A Child’s World Rumpus – Volunteers are needed to help run simple carnival-type games such a cake walk, ring toss, fishing pond, etc.  Volunteers are required to be at A Child’s World from 5:30 to 8:30 pm on Thursday, June 2, 2011.

Administrative Assistant – A volunteer is needed to work in our Administrative Offices while the Administrative Assistant works on Racial Justice Programming.  Duties will include office work (filing, sorting, alphabetizing, etc.), bulk mailings, and data entry.  This opportunity is flexible; however, it is located at our north location, not the Emergency Shelter.

Auto Mechanic – Volunteers are needed to assist residents of the Emergency Shelter with their car repairs.  The majority of our clients do not have the funds available to keep their cars in prime running condition.  It is essential for them to have reliable transportation in order to work, go to school, or take care of their families.  This opportunity is flexible and could be on an on-call basis.

Chocolate Fantasy and Chili, Too! – Chocolate Fantasy and Chili, Too! is one of the largest fundraisers for the YWCA Cass Clay Emergency Shelter.  Guests have the opportunity to sample an enormous variety of chocolate desserts along with chili.  Volunteers are needed for set-up, serving desserts, keeping dessert trays full and general customer service.  Volunteers are needed on Thursday, September 8, 2011.

Clothing Room Coordinator*** – A volunteer is needed to assist the Volunteer and Donations Coordinator in managing our clothing storage area.  Duties would include organizing clothing on racks, ensuring that items are neatly folded, facing hanging items, and general organization.  This position could be done by a pair or small group.  Experience working retail is preferred but not required.  This position is flexible, however requires more than a 2-hour/week commitment.

Donations Coordinator Assistant*** – The Volunteer and Donations Coordinator needs someone who is highly-organized and self-motivated to assist in maintaining our donation storage areas and keeping inventory organized.  Responsibilities would include rotating stock, ensuring items are stored in proper areas, problem solving, and updating donation needs lists.  This position is flexible, however requires more than a 2-hour/week commitment.

Donation Sorting and Organizing – Our most flexible volunteer opportunity!  If you love to organize than this is the perfect job for you.  Donations are collected at our Emergency Shelter Monday – Friday from 8:00am – 5:00pm.  Volunteers are typically needed in the afternoon and evening to help our staff sort for needed items, check for quality, and store/organize donations.

Education and Employment – The YWCA Cass Clay Education and Employment program is always looking for professionals and experts to give presentations on topics such as budgeting, credit, health, parenting, customer service, women’s history, etc.  Additionally, volunteers who have computer knowledge and experience are needed to provide one-on-one assistance to residents in our computer lab.  Assistance needed typically includes setting up email accounts, using Microsoft Office Suite, and navigating the internet.  These opportunities are open Monday – Friday from 8:00am – 5:00pm. 

ELL Tutors – Help our Emergency Shelter residents learn English.  Our clients come from a variety of backgrounds and some may need help with their English and communication skills.  Hours for this opportunity are flexible and depend on client schedules.

Fitness/Yoga Instructors – Teach fitness classes to the women staying at the Emergency Shelter.  Classes could include but are not limited to: yoga, Pilates, or aerobics.  Ideally these sessions would be held in the evening to allow residents who work during the day to attend, however the scheduling is quite flexible!

Food Pantry Stocker – Help us re-stock and organize our Emergency Food Pantry.  Volunteers for this position must be self-motivated and highly organized.  This opportunity involves heavy lifting but is very flexible!

Food Pantry Worker – Work in our Emergency Food Pantry preparing food boxes for community members in need.  Our Food Pantry serves up to 15 families in Cass and Clay counties a day.  If volunteers are unable to help us fill our orders, staff can dedicate up to 6 hours a day doing so, severely limiting the one-on-one time spent with clients living in our Emergency Shelter.  This opportunity involves heavy lifting but is very flexible!

General/Rotating Volunteer – If you’re not sure what specific area you’d like to volunteer in, this is the position for you!  You will assist with any high-priority needs at the Emergency Shelter; jobs range from donations and working in the food pantry to office work and playing with kids.  This opportunity has no set time and is very flexible!

Hair Stylist – Licensed stylists are needed to give Emergency Shelter residents and their children hair cuts, colors and perms.  Many of our clients haven’t been able to afford regular trips to the salon.  Transforming their appearance could be just the boost in self-confidence our clients need to continue on the path to independence.  Stylists must provide their own sheers, however all other supplies will be provided.  Our salon has professional equipment and everything needed to do perms, colors, highlights and waxing.  Ideally, stylists would be on-site on Fridays, but this opportunity is flexible.

