Jewish Vocational Services Volunteer Opportunities

Jewish Vocational Service – Engage. Encourage. Empower.

Jewish Vocational Services (JVS) engages, encourages and empowers people to achieve social, cultural and economic integration. JVS was established in 1949 to assist Holocaust survivors, refugees and those returning from WWII, enabling them to build better lives in the United States. Today, their programs meet the needs of all who face barriers to employment.

Currently, JVS is preparing to help evacuees and refugees from Afghanistan. Here are ways that you can help:

Level 1: Good for Groups
One-time opportunities for groups of 15-30 people

● Assemble Welcome Kits
● Sort donations at the JVS warehouse
● Host a donation drive for school supplies, winter clothes, first aid kits, etc.

Level 2: House to Home Program

Activities:
● Furnish and set up home
● Welcome the arriving family at the airport
● Provide family with culturally appropriate meal

Participants:
● Groups of 6-8 adults, sign up as a team or JVS will assign individual volunteers to a team
● Children ages 12 and older encouraged to participate

Requirements:
● Participate in volunteer orientation
● Background check for volunteers 18+
● Commitment to work with one family (2-4 week timeframe), may volunteer again

Level 3: Partners in Welcome

Activities:
● Pre-arrival- furnish and set up home
● Day of arrival-welcome the arriving family at the airport, provide culturally appropriate meal
● 90 day resettlement period- assist with navigation activities- bus training, school enrollment, grocery shopping, etc
● After the resettlement period- work with the family to identify one fun activity that would assist in the integration to life in Kansas City, provide financial support for months 3-6 in the United States

Participants:
● Groups of 15-20 adults, teams are encouraged to apply as a group, children may participate in some activities
● Specific roles assigned to each group member

Requirements:
● Six month time commitment
● Participate in volunteer orientation
● Background check for volunteers 18+
● Financial support between $2,500 and $6,500 depending on the size of the family

To find out more, please contact JVS Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@jvskc.org

Happy volunteering!

Lakemary Center Golf Tournament

Home - Lakemary CenterLakemary Center is a nonprofit organization that provides educational, mental and behavioral health, and social services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Their wide range of child and adult services include psychiatric residential treatment, K-12 accredited school, targeted case management, outpatient therapy, specialized foster care, employment and volunteer opportunities, residential living assistance and business solutions. Each year, their work touches the lives of over 650 individuals and their families from all over the country.

No photo description available.

They are currently looking for volunteers for The Lakemary / Will Shields Golf Classic, which will be held on Monday, October 11th at Shadow Glen Golf Club in Olathe, KS.  They need volunteers throughout the day-long event, beginning at 9:30am and ending about 5:30-6pm.  There are multiple shifts for the day; volunteers are also welcome to spend the entire event with us.  Here are the shifts they currently have open:

9:30 am – 1pm                  Set-up/Serve lunch to golfers (10 volunteers needed)

10 am – 12pm                   Mulligan/Raffle Ticket sales (3 volunteers)

11 am – 2:30 pm              Hole in One (2 volunteers needed)

11 am – 2:30 pm              Longest Drive (1 volunteer needed)

11 am – 2:30 pm               Chik-Fil-A Snack Hole (1 volunteer needed)

12pm – 2:30 pm               Drink Coolers/Ice Cream Bunker (2 volunteers needed)

2pm – 5:30-6pm               Hole in One (2 volunteers needed); help load vans

2pm – 5:30-6pm               Longest Drive (1 volunteer needed); help load vans

2pm – 5:30-6pm               Chik-Fil-A Snack Hole (1 volunteer); help load vans

2pm – 5:30-6pm                Drink Coolers/Ice Cream Bunker (2 volunteers needed); help load vans

Volunteers will be fed lunch before/after their shift, provided the grill is open and there is food remaining. Non-alcoholic beverages and snacks are also available for volunteers. Upon arrival, volunteers will be greeted by Lakemary staff and given an overview of their responsibilities and other important information.

For more information, reach out to Nicole Dickinson at nicole.dickinson@lakemary.org.

Happy volunteering!

Kansas Service and Civic Engagement Conference

Attention JCCC students! If you are doing service learning or other community-engagement activities and you want to showcase your amazing work, then make sure to check out the Kansas Service and Civic Engagement Conference. Present on your project and hear from like-minded students across the state who are positively impacting their communities as well.

The deadline for proposals is October 6! Click here to learn more about this FREE and virtual conference taking place on November 3-4.

See you there!

Catholic Charities Volunteer Opportunities

Logo: Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas – Black; 1136×257 pixels (PNG) – Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas

Founded in 1956, Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas is a ministry of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.  Their mission is to  serve their neighbors, of all faiths, through Help, Hope, and Hospitality.

