With the school year in full swing, the PTA has probably reached out to your school community looking for volunteers to help with the events and activities that help every child reach their full potential. With so many wonderful events and resources the PTA provides for your school, the need for volunteers is huge.
But if the idea of getting involved yourself feels overwhelming, don’t worry, you’re not alone! While the PTA is always looking for creative ways to raise more funds and needs volunteers to make that happen, volunteering doesn’t have to be time-consuming.
Whether you are juggling a full work and/or home schedule or you have time to spare, here are five tips to help you fit volunteering for the PTA into your life.
1. Determine your own level of involvement.
From taking on a leadership role to joining a committee, you can decide how much time and effort you want to give your PTA. If you would like to volunteer but the regular meetings don’t fit your schedule, ask for meeting notes to stay informed on your own time. Most PTA’s are willing to be flexible and creative if you simply communicate what you can realistically give.
2. Use your skills.
Whether you work in finance, marketing, or you’re a stay-at-home parent that is a master juggler, the skills you use in your daily life are a huge asset to your PTA. Consider tasks that take advantage of your expertise. Join the fundraising committee if you love crunching numbers or offer to write emails and newsletters if you’re a pro at copywriting.
3. Volunteer for a specific event or fundraiser.
If you don’t feel like you have the time to formally join the PTA, you can still volunteer to help! Your PTA will be looking for extra volunteers for annual events and fundraisers with varying levels of effort, so you can choose what works best for you. Help sell custom gear, work an annual event such as a fun run or lend your time during teacher appreciation week. These can all be great jumping off points to begin your involvement.
4. Bring your student along!
If childcare is holding you back from volunteering, find opportunities where you can volunteer with your child. This could be organizing materials for an event at home, sorting orders from a fundraiser or working at an event table such as a refreshment stand. Not only does this solution allow you to get involved, but it’s also a great learning experience for your child.
5. Encourage your PTA to embrace time-saving solutions.
When you commit time to your PTA you want it to be utilized properly. For example, instead of having your volunteers spending their time tracking, collecting and depositing money during a fundraiser, use an online fundraising platform to streamline the process.
Using a fundraising company can also save your PTA tons of time while helping you raise more funds. America’s leading school fundraising company, Booster, offers a variety of fundraising solutions ranging from fitness fundraisers and an online fundraising platform to product sales and custom gear, so you can plan out your entire year all in one place. Plus—Booster can customize the level of help you need for each fundraiser, from DIY to full service.
Joining the PTA doesn’t need to be an overwhelming experience. Be realistic and volunteer the amount of time that works for you and your family! Not only will it feel great to give back to your school, but being a part of the PTA is also an excellent opportunity to meet other parents, network with your community and get involved in your student’s education.