Racial Justice Facilitator – Help us make a difference by facilitating a small group discussion on race.  Prior to becoming a facilitator you must complete one three-hour training session.  After you have received adequate training you decide how many dialogues you will facilitate.  Facilitators set their own schedule and are informed of upcoming dialogues via e-mail; the first available facilitators participate.  All supplies are provided and facilitations are 45 minutes to one hour long. 

Kitchen Volunteer – Help our Kitchen Manager prepare the evening meal served to our Emergency Shelter residents.  Your duties could include (but are not limited to) food preparation, washing dishes, and kitchen clean-up.  Volunteers are required to have previous food service experience.  Volunteers are needed Monday – Friday from 2:00 – 4:00 pm.

Moving Volunteer – Help our residents move in to their own apartments and experience the joy of independence.  Volunteers will assist residents and staff move personal belongings from the Emergency Shelter or storage into traditional residential settings.  This opportunity is perfect for volunteers who are unable to come consistently and are willing to serve on an on-call basis. Volunteers are not expected to drive but this opportunity requires heavy lifting!

Office/Shelter Painting – Volunteers are needed to paint walls in several of our offices and shelter areas.  All supplies will be provided.  Some previous experience with painting is preferred and scheduling is flexible.

Receptionist – Help staff the front reception desk at A Child’s World and/or Administrative Offices.  Volunteers must be customer service oriented, highly-organized and excellent communicators. Duties include: answering a multi-line phone, accepting and organizing donations, sorting mail, attending to security doorbells, handing out food boxes and writing thank-you notes.  Regularly scheduled shifts are available Monday – Friday from 4:30 – 6:30 pm.  There is also a possibility of volunteers working on an on-call basis.  Previous office experience preferred but not required.

Respite Night – If you want to volunteer in the evening and work with the children living in our Emergency Shelter sign up for this opportunity!  Respite night is the only break moms receive throughout the week.  Volunteers are needed to supervise and entertain children in our Shelter Children’s Services area one evening a week for two hours.

Shelter Children’s Services – Help us provide a safe, nurturing, and fun environment for the children living in the Emergency Shelter.  Our childcare area is open Monday – Friday from 8:00am – 5:00pm and volunteers are able to come in during this time for two hour blocks on a recurring, weekly schedule.  Duties include: reading books, doing arts and crafts, playing games, preparing snacks, rocking babies, and assisting the teachers with cleaning and organizing.  Previous experience working with children is required.  Preference for this opportunity will be given to students in Social or Human Services and Education or Child Development classes.

Study Buddies – This program offers school-age children the opportunity to receive help with their homework.  Volunteers should be interested in making a positive impact in a child’s education and improving their study skills.  This opportunity is from 3:00 – 5:00 pm Monday through Friday and preference is given to students in Education and Child Development classes.  No previous tutoring experience is required. 

Translation Volunteer – Volunteers are needed on a regular basis to help Emergency Shelter residents communicate with their Case Managers.  Translation volunteers work with staff and clients to set up schedules.  Additionally, translators are needed on an on-call basis to assist new residents during the intake process. 

Unique Boutique and Client Party – The holiday season is a busy time for our staff and clients, however we take time to make sure that our clients know how special they are.  Unique Boutique allows residents and their children to shop at no cost for presents for their loved ones.  The Client Party is a special dinner for the women and involves a field trip and pizza party for the children.  Volunteers are needed for set-up starting the week after Thanksgiving.  Additionally volunteers are needed to execute the events and help with teardown and clean-up.

Volunteer Coordinator Assistant*** – A volunteer is needed to help our Volunteer and Donations Coordinator with volunteer recruitment, orientation, placement, training, and management duties.  Responsibilities include: answering phone calls and emails, setting-up group activities, forwarding information, and assisting with general office work.  Volunteers should possess the following qualities: excellent communication skills, highly organized, a professional and up-beat attitude.  This position is flexible, however requires more than a 2-hour/week commitment.

Wallpapering Volunteer – Volunteers with experience wallpapering are needed to help repair damage to our walls.  All supplies will be provided and this opportunity is extremely flexible!

Website Volunteer – The YWCA Cass Clay needs a technology savvy volunteer to assist our Communications Coordinator in updating our website on a weekly basis. Potential volunteers must have a working knowledge of Dreamweaver however this opportunity is extremely flexible.

Opportunities with asterisks are leadership volunteer roles.

Last updated 4/21/11