Silver Dollar City - Non Profit Volunteers

rubedugans · October 19, 2015, 10:36:56 AM

I've been a stranger here over the past few months, but...

I wondered if anyone has ever volunteers as part of a mom-profit group to work at the park? It is an opportunity available for in food service where you will work alongside Silver Dollar City employees serving and plating food, cleaning, and bussing tables.
Recently I looked into the program for our school group and this weekend received the dates on which the park is using volunteers in positions. Hopefully we will be able to make it all work, with a small group, and the times are during the holiday season, so volunteers were at a minimum for us, but I hope to do this to both help raise money for our school group, but also to be a bigger part of the SDC for, if only a day. The $8 hr money goes directly to our organization.

As a 34+ year / lifelong guest of the park, the "expert" for the roller coaster show last year, and a former art/ now a history teacher, I have always wanted to work at SDC for at least a day. Granted I know more than many that work at the park about the history of the area, and formation of the park, it is not above me to make someone's experience better through fulfilling their basic needs while at the park. I will take whatever I can get! Though this is not the only time I plan on ever working at the park, this is enough to check it off of my bucket list for "working" at SDC that has been a goal for me since I was a child (I have sat and made baskets that were sold while the Basketmaker Bob warmed his hands on a cold day, been an honorary Brown's candy maker for a day, been in several street performances...but nothing that allowed me to wear an SDC nametag!)

If we are accepted, and all is a go, I'll be sire to let you guys know to come and see me and put me to work!

Duelist · October 19, 2015, 10:40:49 AM

Sounds great! Hope you get it!

shavethewhales · October 19, 2015, 07:53:09 PM

Interesting... when I was in college even the volunteer places were loath to let people help out in food service because of regulations and liability. How much do they donate back to the group?

rubedugans · October 28, 2015, 08:52:06 PM

We have a tentative date in early December!!! It may be cold, but I am in!

Gilligan · October 29, 2015, 07:37:10 AM

Rube, how exciting for you! I've wanted to work there since I was a kid, and my grandparents lived on the lake. I had dreams of spending summers with the grandparents and working at the City during the summer, but it never worked out. Can't wait to read about your experience.

sanddunerider · October 29, 2015, 10:42:49 AM

Sounds very interesting... be nice to hear your report.

Junior, too! · November 03, 2015, 03:22:38 PM

Rube give us a report on how things go, best of luck.

rubedugans · November 03, 2015, 08:30:57 PM

It'll be on a Saturday in December if it goes through. We've had one change of dates already, but I am confident that we will make it all work out.

rubedugans · November 26, 2015, 10:24:04 PM

We are awaiting paperwork, and final instructions/ details, but tentatively, the date for us to work at the park is this Saturday 12/5. Granted it is not my dream job at SDC (for anyone who doesn't know I am an artist and history teacher and lifelong SDC guest) it still is a step into being on the other side of the park.

More details hopefully to come!

Saturday 12/5 2-8 Location TBA!!!

rubedugans · December 05, 2015, 03:25:40 PM

Pork rinds! Come see me!

Gilligan · December 05, 2015, 04:09:04 PM

Great booth! I stop there on every trip.

History Buff · December 05, 2015, 07:56:10 PM

Missed you by a day.

oldsdcer · December 05, 2015, 11:02:15 PM

Rube was that the booth in front of the furniture factory? Bought some rinds at about 3. Sorry that we didn't meet.

shavethewhales · December 05, 2015, 11:21:49 PM

I meant to come by, but today was absolutely crazy. I'm sure we wouldn't have been able to talk or anything anyway. You guys must have been slammed. We could hardly get through the solid mass of people all up and down Hill street.

rubedugans · December 08, 2015, 11:00:59 PM

Wow! that's all I can say about the experience! A beautiful day, over 24,000 people in the park, getting to wear an SDC nametag and costume and work making memories worth repeating.

We arrived at 1:00pm, and after parking in A-West, we went to a meeting with HR to collect tax papers, contracts, etc. and to go over the Mission Vision Values of the park. We then went on to costume and were all outfitted in the duds necessary to work in the park (a flannel, a jean jacket, and a cap). And then we were whisked off by 2:00 to our stations for the day.

I was placed at Flossie's Fried Fancies, and was the Pork Rind seasoner and bagger for the day. It was a great spot. I was able to see the city from my vantage point, and had fresh air moving through the area. I was never greasy, or inundated with smoke/ grease etc. I simply bagged, packed, and restocked the pork rinds, and when changing flavors, I wold sanitize the bins.

Dave, the gentleman I worked with was gracious, knowledgeable, and easy going. He would talk to guests, demonstrate the craft to a guest as if it was the first time he told the story, even though it was the 50'th time the same question had been asked since I had been there. Sandy , the lead, was a great manager, and was in and out of almost every station helping when it was needed.

We wer slammed, and it was, according to them, one of the busiest days ever there. The only reprieve was when the parade came through, and this allowed us to get ahead of the rush that would take place immediately afterwards. I have never been a huge pork rind guy, but as any job, I respect the hard work that these men and women do to keep the guests coming back.

I was able to talk with guests, share my knowledge of the park with them if asked directions etc. and just small talk with them. It was truly mu bucket list item #1 to work there, and this sufficed, although it wasn't my ideal location, it was still an awesome experience.