FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

   
1. What do the volunteers do on December 25th?
2. Describe the registration process and how the day is planned?
3. I live in suburban VA (or MD) and I signed up for my chosen event because it takes place very close to my home.  Do I still have to come to the DCJCC an hour before the event, only to have to travel back to where I had come from?
4. Why is there a registration fee?
5. Can I bring my child to the community service project?
6. Can I volunteer before December 25th?
7. I cannot volunteer my time, how else can I contribute?
8. How do I register and pay?
9. Is group registration available?
10. What are the age requirements at the project sites?
11. How do I get to the Washington DCJCC?
12. What is your contact information?
13. What is the schedule of the day?
14. What if I still have questions or comments?

1. What do the volunteers do on December 25th?
 
Amazing acts of kindness! Teams of volunteers, supplied by the Washington DCJCC with gifts, desserts, games and crafts, go to one of more than 60 social service agencies in the DC Metropolitan Area. Your group may throw a party for the residents at a shelter or serve a meal at Miriam's Kitchen. Senior homes often ask volunteers to run a game of bingo, visit with the residents, or serve lunch. Hospitals look for volunteers to visit patients in their rooms, or, in the case of children, to visit a group in a playroom. Volunteers also paint community centers and schools.
 
Most teams help out at one of more than 60 social service agencies. Others stay at the Washington DCJCC with activities based there. See Project Listings for a detailed description of the most recent Service Project's activities.
 
The volunteers work may start at dawn, mid-morning or in the afternoon. Some activities only require a few hours of your time.
 
Volunteers may donate blood on top of or instead of going to a community service site. Many volunteers are Team Captains. See link for details.
 
 
2. Describe the registration process and how the day is planned?
 
a.  If you have registered online before the registration deadline of December 24,  (and we strongly recommend you do this), you should be at the Washington DCJCC on the day an hour in advance of your scheduled event start time.  Complementary breakfast refreshments will be available when you arrive.   You can register online by visiting www.washingtondcjcc.org/volunteer and following the link to the event in which you are interested.
 
b.  Once you have completed your online registration your contact info becomes available to your team captain who should contact you on or soon after 12/20. An email reminder will be sent out about 3 days before the project with all the details you need to know. If you still have questions, please visit this page for last minute updates.
 
c.  On arriving at the Washington DCJCC on the 25th you will sign in at the Registration Desk in the Q Street lobby, pick up your t-shirt and meet your team captain and group. Other than specific exceptions noted below, volunteers are required to meet at the Washington DCJCC rather than travel individually direct to the event site so that they can help out with transportation of the gifts and other goods we take to each site. Also, the management at certain venues prefer for their own security reasons that the volunteers arrive en masse rather than in dribs and drabs. 
 
d.  If your event is scheduled to start at 8:00 a.m. or earlier on the 25th you should not meet at the Washington DCJCC.  Instead you should go directly to your event site.  Otherwise, please meet up at the Washington DCJCC as described above.
 
 
3. I live in suburban VA (or MD) and I signed up for my chosen event because it takes place very close to my home.  Do I still have to come to the DCJCC an hour before the event, only to have to travel back to where I had come from?
 
Unfortunately, the answer is that, unless your event starts at 8:00 a.m. or earlier, you will still be expected to meet at the DCJCC one hour prior to the scheduled event start time for the reasons outlined above.
 
4. Why is there a registration fee?
 
Registration for this project requires an $18 fee. The fee helps cover the cost of paint, food, gifts and other materials needed to serve as many as 10,000 underprivileged people in our community.
 
Thanks to the generosity of community members, a small number of complimentary slots are available for December 25th Day of Service on a first-come/first-serve basis. If the program fee of $18 is an impediment to your participation , please call us at 202-777-3255 to inquire about arrangements. Thank you.
 
5. Can I bring my child to the community service project?
 
Yes! Children ages 13-18 are welcome to participate.  For children under 13, both making greeting cards for veterans at the Washington DC JCC and visits to Senior Homes are good activities.  Other sites may be inappropriate for children under 13. Each site description contains specific age requirements made by our partner agencies.
 
6. Can I volunteer before December 25th?
 
There are a number of events taking place in the period prior to December 25th which require volunteers   Advance volunteering is crucial. Washington DCJCC volunteers seek donations, help plan the event, organize collection drives to collect toys, clothes and toiletries to be given away, and to assist in recruiting volunteers for months in advance.
 
During the final week or two, dozens of volunteers gather at the Washington DCJCC to wrap and organize gifts, make signs and posters and bake desserts.
 
There's no obligation for advance volunteers to take part in the Service Day project, though most volunteers who help out beforehand also volunteer their time on December 25th.
 
7. I cannot volunteer my time, how else can I contribute?
 
If you can't volunteer before or on December 25th, please consider making a donation to the project. Your gift will enable us to cover the cost of paint, food, gifts and other materials needed to serve as many underprivileged people in our community that we can on one special day, as well as community service endeavors throughout the year.
 
8. How do I register and pay?
 
See above.  Online registration is available for all projects. We advise you to register online in advance as project sites fill up quickly. Full payment must accompany all registration. If you have additional registration questions, please email us and we will respond within 24 hours. The online registration deadline is December 24, 3:00 pm.
 
9. Is group registration available?
 
Yes, group registration is available. When you register, please include the number of people volunteering with you. The online registration system will automatically charge the registration fee based on the total number of volunteers in your group. If you wish to bring a group larger than 5 voluteers or find out about discounts, please contact us at 202.777.3255.
 
10. What are the age requirements at the project sites?
 
The December 25th Day of Service is a family event. However, some sites may have specific age restrictions due to safety concerns. Each site description available on this website contains age requirement information. Please make sure to read the description carefully. Should you have additional questions, please email us and we will endeavor to respond within 24 hours.
 
11. How do I get to the Washington DCJCC?
 
The Washington DCJCC is located at 1529 16th Street, NW (16 th & Q St). For more information on how to get here and parking see www.washingtondcjcc.org/about.
 
METRO
 
Take the Red Line to Dupont Circle . Exit at Q Street (North entrance). Walk east on Q Street , crossing over Connecticut Avenue . The Center is located four blocks away on Q Street at the Southeast Corner of 16th Street and Q Street .
 
PARKING: Colonial Parking
 
1616 P. Street (between 16th and 17th Streets just 2 blocks south of the Center). Park every night after 6:00pm until 10:30pm and all day Sunday (10:00am - 10:00pm). For more parking information, please see www.washingtondcjcc.org/about. 
 
12. What is your contact information?
 
For questions about the 2007 December 25th Day of Service please contact us via email. It is the fastest way for us to get back to you.
 
Volunteer Email Inquiries: d25@washingtondcjcc.org

Teamcaptain Inquiries: teamcaptain@washingtondcjcc.org

Blood Drive Inquiries: blooddrive@washingtondcjcc.org

13. What is the schedule of the day? 
Click here to check the schedule.
 
14. What if I still have questions or comments?  
Email d25@washingtondcjcc.org with your question and we will respond as soon as possible. Thank you!