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Volunteers Do Not Necessarily Have The Time; They Just Have The Heart

*Did you know that the Alameda County Fair uses over 700 volunteers each year?*

WHY VOLUNTEER?

Hi – I’m Kristen Dean, Volunteer Program Coordinator at Alameda County Fair. If you’ve ever thought volunteering at the Fair might be a fun and positive way to give back to the community, let’s talk! We have a great program here that allows you to participate as much or as little as you like in the areas you’re most interested in.  As a non-profit organization, we also love to help other non-profits raise money through volunteering. So, take a look below and see some of the reasons to make a difference this summer!

Why Volunteer?

People choose to volunteer for a variety of reasons. For some, it offers the chance to give something back to the community or make a difference to the people around them. For others, it provides an opportunity to develop new skills or build on existing experience and knowledge.

Through volunteering, you can:

  • Give something back to an organization that has impacted on a person’s life
  • Make a difference to the lives of others
  • Feel valued and part of a team
  • Spend quality time away from work or a busy lifestyle
  • Gain confidence and self-esteem

Volunteering can also be a route to employment or career change:

  • Gain new skills, knowledge and experience
  • Develop existing skills and knowledge
  • Enhance your resume
  • Use professional skills and knowledge to benefit others

Volunteering offers social benefits such as:

  • Meeting new people and making new friends
  • A chance to socialize
  • Getting to know the local community

There’s also one more added incentive: cash! Alameda County Fair’s volunteer program can also be a fundraising opportunity for non-profit groups in our community.  We partner with over 50 non-profit organizations from 32 different cities throughout Alameda County. And just about anyone can do it – we have volunteers that range in age from 12 to 100 years old!

To participate, all you have to do is sign up!  (501c3 needed). Your group will then need to designate a Group Coordinator to head up recruitment and act as the main contact for the ACF Volunteer Program Coordinator. There are 18 days of fair and 3 shifts per day (earliest shifts begin at 10:30am and range from 3-7 hours and the later shifts start after 3pm, with the latest one ending at 11:15pm).

 

Compensation is $6 per hour for each working member in your group. Volunteers under age 16 are required to work with an adult. At the end of the Fair, your organization will receive one check for all volunteer hours worked. For example, a family or group of five volunteers would each get paid by the hour – so, if they each worked six, six-hour shifts at $6 per hour during the run of the Fair, their organization would earn $1080. Many groups leave with checks for thousands of dollars each year!

Volunteers receive training, a t-shirt and water bottle, admission to the fair and parking for the days they work. They may also stay and enjoy the Fair before or after their shift on any scheduled day. As a bonus, all volunteers receive two additional admission tickets to come back and enjoy it on a day they are not working. It’s a win-win!

If you’re interested please contact Kristen Dean, Volunteer Program Coordinator at: 925-426-7610 or kdean@alamedacountyfair.com.

We’d love for you to join us, so sign up today!

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