Thousands of visitors are making plans to descend upon Pella to take part in the Tulip Time Festival in early May.
Tulip Time Steering Committee Co-Chair Joel Bennett says to keep them all safe during their visit, barricades are located around the perimeter of the event to restrict vehicle traffic, and that they depend on volunteers and workers to staff 180 shifts during the three days of Tulip Time, and as of now, 60 of those remain open.
“We always say it takes the whole community to make Tulip Time happen, and barricades are a great example of where groups and individuals can pitch in to help,” said Bennett. “The work is not strenuous, but vital to the event, and the main responsibility is restricting traffic to only those with passes. Even better, it is one of the few jobs at Tulip Time you can do from a lawn chair.”
In the past, local sports teams, church groups, and college clubs have staffed these barricade slots, but Bennett says this year, it’s been difficult to find groups willing to commit.
“If a club wants to make $400-$1000 in a weekend, it’s very possible,” stated Bennett. “We’ve been staffing many of the barricades this year with individuals, but we’d love the opportunity to help groups reach their fundraising goals.”
Bennett says the role is a great fit for retirees and adults with flexibility during the day, but students can also staff barricades as long as they are in 8th grade or higher.
“While we pay for these roles, high school students who need volunteer hours for graduation can work slots and have their pay donated to charity. It’s a win-win.”
Work shifts are 7:30-10:30a, 10:30a-1:30p, 1:30-4:30p, 4:30-7:30p, & 7:30-10:00p on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
– Workers are paid $10/hour (or can donate their wages to charity)
– Workers need to be at least 14 years old or be accompanied by an adult
– Groups who can staff an entire barricade (15 spots) will receive special group rates
Those interested in finding out more should contact Joel Bennett at joelb.acts@gmail.com or 641-780-7858.