FIVE STEPS TO DO A VISIT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR

  

HOW TO DO A VISIT

  

Did you ever feel like there is more to Christmas or Chanukah than just getting presents? Is there something missing in the giving? Do you want more from the holidays throughout the year? The Holiday Project has the answers for you.

 The Holiday Project is a National Non-profit Organization of volunteers who visit with people spending Christmas, Chanukah and other holidays throughout the year confined in nursing homes, hospitals, prisons and other facilities.

 You, too, can visit an institution in your community and share in the joy and giving of the holidays. The following five steps are How To Organize A Visit :

STEP - 1 CHOOSE THE FACILITY AND SET UP THE VISIT. 

  • Call a facility and ask for the Activities Director or Volunteer Department.

  • Introduce yourself and why you are calling.

  • Pick a time and date that works for the facility and the volunteers you are working with. If possible, plan your visit right on the day of the holiday.

  • Get directions to the facility, find out if there are any restrictions, are children allowed, can you bring pets and is food allowed.

STEP 2 - INVITE AND CONFIRM VOLUNTEERS.
  • Invite everyone you know to join in- friends, family members, group members, etc. Ask people to invite their friends.
  • For every 10 residents at the facility, enroll one volunteer.
  • Make up a flyer with information visitors need to know – date, time place, directions, parking and where to meet at the facility.

STEP 3 - PREPARE FOR THE VISIT.
  • Put together a materials packet with supplies – name tags, liability release forms, pens, song sheets.
  • If you want to bring gifts, check with the facility to ensure the gifts are appropriate. (This is where creativity and love come in. Hand made cards or gifts are great)

STEP 4 - MANAGE THE LOGISTICS OF THE VISIT.

 

  • Arrive first at the facility and let the facility know you are there to set up.

  • Have an opening meeting to prepare the volunteers; thank them for coming and let them know what a wonderful gift they are sharing with others.

  • Let volunteers know they are there to visit with everybody and if they meet people who may seem incommunicative, they should discover other ways to communicate such as holding hands and offering hugs. If you have gifts, cards or song sheets, distribute them to the volunteers.

  • Let the volunteers know the time to be back for the completion meeting.

  • Allow one to two hours for the actual visit.

  • At the end of the visit hold a completion meeting to give volunteers the opportunity to share about their experience of the visit. Include acknowledging them for coming and invite them to share their experience.

STEP 5 - COMPLETE THE VISIT.
  • After the visit, send a thank you note or postcard to every volunteer.
  • Create a mailing list of volunteers to invite them on another visit in the future.

Please contact The Holiday Project If you have any questions or download a start-up packet.

May your holiday season be special and one you will long treasure!

Photo: Holding hands.

What lies behind us and what lies before us
 are small matters compared to what lies within us.

Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Contact us:

Phone: (707) 922-5845
Send E-Mail E-Mail The Holiday Project

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©2001 The Holiday Project National Organization.