Category: Volunteer Opportunities

KC Pet Project cares for over 10,000 animals a year. They work collaboratively with Animal Control and other animal welfare organizations to increase the number of homeless pets adopted, as well as focus on lifesaving programs promoting pet retention, identification, lost pet reunions, and pet ownership education throughout the community. Their mission is to end the killing of healthy and treatable pets in Kansas City, Missouri by using the most progressive and lifesaving programs and promoting effective animal control policies.

They rely on volunteers to accomplish these aims! The great thing about volunteering at animal shelters is not only do you get to hang out with animals, but it’s also very flexible! They need help during the week and on weekends; you can give as much or as little time per day that fits your schedule.

If you’re interested, check out the requirements and instructions below:

• At least 16 years old or older to volunteer alone, or must be supervised by supervisor/guardian at all times
• Have a working email account.
• Must be able to purchase a volunteer t-shirt and wear it every time that you volunteer.
• Must be able to commit 4 hours of time a month in the first 3 months of volunteering
• Mature and respectful attitude is required while at shelter at all times.
• Support the Kansas City Pet Project mission.

Instructions:

1. Download their Volunteer Handbook
This has specific information relating to their policies and procedures, as well as an overview of the different ways you can give your time!

2. Watch their Volunteer Orientation Video
Once you complete this video, you’ll be directed to a short Orientation Quiz that asks questions pertaining to the video – so, keep a pen and piece of paper handy for note-taking!

3. Once you’ve finished your Orientation Quiz, you’ll be given information on how to sign up for a Shelter Tour at one of our three Adoption Center locations. At the Shelter Tour, you’ll be given an opportunity to purchase your Volunteer T-Shirt, and information on how to sign up for your first volunteer shift!

If you have any questions about their Volunteer process, please reach out to the Volunteer Program Manager at Alyssa.Willett@kcmo.org

Happy Volunteering!

The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art is an amazing resource on the JCCC campus not only for art and culture, but also for volunteer opportunities! The Nerman has volunteer positions at the front desk and with docent tours, which you can check at their website. They also always need help in their classrooms! Below is a description of that position, which sounds like so much fun.

Children’s Class Assistants

Benefits: Work with expert art educators, gain childcare and teaching experience in a dynamic environment, learn about contemporary art and artists in the permanent collection and exhibitions, and learn about art museum education as a profession.

Position description: Assist instructors with preparation and implementation of Contemporary Creations and Early Explorations classes, including supervising students during the warm-up project, the gallery component, the studio component, discussion and cleanup. Report to the instructor and the curator of education. Work three to six hours per week. Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 1:30-4:30 p.m. shift times available throughout the academic year, and weekday shifts are available in the summer.

Skills and training: Recent studio art coursework or childcare experience is required. Fill out a JCCC application and Nerman Museum application; references will be called and an interview will be scheduled. Review general information packet. Volunteers receive a copy of the lesson plan via email prior to class date.

Tasks:

• Wear Nerman Museum apron and name tag while on duty.
• Arrive 30 minutes before class begins. Meet the instructor in the classroom.
• Welcome students as they arrive. Supervise the warm-up project for the early arrivals. Once all students arrive, the instructor will lead introductions. The visitor service assistant from the information desk will bring the check-in/check-out sheet (clipboard will also have emergency contact information for each student).
• While the instructor conducts the tour, assist by keeping the students together and reinforcing the instructor’s authority, reminding students of the museum rules if they forget.
• After the tour, the instructor will demonstrate the studio project. Gently remind students to pay attention as needed.
• Following the instructor’s suggestions, pass out materials, supervise and assist students as needed
• Supervise students as they clean up.
• Supervise children during the discussion component and supervise them until their parents arrive to pick them up.
• Check students out as they leave with their parents.
• Distribute parent letters and make sure students leave with all belongings and projects.
• Help instructor finish cleanup and prepare materials for next class.

If you’re interested, you can fill out a volunteer application here!

