Volunteers Make a Difference

Your efforts as a volunteer for young children can make a big difference for the children and families of this community. Listed below are highlights of a few of the available volunteer opportunities. Please contact the partnership office if you are interested. As an individual, you can do the following:

Volunteer Your Time

• Share a hobby, craft, or personal collection with children;
• Read stories to children;
• Provide clerical assistance to early childhood organizations;
• Help the Health Department nurse perform health screenings on young children;
• Teach children how to use a computer;
• Teach adults who work with young children how to use a computer;
• Be a substitute teacher for a young children's program so a teacher can attend professional growth classes;
• Help improve facilities which provide programs and services for young children and families;
• Serve on committees or boards affecting early childhood programs and services;
• Become a Guardian Ad Litem -- a court-appointed volunteer for an abused/neglected child -- to help ensure that the best is done for a child involved in a court case;
• Tutor parents of young children in adult literacy;
• Assist in a summer program for young children;
• Staff registration tables at children fairs or events;
• Provide translation to Spanish-speaking parents and children;
• Serve as a guest speaker about early childhood development;
• Provide, prepare, and distribute snacks at children's events and fairs;
• Provide free child care during committee meetings, community forums, and other events;
• Become a Big Brother or Big Sister to a young child;
• Visit and hold an abandoned baby at a local hospital;
• Volunteer at a Women's Shelter for mothers with young children;
• Consider becoming a foster parent;
• Consider adopting a young child; or
• Mentor young families.

Make and Assemble

• Activity kits;
• Show-and-tell bags;
• Dramatic play costumes;
• Big pillows;
• Wooden swing sets; or
• Bean bag chairs.