Give a day, get a day?

[DSNY4ever]

Has anyone actually signed up for an event and gotten any sort of conformation? I tried signing up for something over a week ago and it said the organization would contact me in 5 days and I was never contacted, maybe they were flooded with too many requests

So I just tried signing up for something else that said spaces available but every time I try to sign up it says not enough room, and when I pick other activities I get the same message...? I am glad things are filling up for them, but I have a feeling the site just isn't working.

Anyone else have success?

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

Has anyone actually signed up for an event and gotten any sort of conformation? I tried signing up for something over a week ago and it said the organization would contact me in 5 days and I was never contacted, maybe they were flooded with too many requests

So I just tried signing up for something else that said spaces available but every time I try to sign up it says not enough room, and when I pick other activities I get the same message...? I am glad things are filling up for them, but I have a feeling the site just isn't working.

Anyone else have success?

We tried to sign up last weekend, but got an email back saying they were full. So we tried again with this weekend.

We don't have much of a selection because we want DS6 to be able to participate too.

 

[hideeh]

Has anyone actually signed up for an event and gotten any sort of conformation? I tried signing up for something over a week ago and it said the organization would contact me in 5 days and I was never contacted, maybe they were flooded with too many requests

So I just tried signing up for something else that said spaces available but every time I try to sign up it says not enough room, and when I pick other activities I get the same message...? I am glad things are filling up for them, but I have a feeling the site just isn't working.

Anyone else have success?

I have not had success signing up. I got to the point where it said the organization (Project Linus) would contact me within 5 days. That was 8 days ago. This particular organization wouldn't have spots that would fill up because it is creating blankets for sick children in need. Strange.



I will be curious to see if anyone has had success.

EDITED TO ADD: I tried re-registering again today and almost immediately had an email from Disney and then within the half hour had an email from the organization, Project Linus. She mentioned Disney was having trouble with their website when it first went live last week......hmmmm....imagine that?! So now we are off to make blankets.

 

[TravisSch]

I'm in the same situation. I have an opportunity in my area as a "Program Volunteer". I don't know what this means for the organization I sent the request in to, so I asked what I would be doing. I sent in my intent to volunteer last week on Sunday and did not hear anything back. Yesterday, I sent an email to the same organization using the email address that was given in the confirmation email from Hands On Network. I'm still waiting to hear a response back from the volunteer organization though.

 

[disneymom8589]

I looked for any volunteer opportunities in the greater Puget Sound region (and it's a big area!) and EVERYTHING that had specific dates listed were already full! I went through about 12 pages with no success. Does that mean I'm out of luck? I tried to see if there was a place to contact someone about it, and couldn't find anything. A little frustrating.

 

[CinderellasSister]

We're signed up for delivering food this Sunday. It wasn't my first choice, but that filled up before I could sign up. I also had a hard time finding something that my DS6 could do. So I'll take what I can get. Wanted to try to get the tickets before our trip next month.

 

[Willow1213]

We signed up for Project Linus and got a response from the coordinator the next day. I need to make one blanket per family member and deliver to her home by March 1st. I'm planning on going to pick up some fabric tomorrow.

 

[mejkjj97]

Most of the organizations in my area filled up the 1st day and there are tons without dates. I keep checking every day. Plus my DH and I have to do seperate events because our 4 year old does not qualify,

 

[HillPete]

We're signed up with Project Linus in our area. I just got an email this morning saying they are moving the drop-off venue due to the overwhelming response they got, so maybe they will open up new dates/events in the next few weeks?

Was anyone else surprised at how few opportunities are available for young children? I thought that partnering with Disney would indicate that families with small children want to participate. Why not put together some special events for the little guys? Why not look for new partnering opportunities with organizations that feature kids' participation?

Sorry for going on a Pete-style rant. I'm done now.

--Hillary

 

[klam_chowder]

My experience has been great with the websites and agencies

I originally signed us up to do Food Bank work. They got back to me in 3 days but they had too many requests and also only have volunteers in 1/mo. We e-mailed back and forth a couple of times. The earliest they could get us in is May (I'm out of town for their Feb & April dates). I took it but then decided I didn't want to wait that long to do something so I signed up to improve a community agency this weekend. Not sure of the specific tasks but we may be outside - the write-up included: "be ready to work and get dirty".