Happy volunteering!

Great Lakes Caring Hospice is looking for compassionate volunteers to:

• Provide companionship to hospice patients
• Offer pet therapy (certification required)
• Assist with office administration
• Share your talents (such as music, art, and crafts)
• Provide bereavement or vigil support for patient’s families
• Help with special projects or events
• Assist with legacy programs
• …and more!

If any of these are of interest to you, you can call 866-878-4611 or apply online!

Happy Volunteering!

Attention all premed and nursing students!

Volunteering at a hospice facility can help you gain clinical experience, boost your resume, and make someone’s day!

At Encompass Hospice, volunteers set their own level of commitment based on their schedule and flexibility. Opportunities for involvement range from administrative tasks to direct patient and caregiver contact. For students looking to enter a health-related field, this is a great opportunity for you to gain some early exposure to the field of medicine!

Some ways to get involved are:

• Playing games, reading, and listening to music with patients (plus music therapy)
• Walking, playing, or caring for family pets
• Offering companionship and socialization to the patient and family
• and much more!!

To learn more about joining the Encompass Team and the different opportunities available, contact Roland Bray now!

Help your community and the environment by volunteering at one of Bridging the Gap’s community recycling centers! Recycling preserves forests; keeps oil, natural gas, and minerals in the ground; and prevents air and water pollution. This is an excellent opportunity while the weather is still nice!

Volunteers assist the recycling center site manager with various duties, such as breaking down cardboard, helping visitors, etc. This is an outdoor opportunity.

Flexible Shifts: Wed through Sat, between 10am – 5pm (you choose 3 hours that work for you).

Min age: 8 with parent. Can volunteer alone at 14.

Two locations:
Metro North: 8729 N. Summit, Kansas City, MO 64155

Red Bridge: 5200 E. Red Bridge Rd, Kansas City, MO 64137

Sign up by emailing volunteer@bridgingthegap.org. Please reference your preferred shift and location. And check out Bridging the Gap’s volunteer page for other opportunities coming up!

Happy volunteering!

Shawnee Mission, like many other missions, was established as a manual training school attended by boys and girls from Shawnee, Delaware, and other Indian nations from 1839 to 1862. It is filled with history, culture, and the stories of all those that lived there. The Mission is always looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help share this site with the rest of the world. Here is a volunteer description that came across my desk:

Purpose of Job: To provide a welcoming and educational experience to Mission visitors through guided tours, programs and community events.
Duties may include but are not limited to:

1. Conducting tours throughout the site, including inside the buildings and the grounds. Be comfortable speaking to small and large groups of people of all ages.
2. Greet and welcome tour groups upon their arrival.
3. On occasion, assist with evening special events or programs.
4. Provide information and answer questions of site visitors about the Shawnee Indian Mission.
5. Lead youth programs and/or art activities that are prearranged.
6. Assist with set-up and take down of program materials.
7. Be aware of future programs and events to share with visitors to increase exposure of the Mission to the general public.
8. Be responsible for finding a replacement volunteer if you cannot make your prescheduled obligation.

Qualifications Needed:
o Enjoying interacting with, and comfortable meeting new people of all ages and abilities
o Reliable, responsible
o Extensive knowledge about the Mission is not required but a volunteer should have a desire to learn its history and impact
o Able to work independently
o Ability to speak well in front of an audience
o Physically able to lead tours around the buildings and grounds
o Flexible and enthusiastic
o Capable of learning new material and willing to spend the time to thoroughly read all exhibit labels, tour guide manual, and study additional materials as they are made available

Location of the job:
Check-in for a volunteer shift will always take place in the East building of the Shawnee Indian Mission Historic Site at 3403 W. 53rd Street, Fairway Kansas 66205.

Training and Orientation:
Training will take place with both the Site Director, Jennifer Laughlin and a seasoned site volunteer who will assist in learning the history, operations and school programs/activities.

If you’re interested, contact Jennifer Laughlin.

