NEW Activity Sign Up Policy

The amount of volunteers that we have in the program and the amount of activities each person wants to sign up for is insane! I cannot believe how fast things have been filling so a few things will be changing.

1. We’re continuing to work on adding more activities. We’ve got some fun extra events planned for summer and trying hard to add more nursing home/assisted living activities! I have personally visited a bunch of new venues and spoke with activities directors and waiting to hear back and get them added. This includes Elderwood Nursing Home, Garden Gate Nursing Home, Kaleidoscope! Plus, have reached out again to the Tri-Community Food Pantry and Fantastic Friends! We have added Glenwell DePaul!!The obstacle I keep running into with agencies is age requirements! Many places have minimum ages— even with having a director attending every activity with you guys! If you have any ideas for volunteer opportunities or have a contact person for a specific place, please let me know.

2. Since so many volunteers are watching the website and signing up before the newsletter is even hitting mailbox, the Sign Up Genius will not go live until a specific date and time each month, giving everyone a fair shot at getting into activities.  Registration for May/June will go live on Saturday, April 19 at 9:00 am.  I will send out a Remind with the link and it will be posted on the Y.E.S. website —www.CheektowagaYES.org. 

3. Please make sure you’re following guidelines— ie. one St Stephens per month, one Grace Guest per newsletter, etc. We want to make sure everyone gets a chance to participate.  Please ensure you’re not signing up for activities that are happening at the same time too!

4. Please be sure to cancel events as much in advance as possible so another volunteer can take your place! Be sure to check back on Sign Up Genius, as all cancelations will be processed through the website (whether someone removes themselves or I remove them after they’ve texted/emailed their cancelation.)  We will be more strict with no-shows too. If you have 2 no-shows, you’ll receive a warning letter.  If you get another no-show, you’ll be dismissed from the program.  To rejoin, you’ll have to attend orientation again.  Each year, you get a clean slate.  Any no-shows in 2025 will disappear in 2026.