Getting into the Holiday Spirit

By: Tyler Myers, United Way Intern

On the evening of December 5^th I volunteered at Arc Midstate’s Christmas party.  I greeted people as they arrived for the party and made sure they had a nametag.  I helped make sure that everyone who wanted to see Santa got a chance to get their picture taken with him. 

You could feel the excitement in the air as people arrived.  There was a lot of anticipation to see the Project Challenge Choir and of course, Santa.  One person told me they got there early to make sure they had a front row seat for the concert.  I wasn’t sure how many people would be coming.  This was my first time attending the event.  By the time the concert started there were nearly 200 in attendance, a full house!

I had fun watching the concert.  It was entertaining and interactive.  They encouraged everyone in the crowd to sing along with them if they knew the words to any of the songs.  Many took them up on that offer and joined in.  The room was filled with smiles, laughter, and plenty of Christmas spirit.

At the end of the night Cindy Owen, Arc Midstate Executive Director, asked how I knew so many of the people.  I told her that I had known a couple, but that most of the people I had been talking with that night I met for the first time.  That was just the environment and the atmosphere of the event.  Everyone was there to have a good time together and it made it feel like I had volunteered there several times already.  This was a wonderful event to kick off the holiday season. 

Story and Play Time

By:  Tyler Myers, United Way Staff Intern

I recently volunteered through Reach Up Inc. to read to a classroom of children at the Eastside Boys and Girls’ Club.  As soon as I entered the room one of the children got up, walked over to me, and gave me a big hug.  Although I was quite surprised by the hug (which allowed for a teaching moment on personal boundaries) and felt bad that he had to be reminded to stay on his shape, it was a wonderful welcome to their classroom that made me feel much appreciated by the kids.  Each of the kids in the class has their own shape (heart, boat, star, etc.) to mark where they are to sit on the rug when they meet there.

Before I went there I thought about whether to pause after each page to talk about the pictures and the story, or to just read it straight through.  I decided I would play it by ear and see how the kids were responding to the story.  After the first couple pages of the story it was clear I should read right through because every set of eyes was locked on to the book, and every mouth was closed as they followed the story.

After I was done reading, I was asked to stay for their play time and gladly said I would.  At each play station, the kids were so excited to show me what they were playing with or what they had put together.  It was awesome to see how proud the kids were of their work.

I left the classroom smiling, feeling rejuvenated and uplifted by all of the children’s positive energy.  This is something I would definitely do again and recommend this volunteer opportunity to anyone who enjoys being around young children.