Volunteer – Catholic Charities of Northeast KansasCatholic charities serves through seven Family Support Centers, eight food pantries and two mobile resource buses that assist more than 25,000 times each month, providing food for the hungry, clothing for those in need and shelter for the homeless. Financial literacy and job placement services are available for those who move past the crisis phase and are ready to take the next steps towards self-sufficiency.

Catholic Charities also counsels pregnant women facing an unexpected pregnancy; pairs adoptive families with infants in need of a forever home; resettles refugees from across the world forced to flee their country due to religious or ethnic persecution; and enhances the lives of loved ones facing a life-limiting illness, caring for them physically and providing them and their families emotional and spiritual support through the compassionate ministry of Catholic Community Hospice.

Volunteer Opportunities During COVID-19 – Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas

This fall they are looking for help in the following ways:

  • Food sorting and distribution at their Food Pantries
  • Refugee resettlement
  • Cashiering at their Turn Styles Thrift Stores
  • Working the front desk at Food Pantries (bilingual volunteers preferred)

For more information about volunteering, click here. For questions contact Aimee Dion at ccnekvolunteers@catholiccharitiesks.org.

Happy Volunteering!

Blessings Abound Thrift Store

Blessings Abound

Blessings  Abound Thrift Store is a Christian not for profit organization called  to serve the metro Kansas City Community by selling and recycling donated merchandise in order to provide aid to people in need. 100% of net proceeds benefit local non-profits.

Blessings Abound Thrift Store – Community-Based LearningThis fall, they are looking for in-store volunteers. They could use help with the below duties:

  • Sorting
  • Cleaning
  • Displaying Merchandise
  • Hanging Up Merchandise
  • Assisting Customers
  • Cashier
  • Graphic Design
  • Create Flyers
  • Clean & Vacuum Store
  • Collecting & Organizing Donations

Click here for more information.

Happy volunteering!

Phoenix Family Volunteer Opportunities

Phoenix Family empowers people living in low-income housing communities with the on-site support they need to gain stability and achieve self-sufficiency.

One way you can give back to Phoenix Family from home is through becoming a reading coach!

HIKE - Help Instill the Key to Education

Virtual Reading Coaches volunteer in the Reading Labs, giving children who are struggling to learn to read the one-to-one attention they need to build their confidence and help them catch up with their reading. The reading sessions are relaxed and fun and by working together, you can help give a child the vital skills they need to read, grow, and succeed. Reading Labs take place in the afternoon during the after-school program, Monday through Thursday. To fit your schedule, we have three shifts each day: 4:30- 5:45pm4:30-6:30pm, and 5:15-6:30 pm. Click here to learn more.

They also always need help with the Mobile Food Pantry, Holiday Meals, and Special Events. For more information, reach out to Ellen.

Happy volunteering!

Rosedale Development Association Volunteering

Rosedale Development AssociationRosedale Development Association

Rosedale Development Association strives to work with residents, businesses, and institutions to develop a thriving Rosedale community. RDA is involved in nearly every aspect of community building – policy influencing and advocacy, land use planning, housing construction, crime reduction, public space improvement, youth programming, supporting neighborhood associations, and providing assistance to residents and businesses for a host of issues and concerns.

Where is Rosedale? Rosedale is a four square mile community in southeast Wyandotte County, Kansas City, Kansas (KCK). Its borders are the Kansas River to the north, County Line Road/47th St. to the south, State Line Road to the East, and 18th St. Expressway to the West.

If you’d like to help this amazing organization, here are all their upcoming volunteer opportunities:

September

Wednesday, September 15 – Working Wednesday @ Fisher Park

Description: Picking up trash in Fisher Park, along Lake Ave, and the general Hilltop area.

Volunteers will meet at Fisher Park from 4-6pm; all ages welcome (youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult).

Please email Jaunise directly to sign up: Juanise@Rosedale.org or text 816-343-4010.

Saturday, September 18 – Disc de Triomphe [CANCELLED]

Rosedale Development AssociationRosedale Development Association

Description: Disc golf tournament for Rosedale Development Association. All ages and abilities welcome!

Volunteers will be needed from 7am – 3pm, set up will be 7-10 am and take down will be from 12-2 pm.

Please use the following link to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054CAEAC22A1F85-support

Saturday, September 25 – Rozarks trail cleanup

Description: Come help maintain the beautiful Rozarks trails!  Meet at Fisher Park and come dressed to work outside.

Volunteers can expect to work from 9-11 am; all ages welcome (youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult).

