VOLUNTEER At SVHS
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
SIGN UP and VOLUNTEER






MORE INFO
Call us toll-free at 1-800-762-8432.
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In-Kind Contributions
You should know that the volunteer work you do is the source of the “inkind” contributions that are critical to our operation of this Head Start program. “Inkind” contributions (also called “non-federal” funds) are monies that are not part of the grant money we get from the federal government (that’s the “federal” funds). But we do get credit for your inkind contributions because you volunteer to work for us. We are required to collect these contributions and – if we don’t – we could lose our funding.
EXAMPLES OF VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
We encourage people to help out as much as they can, and encourage a culture in which “everyone pitches in”.
Job Title | Duties |
Playground Specialist |
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Community Relations |
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Interest Center Facilitator |
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Nutrition Assistant |
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Communications Specialist (Receptionist and Door Greeter) |
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Landscape Artist |
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Clean Team |
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Special Events Coordinator |
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Center Librarian |
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Data Entry Assistant |
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Organizational Assistant |
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Child Relaxation Specialist |
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Policy Council Representative |
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Fatherhood Initiative Coordinator |
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eVolunteers |
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Sponsoring Ideas |
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AV \Tech Support |
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Teaching Helper |
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Play Center Manager |
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SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER
People choose to volunteer for a variety of reasons. For some it offers the chance to give something back to the community or make a difference to the people around them. For others it provides an opportunity to develop new skills or build on existing experience and knowledge. Regardless of the motivation, what unites them all is that they find it both challenging and rewarding.
Sign up to volunteer at Sequatchie Valley Head Start and we’ll call you to discuss the specific opportunities.
NEED A LITTLE MORE INFO?
You can always give us a call at: 1-800-762-8432

FACTS
Below are some of the reasons people choose to volunteer. For some it provides an opportunity to:
- Last year, volunteers like you (and many others) contributed time and resources worth very nearly $700,000 to our Head Start and Early Head Start programs.
- give something back to an organization that has impacted on a person’s life, either directly or indirectly
- make a difference to the lives of others and your children
- help the environment
- help others less fortunate or without a voice
- feel valued and part of a team
- spend quality time away from work or a busy lifestyle
- gain confidence and self-esteem.
For some, volunteering can be a route to employment, or a chance to try something new which may lead to a career change. From this perspective, volunteering can be a way of:
- gaining new skills, knowledge and experience
- developing existing skills and knowledge
- improving one’s employment prospects
- gaining an accreditation
- using one’s professional skills and knowledge to benefit others (usually described as pro bono).
For others, volunteering appeals because of its social benefits. These include:
- meeting new people and making new friends
- a chance to socialize
- getting to know the local community.
THE HEAD START MISSION
The mission of Sequatchie Valley Head Start is to create a nurturing place where children, families and staff can work through community partnerships to exceed Head Start's national goals.
EARLY HEAD START 0-3 yrs
HEAD START 3-5 yrs