Volunteering for Realy For Life ????

Hello All

I have never done any prior volunteering but this cause is close to my heart and I wanted to volunteer my fp. Can any one please tell me your experiences with volunteering and what do you guys paint? I was thinking of painting the purple ribbon with flowers for girls and a plain one for boys. What are your thoughts?
Thanks, Ruth

Oops just noticed I spelled relay wrong lol

Hi, i did a relay for life in early May, and not a single person asked for anything related to the event, I did tons of tribals, Mark Reid style eye masks, flowers, flaming soccer balls, tigers,ect. but not a single butterfly was requested either, go figure.

I always volunteer for any event people call me to do. If you are like me and just love to paint and not out for just money then its a very good idea. You have to remember God always repays you in a bigger way. Its always good to get new customers also. I do very small eye designs because sometimes the line just gets bigger and bigger. You will have lots of fun trust me. I agree with len they never pic anything related to the event either.

I did Relay earlier this year and the organiser wanted heaps of Relay inspired designs. The kids didn't. They stuck to the usual requests.

Did you all volunteer or did they pay any of you?

that was the first face painting thing i ever did actually... all the profits went to relay and i charged a dollar a face.. i only got one request for anything cancer related... i did mostly tigers,butterflies,frogs,masks, and one scary clown lol

The organiser approached me to do it - he asked me if I could register as a team, then charge what I wanted as ppf, take what I wanted and donate some. It was the first time it has run here so it was a small turnout and I didn't make much at all so I took out paint costs and decided to donate all the rest, I think next year I won't register as a team and I'll just do it for free as my charity of the year as cancer has touched many close to me.

I volunteer at the Relay for Life, by NOT as a face painter. I usually end up in the Volunteer Registration tent.

I NEVER volunteer to face paint - that is what I do as a job so I don't ever give it away.

I have done the MS Walk for years (paid) and will be doing the Push for Your Tush (colon cancer) this month (also paid).

I can say that in general the kids ask for the usual... occasionally you may get asked for pink ribbons at breast cancer events but at others, not really.

I have done events where I only use their colours - the kids can have anything they want but it will only be in the event colours! It is fun for me and the kids get to get creative.

I donate 25% back to any charity that I do PPF for. And remember people, charities have money....I promise you that not everyone else is donating everything for free. Do you think all of the food/tents/lighting/venues/promo material... whatever, is free? If someone gives me the hardsell to get me to paint for free, I ask them if they are getting paid...if the caterers are getting paid, if the hotel is getting paid, if the DJ is getting paid etc. _IF_ they are all donated, i will consdier it, but in 2 years...so far, everyone I have asked this to has backed down and then treated me fairly. The money you don't take from them to get hired, I promise, they will spend on someone else. (Yes, I know, there are always exceptions, but this is how it usually works...I learned this info FROM a charity...that should tell you something) At a minimum, cover your kit fee and fuel. It should never cost you money to work.

PS, I like what Shannon said...support the cause absolutly!! But do it in another way...don't devalue your work and all you have invested in it! Charge reasonable rates if you do paint for any charity (IMO $1 per face doesn't help you OR the charity, you can still only paint the same number of faces....why not charge $5 and make them AND yourself more $$?)