Volunteering Opportunities!
Thank you for your efforts in seeking volunteer opportunities with the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis. If you are interested in receiving our Volunteer Opportunity Email Blast, send an email to volunteers@dsagsl.org to get on the e-mail list.
If you are interested in general volunteering with the DSAGSL in any capacity -or- if you are interested in any of the specific Volunteer Opportunities listed below, you can contact Connie at the DSAGSL office at 314-961-2504 or email us at: volunteers@DSAGSL.org .
You can also fill out our Volunteer Application online
Student Volunteering Opportunities!
Student life is busy! There are books to read, papers to write, and study groups to attend. But for many area High school Juniors, Seniors and college students "making a difference" is part of their school experience. We invite you to consider making a difference in the lives of individuals with Down syndrome in the Greater St. Louis area!
Many opportunities are great for teens and adults, especially high school and college students needing to fill service hour requirements, athletic teams, or just to volunteer for a great cause. Girls Scouts/Boy Scouts are welcome, especially when teamed up with an adult. Here's some of the events you may be interested in getting involved in:
DSAGSL's Family Conference - This year's conference is scheduled for February 25, 2012. Volunteers for this event, help with registration, help with set-up, and clean-up. We also have ongoing volunteer opportunities on the Conference Committee for those wanting to help in 
planning our informative conference. Contact us at LindaK@dsagsl.org .
"Lose the Training Wheels" Bike Camp Volunteers Needed! Our annual Bike Camp is looking for volunteers to walk with the riders during Bike Camp week in June. Bike Camp offers volunteers an opportunity to witness the amazing sight of learning to ride a bike! Using specially modified bicycles, volunteers walk behind bikers as the special wheels "train their brain" to ride a bike! This week long camp has sessions throughout the day. If you, or an organization or group that you know of, would like to spend as little as half a day helping children with disabilities learn to ride a two wheel bike, please contact Julie Appelbaum at the DSAGSL office at 314-961-2504 or email her at: LindaK@dsagsl.org .
Family Picnic - The picnic occurs annually in May. The Family picnic offers a fun opportunity for student volunteers. Volunteers help with games and activities like face painting at the picnic.
"Step Up For Down Syndrome" 2011 (formerly known as the Buddy Walk): If you have always enjoyed the Buddy Walk, this committee could use your help. 2010 Step Us for Down Syndrome Walk in Forest Park was a huge success and fun for everyone! We have expanded this committee to take the load off just a few people. If you are interested in getting involved in planning OR just volunteering the day of the event, for the 2011 Step Up for Down Syndrome (formerly known as the Buddy Walk), email Ashley at Ashley@dsagsl.org .
Join Our Helpline! We invite you to join the DSA Helpline, whether you can offer help to other families or you enjoy learning from reading the solutions offered by others. A big part of what the DSAGSL does, is offer “a lifetime of support, education, and advocacy.” Please consider this opportunity to give back or to learn more. If you would like to be a part of the DSA email helpline, please email us at: dschuch@dsagsl.org and we will add you to the distribution list, or call the office at: 314-961-2504.
Down Syndrome Center at Children’s Hospital in St. Louis: Do you have one Tuesday morning a month and would like to meet some great people while helping parents, the DSAGSL, and one of the top Children’s hospitals in the country? We are looking to add two people to our team of volunteers for Tuesday mornings at the Down Syndrome Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Contact Christy@dsagsl.org or call the DSA office at 314-961-2504.
Education Committee: If this is an interest of yours, this committee could use your help. A variety of opportunities are available, ranging from 1-time event opportunities, to helping plan seminars and trainings for the next year. We are also in need of a committee member who lives in Illinois, to help us address the needs in Illinois. If you are interested, contact the DSA office at 314-961-2504 or email to LindaK@dsagsl.org .
Advocacy: Would you like to help educate others about Down syndrome? We are in need of volunteers to talk to classrooms, community organizations, or businesses about Down syndrome, creating more positive awareness for people with DS. If you would be interested in occasionally spending a few hours of your day, speaking about Down syndrome to a group students, contact the DSAGSL office at: dschuch@dsagsl.org or for more information, please contact us at 314-961-2504. We have more requests from schools each year than we can fill! This is a great opportunity to spread the word around your area.
Book Reviewers Needed! When someone is looking for a book on a particular subject, it is often helpful to read a review or summary. The DSAGSL is collecting book reviews and summaries for our library files. If you would like to review or summarize some books, DVD’s or other materials that we have in our library, please contact us at 314-961-2504 or email us at info@dsagsl.org and we can send you the list of materials that we carry.
Newsletter Co-Editor(s): One of our awesome Newsletter Co-editors, is retiring from the DSAGSL’s Quarterly Newsletter. We need people to assist with the newsletter. This is usually done from home, and could include writing articles, editing, doing electronic photo layouts of pages, gathering contact/meeting information for each newsletter, or various other tasks required to get the quarterly newsletter compiled and ready for printing. Most of the articles that need to be written are those reporting on DSA events or activities, or promoting upcoming DSA events or activities. If you are interested in helping with the newsletter in any small capacity, please contact the DSAGSL office at 314-961-2504, or email at: info@dsagsl.org .
Medical Outreach Program & Advocacy: The DSA has embarked on a new medical outreach program, to provide folders containing information as a guide for medical professionals on sharing the news about Down syndrome to new and expectant parents. This includes our new “Down Comforter” folder containing information about Down syndrome which is being distributed to medical professional to be given to expectant parents. If you are interested in helping to get these resources to hospitals and medical professionals or your own physician(s) , please contact Christy at: Christy@dsagsl.org or call her at the office at 314-961-2504.
Trivia Night Committee: March 31, 2012 will bring the next DSA Trivia Night. If you would be interested in helping plan this fun-filled event, OR you are interested in working at this event, contact Robyn at the DSA office at: robyn@dsagsl.org or call her at the DSA office at 314-961-2504.
If you are interested in any of the above volunteer opportunities, or would like more information, you can contact the DSA office 314-961-2504 or by email at volunteers@dsagsl.org .
