Picking up from yesterday –
One of the more senior/in-charge volunteers gave me some pond cardboard containers that I could put the sandwiches in so they had somewhere to live (since a table was already full of them). Little did we know, this box was going to spur a great idea.
See, we weren’t actually set up at the finish line. We were set up in a courtyard area where people sort of hung out before the start and after the finish. It was where people got their shirts and such before the race. And it apparently was where people also go their food and drinks after.
I wondered why the food at our table wasn’t moving as quickly as food usually does after a race when it dawned on me… we’re not at the finish! People aren’t even realizing they can walk over here. So, I walked over the box of peanut butter sandwiches. And of course, they start going like hotcakes!
But then the runners helped me realize something I couldn’t fathom that I didn’t think of before – they were so thirsty! When I was handing out sandwiches, they were saying, “these are great, but do you have water?!”
For the time being, I just pointed them in the direction of our tent. But then I walked back and grabbed water. That went faster than ever. I didn’t even make it all the way to the finish line before an entire case was gone.
One of the lead volunteers of our tent saw how fast items were going. Plus we were so overstocked with volunteers that we had more than enough to send out. So, she started sending out multiple people with multiple things, and everything started moving a lot quicker and easier.
That made me feel really good. Keep open eyes, build off each other’s inspirations and ideas, and boom! Things move smoother.
Pretty soon we started winding down. Then a dog costume contest (yep. I said a dog costume contest!) started up. My shift was winding down, and I was so outta there!
But even with the dogs, it was a good time with good people, good fun, & good problem-solving. I’m calling it a success!