Happy Volunteering!

Johnson County’s Human Services department manages programs and activities that support the independence, dignity and self-sufficiency of Johnson County residents. These services and opportunities primarily target older adults, people with disabilities, low-income families, and other residents who require assistance.

Their biggest needs are:

– Meals on Wheels volunteers (must be 18+)
Provide a hot noon-day meal during your lunch hour. Volunteers deliver meals Monday – Friday from 10:45 am – 12 Noon. There are 53 volunteer routes daily. You can deliver as a team or an individual. Children are welcome to accompany parents or grandparents. Recruiting both regular (weekly/monthly) and substitute (as-needed) drivers. Volunteers deliver from one of eight centers: Blue Valley, De Soto, Gardner, Lenexa, Merriam, Olathe, Overland Park, & Spring Hill.

– Catch-a-Ride volunteers (must be 25+)
Provide rides to seniors, those with a physical disability, or anyone in a life transition who do not drive and public transportation is difficult or impossible to use. Rides are provided to essential appointments in Johnson County such as medical, grocery store, or food pantries. Volunteers choose their schedules and geographical distance, they are willing to drive. Mileage reimbursement is available. Catch-a-Ride operates Monday – Friday from 8 am – 5 pm.

– Food Pantry – Host a Food Drive (all ages)

For more information on these opportunities, check out their website. If you’re interested, you can contact Brandy Hodge.

Happy Volunteering!

Each year, the Department of Housing and Urban Development conducts a “point-in-time” count survey of the homeless population in the Kansas City Area. In 2017, there were 1,671 homeless individuals and 1,248 homeless households. Homelessness is a nationwide problem that many organizations work together to combat. Phoenix Family is a great example of one of those organizations in Kansas City.

Phoenix Family provides an integrated, broad range of services tailored to the individual person. Their programs enable people to stay in their homes and with their families while they make progress towards and attain self-sufficiency. Combined, their activities empower children, families, and seniors to access the essential resources they need to improve their lives and break generational poverty.

They are always looking for volunteers! They especially need help with their HIKE Reading Program, where volunteers spend one our a week teaching elementary aged youth to read.  Volunteers work one-one-one with the same child each week, so that they can build relationships with them as well. Their Reading Specialists prepare all of the lessons and materials, so volunteers can spend the hour focused on the youth.  During the school year, one-hour volunteer shifts are available beginning at 4:30 and 5:30 pm.  Over the summer, lunchtime shifts are added to the schedule as well.

If you are interested or have any questions, contact April DeNatale via email or phone at 816-529-3217.

Happy Volunteering!

Going away to summer camp may seem out of reach for children on dialysis or who have had a kidney transplant. Not at Camp ChiMer! Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City, with the medical support of Children’s Mercy, host Camp ChiMer – summer camp specifically geared for children ages nine to 18 who are undergoing peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis or who have had a renal transplant. The camp is held on the scenic grounds of Three Trails, a 40-acre privately owned facility east of Kansas City, Mo. Children participate in a variety of indoor and outdoor activities while being carefully monitored daily by health care professionals. There, kids with special kidney conditions can experience camp just like everybody else.

You can volunteer to be a counselor! Counselors support the daily operations and activities of Camp ChiMer Program, helping to ensure and facilitate the smooth and caring delivery of RMHC-KC services to campers. Counselors are the primary caregivers for each camper. The Counselor is responsible for planning, teaching, coordinating, and carrying out activities and guiding campers in their personal growth and daily living skills.  Counselors must be 19 years old and are expected to be present the ENTIRE week. There is no cost to you to volunteer. Meals will be provided for you. You are responsible for your own transportation to and from Camp.

Counselors need to attend an orientation on July 27 at 2 p.m. To apply to be a Camp Counselor, please contact Ariel Penner ASAP. If you are interested in volunteering for Camp, please complete our general volunteer application here. For questions & to submit your application please email volunteering@rmhckc.org