Bay Area Heart Walk
When I was a freshman, the Bay Area Heart Walk was one of my first events. At the time I did not entirely know what my Interact experience would be like. It ended up being a great volunteer experience, and it taught me about what it would mean to be an Interactor. You put others over yourself in many situations, and you also will become a leader to others. I learned that being in Interact is more than just volunteering, you get to meet new people, and learn new skills.
The Bay Area Heart Walk is an event which is hosted by American Heart Association. The event’s main goal is to bring awareness to heart disease and stroke as well as fundraise for the cause. The event consists of various activities, guest speakers, and then the walk itself.
The volunteering consisted of helping with activities that were being hosted before and after the event. Helping with the activities was a really engaging experience. One of my favorite activities was helping with crafts and games for kids. Another favorite was getting signatures for a petition proposing healthier school lunches throughout California. I enjoyed this because I loved talking to people and interacting with them, while supporting a greater cause. Other volunteers at the event did things such as helping at photo booths, working on the course of the walk, handing out snacks and water, and more.
A few tips for the event.
Bring a positive and willing attitude.
Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.
Make an effort to get to know other volunteers, and help out with volunteer activities that you may not always be the most comfortable with.
The event is very large and there is always a lot going on at once; if you don’t have anything to do, find someone who is running the event and see what you can do.
Delegate to other volunteers if you need to.
If you see that there are some volunteers who are not doing anything, see if there is something that they could do.
Overall, just like with any other volunteer event, make the most out your experience!
