I need to begin this by letting you know that I am a big Disney fan. I love everything Disney and my life dream is to eat dinner in Club 33 at Disneyland. So now that you have the background, when I heard about the Give a day, Get a Disney day program, I was excited. If you haven’t heard, this is a volunteer program that encourages people to volunteer for one day and receive a free pass to Disneyland as a reward. Disney’s goal is to give away 1 million tickets and create a wave of volunteerism that makes the world better.
I work for a non-profit organization called Down Syndrome Network, and we are always looking for volunteers. I thought this would be a perfect opportunity for us.
First, I researched all of the requirements and rules. Then I completed an online application and three days later, We were Accepted!! We have two time intensive events that I immediately posted as volunteer opportunities. And then I posted a wish list item, a platform for our storage unit to better utilize the storage space.
Within 24 hours, every space for volunteering was filled and I had 50 emails from people wanting to help in any way possible. The first was someone who said he could build a platform that day and deliver it the upcoming weekend. I agreed to that proposal and entered it into the Disney program.
Two days later, I received a phone call from Mr. Ward, telling me that the platform was done and he would like to meet me in the next 30 minutes to deliver it. I was so excited that I immediately drove to meet him.
As I was driving, I started to panic. I had just agreed to meet a man, in an isolated storage unit. No other people around, totally dark….images of Silence of the Lambs started to come to me and I pictured myself being slaughtered and stuffed into the storage unit for years before anyone found me. I quickly called my boss, and left her a message that I was meeting someone at the storage unit and if she didn’t hear from me in an hour, to send the police. Then I called my kids and told them the same thing.
When I got to the storage unit, there was a man who was a shorter and rounder version of Ron Howard. He was so friendly and so helpful. The platform was so sturdy and well made. He helped me empty the area and then install the platform and stack everything back in. He was doing this project so he could take his nephew to Disneyland for the first time. What nice people Disney fans are!!!
I finished the platform project, called everyone back and told them I was safe and we had a great laugh about my paranoia. Since that time, I have met a former President of a PTA who is looking for something to keep her busy. A family of 4 who are hemming pants for children with Ds, whose legs are shorter than the typical child. I have 20 people signed up to help me set up tents and then tear them down after a fishing event.
Individuals with Down syndrome have a busy life, with school, physical therapy, occupational therapy, music therapy, speech therapy and playtime. Disney has given me the perfect opportunity to marry people with an interest to help and the people who need that help. Everyday, I am allowed to glimpse the goodness in people and see how one person can make a difference.
Wonderful, wonderful story!! I'm glad that eve rything is working out for bo
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