Summer Opportunities
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of Greater KC needs team leaders for their SuperKids Camp!
When:July 12-16th & July 26-30 – Monday through Friday, 9am-4pm. One hr training is required for some volunteers.
Where: Jewish Community Center, Overland Park, KS
What: Help campers learn how to control their asthma & allergy health while having fun and most importantly, fin d a new confidence in themselves.
Camp Barnabas, a Christian summer camp for kids and young adults with special needs, needs volunteers at their camp in Purdy, MO. 14-15 year olds can be “Barnstormers” who do everything from waiting tables to cleaning to participate in daily activities for their assigned cabin. 16 and older serve as Cabin Counselors who work one-on-one with one of the campers. Cost is $175. See www.campbarnabas.org or the flyer on the service board for more info.
Ongoing service opportunities that you can do on your own:
Interested in wildlife and nature? Volunteers 16 years old and older are needed at Wings of Love, Inc. (an area avian education organization) to help with gardening, animal care, speaking engagements and administrative tasks. You must be comfortable with animals and be available at least three hours a week. Morning and afternoon hours are available during the week and weekends. Contact: Yvonne Patterson, 816-353-9964, performingbirds@gmail.com www.wingsofloveinc.org
Alphapointe Association for the Blind needs readers to record magazines, books and other reading materials for the visually impaired. Help is needed Monday – Friday for one and a half hours per week. Volunteers are also needed to visit with their senior clients two times a month. A background check will be required. Contact: Jennifer Kraenzle, 816-237-2099, jkraenzle@alphapointe.org
Associated Youth Services, which helps at-risk youth in crisis (in KC, KS) is looking for cake bakers for birthdays. Many of the youth they serve have never had their birthday celebrated. Volunteers will be contacted at the beginning of each month to set up which birthday(s) work best for them at that time. Once the birthdays are assigned, volunteers will bake and decorate the cake for the assigned client. Times can be arranged between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Contact: Karen Rohrer, 913-831-2820 x218, krohrer@aysusa.org
The Sunshine Center in Independence provides early childhood education and therapy for special needs children. Volunteers are needed to assist in the classroom with children ages birth – 5 years old, and help is also needed at special events. Hours are Monday – Friday, 6am – 5:30pm (open year-round). Contact: Chris Rounds, 816-461-0893, crounds@sunshinecenter.org
Help Kansas City area children develop a love for reading by volunteering to read to them in the waiting rooms of pediatric clinics. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old and able to commit 1-2 hours one day a week Mondays-Fridays. Training will be provided. Contact: Reach Out and Read, Laura Long, 913-588-2793, llong2@kumc.edu
Food pantry and clothes closet assistants are needed at 5 centers connected with the Blue Valley Multi-Service Center. Hours and days are flexible. Contact: Julie Marshall, 913-897-3991
See the service board for a flyer on the YMCA Challenger program. Volunteers become a buddy for a special needs child for a “sports season”, playing the game/doing the activity with them. Swimming has just started, baseball starts soon and others are to come. Or contact Raegan Schurr 913-642-6800 raeganschurr@kansascityymca.org for more info.
Help urban farmers in Northeast Kansas City, KS! If you have a green thumb, volunteers are currently being recruited to help build the greater Kansas City economy by localizing production of vegetables and create better shopping choices for the residents in the KCK area. Grahovac’s Army of Volunteers does gardening on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; you will meet at the Faith Lutheran Church, 530 Quindaro. Contact: Paul Grahovac, 913-660-4692, Grahovac8@gmail.com
Also to help with Special Olympics, see below under May 19th.
Volunteer Opportunities for specific dates that you can do on your own:
Install a rain garden!
When: Saturday, May 8th from 9am – 2pm
Where: Troostwood Commons 49th and Troost
Contact: Melanie Allen at 816-561-1061, ext. 107, Melanie.Allen@bridgingthegap.org. Minimum age: 16 to volunteer on own; volunteers younger than 16 must volunteer with parent or legal guardian.
