Volunteer at Sheffield Place
Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Sheffield Place. Volunteers enable Sheffield Place to reach beyond the limits of our staff resources and expand service to homeless mothers and children. As a volunteer, you can make a difference in the lives of the families who call Sheffield Place “home.”
Individuals and groups (employee groups, congregations, civic clubs, etc.) are needed for a number of roles, including:
CHILDREN SERVICES
Adult Assistants — children ages 6 weeks through 18 - work under the direction of the children's center coordinator to interact with the children, play with games, read to the children one-on-one or as a group, help with snacks, art projects, etc. Training provided: an hour or orientation to learn about the program and expectations. Available hours are between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. M-Th or 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fri. A volunteer may work as little as one hour or as long as four hours on any weekday.
Volunteering in the children’s program at Sheffield Place is a two step process:
Please print, complete, and return the attached volunteer application to the Office of Program & Development if you are interested in volunteering in the children's program. Because Sheffield Place provides services to children, we are required by law to conduct background checks on all volunteers who come in contact with children. A background screening form needs to be submitted with your application. There is no fee associated with the screening. Simply scan and email the documents to the staff contact below.
If you are applying to volunteer in the children’s program, you will need to attend a one-hour orientation meeting. A representative of Sheffield Place will confirm your eligibility to volunteer with our organization and contact you about the status of your application.
Prepare Lesson Materials and Craft Supplies — Work 2 to 3 hours per week preparing lesson materials and craft supplies for the following week’s activities in the children’s program. Staff will provide direction on what is needed. The preference is for the volunteer to work the same day each week.
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
Fundraising — assist with special events (golf tournament and Off the Wall art event) to raise funds for Sheffield Place or hold an event to raise funds or collect items from the immediate needs list.
Community Ambassador — host a gathering at your office or home to inform friends about Sheffield Place or gather friends and attend a VIP breakfast or lunch tour. Please see the list of VIP events in the News & Events section of this website.
Workplace Volunteer — encourage fellow employees to support Sheffield Place events and conduct drives for items on the immediate needs list.
Sunday Evening or Tuesday Evening Dinners — a monthly Sunday and Tuesday evening dinner is provided and served by volunteer groups. Volunteers arrive at 5 p.m. with food, beverages, and tableware for 20 adults and 20 children over the age of two years. Dinner is served at about 5:30 p.m.
Sunday dinners: When the weather permits, the dinners will be held in the backyard play area; when the weather doesn’t permit, the dinners will be held in the lobby. Volunteers provide and serve the food. Volunteers are encouraged to interact with the families. Clean up takes place at about 6:30 p.m. and the volunteers then take a tour of the facility and depart at about 7 p.m.
Tuesday dinners: Dinners will be served in the lobby and are less structured than Sunday dinners. Families may eat in the lobby or take food with them to be eaten as they go about their evening activities.
Guidelines for this volunteer activity are available here.
Corporate, Congregation, or Civic Group workday — Volunteers come to Sheffield Place by pre-arrangement on a weekday or Saturday morning and help with specific tasks such as deep-cleaning the facility, organizing storage spaces, working in the garden and on the grounds, and other tasks.
Monthly Sanitizing Crew — Do you and 6 to 8 other people you know have 2 - 3 hours each month that you could spend sanitizing the main facility at Sheffield Place? The group would sanitize the kitchens, hallways, walls, stairwells, and all the surfaces that little fingers touch. Can be scheduled as a one-time event or a monthly activity.
Invitation to speak to your civic organization, faith community, or corporate group — Sheffield Place staff are ready to present programs on family homelessness, the impact of trauma, and the services Sheffield Place provides.
Please email David Hanzlick or call 816-483-9927, Ext 113 to discuss these and other volunteer opportunities.