Volunteering for TeamAIDAsha
TeamAIDAsha program has been running in Boston area since 2003 thanks to the support of numerous volunteers. If you can spare a few hours this summer to help the program or the runners, please sign up here. You can help with water support, web/graphics programming, publicity, photography/video or mentoring (alumni volunteers).
Water Support
Most of our volunteering effort goes into water support. If you can spare about 1-2 hours once in 6 weeks on a Saturday morning, this is the best help you can give to our runners. These days we have started doing un-manned water stops. This means you can drop off the supplies early in the morning (say, 7:00AM) and pick them up after runners finish (by about 12:00PM).
Signing up for water support
Three days before your target water support date
Supplies for water support
On the day of the water support
- If you are not in the TAA_Volunteers email list, please make sure to sign up for volunteering at this page
- You will be added to a Google email list for TAA volunteers
- You will see announcements in this list asking for water support volunteers for specific dates. Note that water support is needed only on Saturday mornings.
- We will try to announce the date and duration of each water support stop well in advance
- Respond to the email to sign up and make sure to mark your calendars for the target dates and times.
- Please try to make sure to stick to your signup date/time to avoid last-minute confusion. Our runners are counting on you to be there with water and Gatorade during their long, grueling runs.
Three days before your target water support date
- Make sure you have confirmed the target date, time and location for your water support point by Thursday evening before the target Saturday
- Make sure to check the location on your GPS or online map to confirm that you can get there before time. You will receive the start and end time of your water support period by email. However, there may be delays for the start of the run etc. It is always better to ask the runners to see if they are expecting more runners to pass by your stop.
Supplies for water support
- You can find the expected number of runners for the group run from the number of RSVPs at the meetup group. Check it on Friday afternoon before the day of the run to get accurate runner count: http://www.meetup.com/TeamAIDAsha
- Gatorade: For each water stop, approximately 1x64 fl ounce bottle Gatorade for 8 runners, 2x64 ounce bottles for 16 runners etc. Large Gatorade bottels are available at large supermarkets, you may need to search in advance for ideal stores.
- Water: For each water stop, approximately one gallon water for 16 runners (Recommended: you can bring safe drinking water from home using water carriers or buy 2-gallon carriers)
- Paper cups for each runner
- For water stops at the end of the run, it will be nice to have bananas / bagels / oranges etc
- If one water stop is being used twice (runners using the stop on the way back), please make sure to double the quantities of Gatorade and water at the stop.
- On hot (70F or above) and humid days, please carry extra Gatorade and water
- You may have some leftover Gatorade and water from each week. Please store them in the fridge for your next water support date or pass it on to another volunteer who may need it for the following weeks.
- Please remember to save all receipts if you would like to submit request for reimbursements. You can scan and email the receipts to info at teamaidasha.org
On the day of the water support
- Make sure that you arrive at the target location on time with the Gatorade, water and cups. You may want to bring a book/magazine to read and a lawn chair to sit while waiting for runners.
- Note that start and end times are estimates based on the runners' start time and approximate paces. It is possible that the runners will come a few minutes earlier or later.
- If you don't see any TeamAIDAsha runners within 30 minutes of the target time for your spot, try to call your main contact for water support to confirm that you are at the right location
- You can ask runners approximately how many runners are behind them. They MAY be able to give you a rough idea. You can leave after you can confirmed that the last runner has passed your water stop. If in doubt, please make sure to stay as long as the suggested time by the water support coordinator, or call them to confirm.
- On some water support stops you may be a double water stop for runners who are heading out in one direction and returning in the opposite direction. Please make sure that you are not expected to stay longer for the returning runners.