Volunteers needed for RAGBRAI festivities

Volunteers are still needed for RAGBRAI’s July 25 overnight stop in Newton. Volunteer coordinator Graham Sullivan said the response from citizens has been great and a lot of the large openings have been filled, but there are still a few one and two person slots available.

To help fill those openings, the RAGBRAI committee is hosting a general volunteer Come and Go Meeting from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday near the Maytag Bowl parking lot at Maytag Park. Those looking to volunteer can sign up at the meeting while volunteers who have already filled out the paperwork can pick up their T-shirts, discuss their assignments and ask any questions they have about the event.

Among the areas that need to be filled is the grand entrance to Newton on the RAGBRAI route.

“We have a grand entry on North Second Avenue near DMACC, and we are looking for families, friends or a big group of people that want to do about two hour shifts together to welcome people into town,” Sullivan said. “Kids can make signs to welcome the riders.”

Volunteers are needed at that location from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. that day. The committee is also looking for shuttle bus riders/ambassadors to help answer questions for those who are riding the shuttle and assist the bus driver. The shifts are four hours long and run from noon to 11 p.m. Those interested in the position should contact Sullivan about further details regarding the job.

While those are the two higher need volunteer areas, the committee is also still looking for campground helpers for various jobs throughout the day, people 21 and older to work in the beverage garden during the late shift from 9 p.m. to midnight and event staff to assist with crowd control during the various entertainment activities taking place that day.

If interested in volunteering, whether in a specific area or just during the event, citizens can attend the volunteer event Saturday or contact volunteer committee chairs Robyn Friedman at robynpt5@gmail.com or Sullivan at grahamrsullivan@gmail.com.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com