1. Be Part of Something Special
Serving more than 2.5 million athletes around the world, Special Olympics is unique in its goal of providing athletic opportunities to people with intellectual disabilities. The success of the organization relies heavily on its immense volunteer program. As a community-based program, Special Olympics uses volunteers from all walks of life at annual events and for year-round help. What volunteers do depends on their availability, interests and skills.
2. Give What you can
Perhaps you've always wanted to volunteer for Special Olympics, but are so busy with work and family that you just don't think you have the time. Busy people can still volunteer even half a day a year by serving at Special Olympic events. Many of the volunteer positions need no special training, whether it's as an athlete escort, a timer, in food service or any of the other areas with more than a dozen volunteer opportunities at a competition.
3. Commit to Volunteer at Special Olympics
If your schedule is more flexible, Special Olympics can use you year round. Athletes really depend on their coaches to help with training. If you don't have any coaching experience, but just a desire, existing coaches are always looking for assistants. Special Olympics also needs healthcare providers to provide physicals and health education to athletes and families. Maybe you can help with public relations and get stories out to the media. Even if you have no special skills, a surprising amount of administrative duties need help too.
4. Raise Money to Raise Awareness
While the Special Olympics organization considers volunteer time invaluable, there are costs associated with hosting events and travel and competition costs of athletes. Those costs come from the tireless work of fundraising volunteers who also raise awareness of the Special Olympics in communities everywhere. The law enforcement community provides one of the most successful fundraisers the Torch Run. More than 85,000 people from law enforcement carry the Flame of Hope around the world with the athletes, raising money along the way.
5. Start a Local Special Olympics Program
Although the Special Olympics program works with many athletes, many more potential athletes don't get the opportunity because of a lack of services where they live. If your community doesn't have a Special Olympics program, you would be doing a great service by volunteering to start up a program. The Special Olympics organization provides the answers you need with their "Ready, Set, Go! Special Olympics Local Program Development Kit and Guide."
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