It is important to stay both mentally and physically active. And what better way than to work with and to to help our community!
Are you retired? About to retire? Do you want a “second act?” Do you want to make a difference in someone’s life? Have a positive influence on a child? Do something that may make you smile? Do something that uses skills you learned at work — or maybe skills that you develop in a new area?
We welcome you to volunteer with us on a regular basis on a schedule with some flex in it. You can help others. Stay active. And do the other things you want to do.
You could choose two hours a week, one day a month – whatever works for you. Some opportunities and examples include:
Helping with children
Creative art or music activities on a regular basis for either preschoolers or school age – things that will excite and challenge them.
In classroom cooking adventures for children
Mentors for children who are already falling behind, or who are busy little folks, have problems focusing and need frequent, gentle redirection.
Extra hands in our infant toddler area – someone to rock, hug, encourage, talk with our little ones.
Working with adults
Teaching about good money management
Teaching simple car repair – or what to listen for
Teaching kitchen skills that can be done with a pan and a hot plate or an electric fry pan or perhaps a toaster oven or microwave
Mentoring for interested moms or dads (listening ear, words of encouragement, parenting tips . . . )
Other needs – some physically challenging, some mentally challenging. All helpful.
Help in our gardens (plant, tend, build/maintain fencing, harvest, distribute)
Help on our grounds. Trim, remove weeds, tend, plant.
Help sort and hang things in our Sunshine Shop (clothing and household goods given at no charge). Or help us when we need to move furniture to get it to those who need it.
Help with various data entry (we have a lot of that to do – more than staff can manage)
Help our staff plan, create & edit videos for staff orientation/education, parent tips, exercise shorts, fun things to do that help children learn . . .
Help us create and do some things for teacher and staff appreciation; they work hard, we can’t pay a lot, but we want to show them we care.
Small building projects – we are in need of right now
a display board built for each classroom to hold materials for children
a gym painted (Russell County Center)
If you choose to work with or near the children, then it is a Department of Human Resources requirement that you fill out some paperwork and have various clearances (Child Abuse, Criminal Background Check etc.), a brief medical exam and a TB skin test (total cost about $35). Of course, if someone not employed by the school was going to volunteer near your grandchild, we know you would want to know that that person had been checked and all was well.
Thank you for conceding us for your “Second Act”
If you have any questions or want more information, contact us.