won't know which of the many tasks during your chosen shift you will be doing until you arrive in Registration.
For instance, during Meal Service shifts on Christmas Day work may include:
- serving the guests their food
- acting as a runner taking food from A to B
- acting as a messenger making sure communications between the various activities goes smoothly
- manning the pet food tables
- assisting our disabled guests
- and more... the list is a long one!
The only exception is Transport, as that requires specific (driving) qualifications.
Important info for Youth & Teams...
We welcome volunteers of all ages, but request (for legal reasons) that every volunteer who is not a legal adult have their parent / guardian fill out a Youth Waiver Form (click here to download) and bring it with them when they attend their shift. Volunteers under 14 should be accompanied by an adult and children under 12 years of age should stay with 'their adult' throughout their shift. There will likely be almost 1800 people in and around the YWCA on Christmas Day, we don't want anyone to get lost! IMPORTANT: Due to online privacy laws, volunteers age 12 cannot create an account on our website. To reserve a slot for a volunteer age 12, email lydia@handsonportland.org.
Volunteer Teams will not be allowed for any shift. All volunteers must sign up as individuals.
Sign up below...
Please volunteer ONLY for one shift. This event is one of the most popular happening in Portland around the holidays, and we wish that as many folk as possible will get the opportunity to help over the two days. If for any reason you can't be with us as expected, please make sure you log into your Hands On Portland volunteer account and remove yourself. If it's a last minute thing, then a call to our Potluck in The Park / Hands On Portland Coordinator (Douglas Allchin – 503 896 9351) would also be appreciated.
Preparation Day - 12/24/12
Work will include clearing the areas to be used, general cleaning, setting up tables, decorating the halls, dressing the tables etc. Some lifting might be required. After you have signed up, you will receive a confirmation e-mail. On that there will be a link to a Potluck In The Park page which will give you full details of the location, timing, and extra instructions!
Choose ONE of these links to volunteer to help set up for the big day:
Volunteer here for SET-UP **FULL**
10am – Noon (25 volunteers required)
Volunteer here for DECORATING **FULL**
Noon – 3pm (25 volunteers required)
Volunteer here for FINAL TOUCHES **FULL**
3pm – 5pm (10 volunteers required)
Meal Day - 12/25/2012
Choose one of the links below to help at the YWCA on the day of the meal. They will lead you to a page where you can sign up. After you have signed up, you will receive a confirmation e-mail. On that there will be a link to a Potluck In The Park page which will give you full details of the location, timing, and extra instructions!
Choose ONE of these links to volunteer to help set up for the big day:
Volunteer here for GUEST TRANSPORTATION 1 **FULL**
11am – 2:30pm (6 volunteers required)
Volunteer here for GUEST TRANSPORTATION 2 **SPACE IS AVAILABLE**
1:30pm – 5:30pm (6 volunteers required)
Volunteer here for MEAL SERVICE 1 **FULL**
11am – 2pm (94 volunteers required)
Volunteer here for MEAL SERVICE 2 **FULL**
1:30pm – 4pm (94 volunteers required)
Volunteer here for 'TEAR DOWN' **SPACE IS AVAILABLE**
4pm – 6pm (30 volunteers required)
Volunteer here for FINAL CLEAN UP **SPACE IS AVAILABLE**
6pm – 8pm (10 volunteers required)
When you arrive...
Please be on time, but not too early - say 20 minutes before your shift starts. The folks in registration will allocate you a name badge, color-coded for a particular task. As you may be asked to work all (or most likely part) of your shift outside - though most outside areas will be covered and under canvas - it's a good idea to bring warm clothing and dress for the weather. If you don't need it, then cloakroom facilities will be available to store it during your shift. You will get a cloakroom ticket if you leave anything - don't lose it!
Thank you very much for patiently reading this - all of us here at Potluck in the Park thank you for volunteering part of your Christmas to enrich that of someone else.
FOLLOW US!