Please email Juanise directly to sign up: Juanise@Rosedale.org or text 816-343-4010.

***The youth soccer league is set to start on Tuesday, September 21, practices are held weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-7:30 pm at Whitmore Park, and games will be held on Saturdays. If interested in coaching youth ages 5-12, please contact Youth Program Coordinator, Victor Michimani at Victor@Rosedale.org.

October

Wednesday, October 6 – Working Wednesdays @ Rosedale Park

Description: Picking up trash in Rosedale Park, along Mission Rd., and the I-35 underpass

Volunteers will meet at Rosedale Park from 4-6pm; all ages welcome (youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult).

Please email Juanise directly to sign up: Juanise@Rosedale.org or text 816-343-4010.

Saturday, October 30 – Rozarks trail cleanup

Rozarks Nature Trails - Rosedale Development AssociationRosedale Development Association

Description: Come help maintain the beautiful Rozarks trails!  Meet at Rosedale Memorial Arch and come dressed to work outside.

Volunteers can expect to work from 9-11 am; all ages welcome (youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult).

Please email Juanise directly to sign up: Juanise@Rosedale.org or text 816-343-4010.

Saturday, October 30 – Haunted Trail Walk (4pm-6pm)
Description: What waits for you in the woods?  Come walk the Rozarks trails with a Halloween twist!  Walk with your family or a friend, but don’t go alone… costumes are encouraged, all ages welcome. Volunteers will be needed from 3pm until 6 pm, to “haunt” the trails as community members walk through. More information regarding costumes will be available beginning October 1.

Please email Juanise directly to sign up: Juanise@Rosedale.org or text 816-343-4010.

***Rosedale Future Professionals will start on Monday, October 4. Volunteers will be needed as a Classroom Facilitator. There will be 5 sessions, which will take place over 5 weeks, meeting M-Th from 3:30-5:30. Facilitators will be trained on the Financial Literacy curriculum and paired with a RDA staff member to facilitate curriculum. Please contact the Youth Program director Victor Michimani at Victor@Rosedale.org for more information and position requirements.

November

Saturday, November 20 – Rozarks trail cleanup

Description: Come help maintain the beautiful Rozarks trails!  Meet at Fisher Park and come dressed to work outside.

Volunteers can expect to work from 9-11 am; all ages welcome (youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult).

Please email Juanise directly to sign up: Juanise@Rosedale.org or text 816-343-4010.

December

Sunday, December 12 & Sunday, December 19 – Luminary Hike Setup & Take down

Description: Help prepare for RDA’s new community-favorite event, the Rozarks Luminary Hike. Volunteers will set up the luminaries through a predetermined portion of the Rozarks trails beginning in Fisher park. After the week-long event, volunteers will return to take down materials, load up and return to RDA’s office.

Please email Juanise directly to sign up: Juanise@Rosedale.org or text 816-343-4010.

Ongoing

Weekly Garden cleanups – Most Wednesdays from 4-6pm beginning August 25

Garden & Orchards - Rosedale Development AssociationRosedale Development Association
Description: Join RDA’s Adult Program Coordinator and Youth Employees at the Community Garden located at 2300 S. Early St. Volunteers will help maintain the garden by weeding, mulching, mowing, pruning, and harvesting fruits & vegetables.

Volunteers of all ages are welcome (youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult).

Please email me directly to sign up: Juanise@Rosedale.org or text 816-343-4010.

Happy volunteering!

Volunteer Opportunities at the Nerman

Did you know that JCCC has a renowned contemporary art museum right on campus? The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art boasts both impressive architecture and contemporary art exhibitions. And, you guessed it, they  need volunteers!

Currently, the Nerman is looking for student volunteers for their Student Advisory Committee. Students can help with programs and work together to create new initiatives. To learn more about the committee, check out their Get Involved page.

In addition, they are always looking for volunteers to help at the information desk and their weekly youth programs. Click here to learn more.

Questions? Contact Karen Gerety Folk at kgerety@jccc.edu.

Happy volunteering!

Kansas City Young Audiences

About KCYA Kansas City Young Audiences |

Kansas City Young Audiences -The mission of Kansas City Young Audiences (KCYA) is to engage all youth in the arts, promote creativity, and inspire success in education. KCYA has been providing arts education programs for children and youth in the Kansas City metro since 1961.

They are currently looking for a volunteer to help at the front desk 3-5 nights a week from 3-8pm. Click here for more information. If you’re interested or would like to learn more, reach out to LaTeesha Jackson at 816-531-4022 or ljackson@kcya.org.

Happy volunteering!