VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Every day volunteers support Children’s Home + Aid’s mission—to give children help, hope and opportunity. Whether doing yard work at MotherHouse Crisis Nursery, helping a child with homework, or providing support to our office staff, volunteers make a difference in the lives of children and families. A variety of volunteer opportunities are available from weekly to once a month to a one-time event or activity. Group volunteer projects are available and are great for families, teenage children or corporate team building events. Volunteers are placed in positions based on interest, need, skills, location and availability. We’ll help you find a volunteer opportunity that suits both your interests and the needs of the children and families we serve.
To learn more or set up a volunteer activity, please contact:
Renee Haley-Harden
Office Manager
Email: rhaley@childrenshomeandaid.org
Phone: 815-962-1043
INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
MotherHouse Helper: Help teach and play with children aged birth to six years old. Duties might include meal preparation/clean up, light household cleaning and copying. Volunteers may choose to work anytime between 7am or 10pm, Monday through Sunday. The largest need is during weekday evening hours from 5pm-10pm and weekends 10am-8pm.
Data Entry: We need detail oriented volunteers skilled in Microsoft Word and Excel to assist with a variety of projects.
Homework Helpers: Assist youth to lay a foundation for academic success by providing educational support. Homework Helpers visit children in their home and spend one-two hours helping the child with homework.
Yard Work: Shovel snow, lay salt, mow, rake, mulch, pull weeds and provide upkeep on the lawn at the MotherHouse Crisis Nursery or at the homes of some of our clients.
Handyperson: Do small jobs such as: replacing faucets, installing paneling, painting, replacing door knobs, screens, etc. These projects can be for individuals or small groups at MotherHouse Crisis Nursery and at client homes.
File Clerk: File and copy documents. Coordinate mailings.
Marketing: Lend your talents in marketing to engage with businesses to spread the word about Children’s Home + Aid and the life changing work being done in our community.
Transportation: Help transport clients to our center for counseling, doctor visits, special events or other destinations needed by the staff.
Transportation Aid: Accompany case aides for 3-6 hour trips taking children to visit parents in prison.
GROUP VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Sponsor a Back to School Backpack Drive: Back to school shopping can be very expensive; many of our families often don’t have money in the fall for necessary school supplies. Gather a group of colleagues at your office and hold a donation drive. Pack backpacks with school supplies for our students to receive when they start school.
Host a Donation Drive: Coordinate a donation drive for snacks, books, holiday food, holiday gifts, new winter coats, toiletries or hygiene kits for the clients in our programs. Host a donation drive for items including baby bags filled with necessities for a new beginning for baby and mom.
Group Helpers at MotherHouse Crisis Nursery: Assemble a group of 1-4 co-workers to help teach, care for, and play with children aged birth to six years old. Duties might include meal preparation/clean up, light household cleaning and copying. The largest need is during weekday evening hours from 5pm-10pm and weekends 10am-8pm.
- Alternate a team of employees for weekly lawn mowing and snow removal.
- Create a list of skilled employees (i.e. electricians, plumbers, painters, carpenters) for MotherHouse Crisis Nursery to contact as repair needs arise.
Christmas in July: Gather and collect items to be sold in the Children’s Holiday Shoppe to raise funds for MotherHouse Crisis Nursery.
Donate Items on the agency’s “wish list” and then assemble the items as a group. Ideas include bicycles for youth in foster care, back packs filled with school supplies, school uniforms, Easter baskets, gas cards, hygiene kits and smoke & carbon dioxide detectors.
Fleece/Knitted Blankets: Purchase materials and make fleece blankets or other handmade gifts for children transitioning to foster homes. An agency representative can attend the project to talk about Children’s Home + Aid and help employees make blankets for clients.
SKILLED AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Regional Board: The Regional Board of Children’s Home + Aid is a group of professionals and retirees dedicated to improving the lives of disadvantaged children and families in Illinois by providing philanthropic and outreach support for Children’s Home + Aid.
Life Skills Guide: Do you like to cook, know a lot about money or have secrets to acing a job interview? Share what you know – pass your knowledge on to our children and families in need of learning skills for a successful future.
Internships: Internship opportunities in Rockford and Sycamore are available for undergraduate and graduate students in the areas of clinical counseling, quality improvement, education, development, public policy, expressive therapy and other areas.
CPR & First Aid Training: Children are our number one priority at Children’s Home + Aid. Conduct a CPR & First Aid Training if you are licensed, for a group of parents.
VOLUNTEER LOCATIONS
Volunteer opportunities are available at all agency locations throughout the Northern Region area including:
- Children’s Home + Aid, Northern Region Administration Office—910 2nd Avenue, Rockford, Illinois 61104
- Motherhouse Crisis Nursery—1603 South Fourth Street, Rockford, Illinois 61104
- Healthy Families Illinois—1430 DeKalb Avenue, Sycamore, Illinois 60178