Work on community garden for the Community Assistance Council (this organization helps people with food, clothing and housing)
When: Sat. May 8th from 9am - noon
Where: 10901 Blue Ridge Blvd., KC, MO 64134
Contact: Youth Volunteer Corps of KC 913-432-9822 X305 or yvc_kc@yvca.org
www.yvckc.org
Work in the garden at Deanna Rose Farmstead.
When: Sat. May 8th from 9am – noon
Where: 13800 Switzer, Overland Park, KS 66221
Contact: Youth Volunteer Corps of KC 913-432-9822 X305 or yvc_kc@yvca.org
www.yvckc.org
Shoal Creek (living history museum) needs help with landscaping and building maintenance.
When: Sat. May 8th from 9am – noon
Where: 7000 NE Barry Rd, KC, MO 64156
Contact: Youth Volunteer Corps of KC 913-432-9822 X305 or yvc_kc@yvca.org
www.yvckc.org
Operation Breakthrough Family Night needs volunteers for classroom activities
When: Tuesday, May 13th from 3-6pm (fyi – 5/13 is a Thurs so contact them for clarification)
Where: 3900 Troost, KC, MO
Contact: Debbie Skaggs debbies@operationbreakthrough.org
Running with the Cows! Half Marathon, 5K & Kid’s Trot
Sign up to run or help with the event. Proceeds go to Catholic Charities and Holy Rosary Wea Catholic School.
When: Sat. May 15th
Where: Races start at Queen of the Holy Rosary School,
22779 Metcalf Road Bucyrus, KS 66013
Contact: register or volunteer online at www.runningwiththecows.com
New Special Olympics program enables 3-7 year olds to work on their motor skills in an activity station setting. Volunteers (16-25 years old) are needed to help.
The info below is just the training portion. Contact Terri Price for more info on the overall program.
When: Training is Wed. May 19th from 6-7:30pm
Where: Shawnee Mission Instructional Support Center, 9700 W. 96th St.
Contact: Terri Price pricet@ksso.org
Play with the Down Syndrome kids and their siblings, while the parents attend a meeting.
When: Saturday, May 22nd from 8:30 – 11:15am
Where: DSG center, 10200 W. 75th St., Suite 281, SM, KS
Contact: Morgan at 913-384-4848 or morgan@kcdsg.org
Volunteer to accompany the Operation Breakthrough kids on their field trip
When: Mon. May 24th from 9am - noon
Where: 3039 Troost, KC, MO 64109
Contact: Shanee shannees@operationbreakthrough.org
www.operationbreakthrough.org
Play with the Down Syndrome kids and their siblings, while the parents attend a meeting.
When: Tuesday, June 1st from 6 – 8:45pm
Where: DSG center, 10200 W. 75th St., Suite 281, SM, KS
Contact: Morgan at 913-384-4848 or morgan@kcdsg.org
Play with the Down Syndrome kids and their siblings, while the parents attend a meeting.
When: Saturday, June 5th from 8:00 – 10:45am
Where: DSG center, 10200 W. 75th St., Suite 281, SM, KS
Contact: Morgan at 913-384-4848 or morgan@kcdsg.org
Have fun at the Down Syndrome Guild Family Carnival
(run games, paint faces, set up/tear down, monitor inflatables, etc.)
When: Saturday, June 12th from 12:00 – 4:30pm
Where: Shawnee Mission Park – shelter 10
Contact: Morgan at 913-384-4848 or morgan@kcdsg.org
Have fun at Operation Breakthrough’s Juneteenth Summer Carnival
(arts & crafts, towel center, inflatables, set up/ tear down, lunch, etc. Morning is for pre-k kids, afternoon is for school-aged kids)
When: Friday, June 18th (different shifts between 7am & 5pm)
Contact: Jessica at jessicam@operationbreakthrough.org