Who volunteers?

Look in the mirror and you will see a Head Start volunteer! We have many opportunities for you to share your knowledge, your skills, and your passion. We break down our volunteers by age and by the desire to commit to helping children in need.

• Teen Volunteers – This program is available to young people between the ages of 15 – 17 who are interested in helping the community while gaining valuable skills as a volunteer. (Teens under the age of 18 are welcome, but must have signed parent permission to participate.) Two volunteer tracks are available: one hour per day (5 hours per week) in Track A during the school year; and three hours per day (15 hours per week) in Track B for the summer. We provide letters of recommendation and endorsement for outstanding work performance.

• College Student Volunteers – This program is available to young adults enrolled in higher education (ages 18 through 22) who are interested in working for a nationally-recognized, non-profit early childhood education agency. Several volunteer tracks are available: two hours per day (10 hours per week) during the school year; and four hours per day (20 hours per week) during the summer break. Separate tracks are also available for those who want to work (A) directly with children (ages birth to five) in the classroom or (B) in the fields of educational administration, public relations and marketing. We provide letters of recommendation and endorsement for outstanding work performance.

• Adult Volunteers – This program is available to all adults (ages 18 and over) who are interested in supporting high-risk children and their families. We especially welcome our Head Start families! Multiple volunteer tracks are available, ranging from a commitment of just five hours per week (one hour per day), to as many as 30 hours per week or six hours per day. We provide letters of recommendation and endorsement for outstanding work performance.

• Businesses, Churches and Civic Groups –
  • Groups may adopt a Head Start or Early Head Start classroom. Set up a donation bin at your site! Head Start classrooms need school supplies. Early Head Start classrooms need diapers and wipes.
  • Our families need extra help at the holidays. Groups may assist by adopting a child or family to provide “Holiday Help” like clothing, shoes and small toys.
  • Be an advocate for Head Start in your community by posting flyers and reaching out to tell families about the program.
  • Provide help for families in crisis. Does your church or civic group have a food pantry or clothes closet?
  • Get your whole organization to volunteer for a day on a special project like sprucing up a playground, blanketing a community with flyers about Head Start, or participating in events like the United Way’s “Day of Caring” or Jump Start’s “Read for the Record”.
  • Public school teachers may want their class to visit a Head Start program and have their class read with children or do a special activity.

• Online Volunteers (“eVolunteers”) — Did you know you can volunteer online? Volunteer from your home while sitting on your sofa! All you need is a computer and an Internet connection. We call it “eVolunteering”, and it’s great for college students who want to build their skills and add to their resume. It’s also great for individuals who work non-traditional schedules but still want to contribute to a worthy cause. Examples of eVolunteer opportunities include:
• Research on early childhood topics. Read articles and search the web for innovative ideas and programs.
• Build a PowerPoint presentation for staff and parent trainings
• Send out ecards to children and families
• Create Facebook and Social Media posts
• Do online price comparison on school supplies and more
• Assist with grant writing. Read grant proposals and offer feedback
• Create marketing materials such as flyers, certificates and door hangers
• Analyze child outcome data and work with staff to create infographic reports
• Edit video to help create public service messages