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BECOME A VOLUNTEER
Who Can Volunteer?
Our volunteers come from all walks of life. They are homemakers, teenagers, career men and women, retirees, husband and wife teams and employees. They are college students, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and social or fraternal organizations. But whatever the age or previous experience of our volunteers, they are a special blend of people who share a common purpose - helping others by giving of themselves.
You must be at least 12 years of age to qualify. Volunteers may participate in as many hours, or as few, as they wish; there is no minimum requirement. There are specific requirements for working our Early Head Start (EHS) centers while the children are in attendance, due to licensing requirements. We'll be happy to explain these to perspective volunteers interested in working at one of our centers.
Training is an integral part of your volunteer experience. All volunteers must participate in a one hour orientation session and those who wish to work directly with children must undergo a local background screening (which Kids Incorporated will pay for). To become a Kids Incorporated Volunteer, complete the Volunteer Application and the additional forms attached below and submit to Matthew Vossler, Volunteer Coordinator, by email at mvossler@kidsincorporated.org or by phone 850-414-9800 ext. 112 or by fax at 850-414-9810 or by mail to 2326 Centerville Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308. Orientations are generally held once a month at our Administrative Offices.
FSU students, faculty, and staff will submit their applications to Melissa Martinez, by email at
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. Orientation sessions for FSU students, faculty, and staff will be on campus for your convenience . They will be conducted in The Center for Leadership and Civic Education building. If necessary, there will also be one on one orientations provided.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
The mission of the Kids Incorporated Volunteer Program is to enhance the quality of comprehensive services we provide to children and their families. Your involvement can truly make a difference in one of these areas:
Child Care Assistants: Volunteers regularly visit our Early Head Start centers (located in Madison, Jefferson, and Leon Counties) and read to the children or simply provide an extra pair of hands in a classroom or on the playground (which we use as outdoor classrooms). There are always toddlers who need special attention and because some of the children we care for have special needs, there's always an opportunity for a volunteer to help a child learn to overcome challenges. Locations to volunteer: In Leon (hours of operation 8 a.m - 4 p.m.), Jefferson County (hours of operation 8:00 a.m. - 4 p.m.), and Madison County (hours of operation 7:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.). Hours Needed: During hours of operation Monday - Friday as specified per center.
Playscape or Gardening Volunteers: Volunteers are needed to help us as we continue to improve our playgrounds and turn them into natural playscapes for infants and toddlers as well as help us plant and/or care for shrubs, trees, flowers and vegetables. All of our center's playgrounds are undergoing this transition as we enhance our outdoor classrooms and help further develop our health and nutrition efforts. If you like gardening, we have raised beds in all our playscapes and can certainly use your green thumb! It is part of our ongoing effort to prevent childhood obesity and also involve family members in the overall effort. Locations to volunteer: Hours Needed: Times/Days will vary - can be daytime, evenings and/or Saturdays.
Office Assistants: Volunteers are needed at the Administrative Office (2326 Centerville Road) to assist with office duties as well as at our centers and our Greenville office. We usually need help with filing, data entry, answering phone calls, assisting with special projects, and copying.
Governance Volunteers: Volunteers are always needed to serve on committees and boards. We are specifically in need of a Board Member from Jefferson county and one from Madison county, who would be able to attend meetings that normally are held from 12 to 1 p.m. during the week (generally bi-monthly).
Development Committee Volunteers: If you like helping organize special events, asking people for donations for a worthy cause, etc., then you may want to serve on the Development Committee. This Committee meets monthly and some subcommittees may meet more frequently throughout the year during the time immediately preceding a special event, etc. In addition to assisting with our Annual Giving Campaign, our annual signature event, Kidsfest, Beyond the Sandbox Tours, and Holiday Happiness, the Development Committee members are asked to assist with marketing the program and its services and if willing to do so, serve on the Speaker's Bureau. In this capacity they will be matched up to speak at various civic and community organization meetings about Kids Incorporated and our services.
Outreach Volunteers-Outreach Volunteers are needed to help provide children's activities at community events and to encourage parents and others to sign up for some or all of Kids Incorporated's e-newsletters. Kids Incorporated participates in all the United Way Downtown Getdowns held in downtown Tallahassee on Friday evenings before most home football games and at other community events throughout the year. Days, Times, and Locations Vary (Mostly evenings and weekends)
College Interns-College Interns are encouraged to present their internship needs and use their skills to enhance the comprehensive services offer at Kids Incorporated. Marketing Interns, Sales Interns, Child Development/Education Interns, and Health Care Interns, etc. are in particular need. Locations to volunteer: In Leon County (Hours of Operation 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. at Administrative Office, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Leon County Centers), Jefferson County (Hours of Operation 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.), and Madison County (Hours of Operation 7:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) Locations: Leon, Jefferson, and Madison County Early Head Start Centers and Administrative Offices.
Community Service Project Groups-Churches, School Clubs/Organizations, Work Groups, or even a group of friends can volunteer to assist, in the centers, outreach, playscapes, etc. Our Early Head Start Centers have welcomed volunteers who have painted walls, cleaned furniture, and toys. Perhaps your group or organization would like to organize and hold a fundraising event to benefit Kids Incorporated. And don't forget to add us to your calendar for next year's signature event - Kidsfest 2012 - which will be held on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at the N. Florida Fairgrounds from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Days and times may vary. Locations to volunteer: Leon, Jefferson, and Madison County Early Head Start Centers.
Holiday Happiness Volunteers-Volunteers are needed to do data entry of family wish lists and to help with matching and distributing wish lists to those "adopting" families for the holidays and to help donors with gift drop-offs and to help families when they come to pick up gifts for their children. Data entry begins in October and matching families with donors takes place in November. Drop off and pick up generally occurs the second and third week in December.
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Volunteer
