9,865 hours of giving. That’s how much time our volunteers donated to The Children’s Center in the last year alone. We couldn’t be more grateful when we think about the lives touched by even just an hour of your time. Our families are stronger because of your help at fundraising events. Our children are happier because of the fun activities you help us organize. Our center glows warmer because of your energy and service. Here’s how you can help us and our children.

Business-Sponsored Events & Activities

Family Game Night

Round up educational board games for playtime and prizes, create fun goodie bags, and provide a healthy dinner for our families. Then, bring your crew on event day to man the game stations, encourage children to participate, and provide a fun-filled atmosphere of learning and laughter.

Arts & Crafts Party

Bring out your creative side and help us throw a holiday-themed arts and crafts party with supplies, food, beverages, and table décor.

Group Outings

Organize a trip to the library, zoo, sports game, Museum, Eastern Market, or bowling. Help us with transportation, admission tickets, and food for an educational day out.

Family Fun Nights

Throw a disco dance party for our kids and parents, organize an afternoon tea party, or help us coordinate Project Empowerment, a workshop that helps youths avoid self-destructive behaviors and maintain a positive self-image.

Center-Sponsored Events & Activities

Campus Beautification

Plant flowers, weed, and prune bushes in the gazebo garden, or spread mulch around our playscapes. Getting your hands dirty is rewarding.

Arts, Beats & Eats

We’re proud to be a charity partner of the annual Arts, Beats & Eats festival and could always use some extra hands that weekend. Staff the entrance gates, welcome guests, collect tickets and provide admission wristbands to attendees.

Donation Drives

Help us collect and sort food, gently used clothing, back-to-school supplies, coats, toys, and hygiene products for our boutique – serving over 200 families every month. We also host drives for items like cleaning kits, foster care welcome kits, children’s books, professional attire, holiday baskets, and winter coats.

Tau Beta Center for Family Literacy

Reading is a fundamental building block in our children’s academic development. Work in the Tau Beta Center for Family Literacy Center and help us clean and stock materials, sort bookshelves, and code and label new donations.

Holiday Shop

Holidays are the most magical time of the year. Donations help us keep it that way for our families. Help us by collecting new, unwrapped toys for children, stocking stuffers, hats and gloves, grocery gift cards, and gift-wrapping supplies. During volunteer times, you can also work as greeters, personal shoppers, gift wrappers, or shelf stockers.

Boutique Day

Our families are invited to shop at our boutique, free of charge, for basic needs. Lend a hand by rounding up hygiene products, clothing, and dry goods. Or chip in by sorting donations, hanging clothing, and organizing shelves.

Back-To-School

What’s back to school without a trusty backpack? Help us by collecting backpacks and school supplies to fill them. With your help, our children’s futures are already looking brighter.

Individual Volunteer Events & Activities

Art Advance

This program is a wonderful opportunity for our children to receive free art classes from a certified art therapist. Volunteers will assist in setting up the event, assisting children with their art projects, and cleaning up at the conclusion of the event. Volunteers help our children heal through creativity and self-expression.

Book Clubs

We offer book clubs for a variety of age groups from pre-teens through adults. Volunteers are invited to be a part of the conversation and share their experiences while relating to the

monthly book selection. Volunteers improve literacy and foster a love of reading in our children.

Boutique

The Boutique offers gently used clothing, household goods, toys, and food to our children and families. Volunteers run our boutique daily and perform a variety of tasks, helping to ensure our children have the basic needs items they so desperately need.

Healthy Living Cooking Class

The healthy cooking classes for the children and their families are a chance for the children to learn healthy cooking habits. Volunteers would be needed to assist in the setup and cleanup of the cooking classes, help the families cook their meals, and positively encourage them to participate. These volunteers help our families learn healthy cooking skills that they can use for the rest of their lives.

Healthy Living Fitness Class

Volunteers for this program will aid in the execution of a group fitness class for our children and families. Volunteers will assist in set-up and clean-up pre-and post-workout. They will be instrumental in encouraging participants to get moving and have fun! Classes can include but are not limited to yoga, Zumba, and even fitness drumming! Volunteers help to give children the tools for an active lifestyle.

Homework Help

The Homework Help program offers children assistance with their homework assignments. Children are encouraged to bring homework and are paired with a volunteer to assist them. This program is a critical service in helping our children thrive. Volunteers give children the tools they need to be successful in school.

Tau Beta Center for Family Literacy

Volunteers at the Tau Beta Center for Family Literacy have a huge impact on our children and families. They sort donations, enter books into the database, distribute library cards, check-in/out books, and read to children. These Volunteers play a critical role in improving our children’s literacy skills.

Groups

If you would like to schedule your group to volunteer with us, please contact our Volunteer Engagement Staff at volunteer@thechildrenscenter.com. We would be happy to discuss the options and schedule you for the perfect volunteer event(s)!

Individuals

If you would like to volunteer as an individual, please start the enrollment process by emailing us at volunteer@thechildrenscenter.com. We will reach out to you within 5 business days to answer any questions and discuss the next steps.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at The Children’s Center!