When I went back to look the second time, there were many more listings - all sorts of things. The "counters" for the number of volunteers needed was also being updated in real time. I took the last 2 spots for this weekend's work and when I went back to check it said "0 volunteers needed as of 2 minutes ago".

Keep on trying, don't be discouraged. This is a big new program that many agencies are just getting used to. As we all know, most agencies have been operating on a thread for a while now. The reward of giving back to your communities will be worth it. We're keeping our food bank volunteer dates and DH already mentioned that it's something we should try to do every month after our initial visit.

cheers,

 

[minie_meese]

I volunteer every year for a robotics competition called FIRST and have done so since 1992. It is one of the most rewarding things I've ever been involved in and they are participating in the Disney give a day, get a day program.

FIRST has regional competitions all over the US in March and April. I've worked at ones in Rochester, NY, Boston and Atlanta. There are at least 30 locations around the country that have FIRST competitions and the organization is always looking for volunteers. It is fun, they feed you and you get to see some amazing competition with robots built by high school kids and their adult mentors. When I first looked for it on the Disney site I didn't find it but I put in Manchester, NH (where the organization that sponsors the competition is located) and it is the first thing that appears.

Volunteers can be as young as 13 and you need to be at the competition site on the days of the scheduled competition. You can volunteer for one, two or three days. Most of the competitions are held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and a few are held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. You can look at the schedule at http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc/regionalevents.aspx?id=430

Volunteers do all kinds of things from directing people, staffing registration tables, passing out safety glasses, setting up playing fields and tons of other things. Many require minimal or no experience. You can read a description of the volunteer opportunities at http://www.usfirst.org/community/volunteers/content.aspx?id=15692

It is a wonderful program. I'm happy to answer any questions about the program.

 

[DSNY4ever]

Haha, I got an email from Disney today saying thanks for signing up- so I thought I finally got into something, but no. I tried signing up for the new things that opened up this morning, but apparently my slow typing skills lost me the spots! I am glad that they are filling everything up so quickly, but I am getting frustrated, and my husband and I aren't picky- we'll do anything!

I feel like I am trying to get an ADR at California Grill during Wishes

Good luck everyone, I hope I get something soon because I think it would be really nice to volunteer somewhere.

 

[Disney Enabler]

I also signed up for Project Linus but I am required to provide 2 blankets per "blanketeer" to complete the activity. I have one blanket almost done and need to start the second one. As the blankets need to be a minimum of 42 x 42 inches and I wanted to use make the blankets warm the yarn is costing me almost as much as the one day ticket I will receive. But it does feel good to do good for others .

 

[wheniwasyoung]

After reading everyone's post I knew we were just getting lucky. I kept thinking to myself that this was way to easy. My family and I volunteer all the time so maybe someone was helping us out but we received all seven of our certificates yesterday.

 

[airman]

I just got confirmation to volunteer a rescue dog competition, fly ball races at the dog show in Southeast Michigan in 2 weeks. I am looking forward to it, it sound like fun. Keep checking the volunteer list, this one came up on the 10th.

 

[CinderellasSister]

Most of the organizations in my area filled up the 1st day and there are tons without dates. I keep checking every day. Plus my DH and I have to do seperate events because our 4 year old does not qualify,

Kim,
Check for some of the ones in your area that even take kids as young as 4. All of the volunteer opportunites stop at 6 because that is Disney's rule for the youngest age that will qualify for a ticket. However, in my area we are participating with a program that packages and delivers food to the elderly. While their minimum age is 6, their email to me when I signed up said they will have a children's area set up for younger kids to keep them entertained while the parents volunteer. If there is an organization offering something like that near you, that may help you and your husband to be able to volunteer together. It's worth a try. Good luck!

 

[cj9200]

From what I have seen, most of the volunteer efforts are corindated by the Hands On organizations located throughout the US. You may want to contact them directly to see about volunteer opportunities in your area and if they qualify for the Give a Day program.

I work in the non-profit sector and one of my clients was a targeted organization for a major volunteer effort. Hands On Miami were pros not only in bringing in people but making sure it was not a waste of their time. A lot of prep work was done ahead of time to make sure the effort was worthwhile. They do good work. And it is fun. Love Disney’s effort to bring in volunteers to help financially strapped non-profits.