Honors Student Experience

Calling all professionals! Goodwill is looking for mock interviewers on February 16th.

While Goodwill is mostly known for their thrift stores, they also do a lot in the community to empower people with disadvantages and different abilities to earn and keep employment. One thing they do is offer mock interviews for job seekers! I conducted a mock interview for Goodwill last semester and had a really positive experience. The person I interviewed was well prepared, professional, and receptive to my critiques and advice. Even though I might not be an interview expert, just having someone to ask the job seeker questions and give them an opportunity to practice their answers is so helpful. Working directly with the job seeker made a big impact on me too, I felt like I had a direct hand in helping them with their next interview. Not to mention the event was well organized and it only took up an hour of my time. I definitely recommend this experience for anyone interested!

They are looking for volunteers for one hour time slots from 10-11am, 11:15am-12:15pm, and/or 1:15-2:15pm. Click here to sign-up!

Happy Volunteering!

 

If you’re interested in the history of Kansas or US history for that matter, then you need to check out Shawnee Indian Mission Historic Site. Right in your back yard there is a beautiful, 12 acre historical site with museum exhibits, a research library, a living history cabin, grounds to explore and a natural water source. The Shawnee Indian Mission was established as a manual training school attended by children from Shawnee, Delaware, and 21 other Indian nations from 1839 to 1862. The purpose of the Shawnee Indian Mission supporting entities is to preserve the site, its traditions, landmarks, history of the Native Americans, missionaries and pioneers of Johnson County. They strive to bring together those people interested in the history of our community to help enhance the cultural and educational experience through tours, programs, and events.

Want to help?

The Shawnee Indian Mission is always looking for volunteers to help in the following ways:

1. Conducting tours throughout the site, including inside the buildings and the grounds.
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.

Visit their website for more information and if you’re interested in volunteering, contact Jennifer Laughlin.

Happy Volunteering!

Sunflower House is a non-residential children’s advocacy and abuse prevention center serving Johnson and Wyandotte counties.  They strive to end the cycle of child abuse and help care for abuse survivors. The non profit addresses abuse and neglect through a comprehensive approach, engaging children, parents, child-serving professionals and the community.

Here are  two ways you can help right now!

Valentine Gala

The annual Valentine Gala requires volunteers both leading up to and on the night of the event. Click here to see what days and times volunteers are needed!

Child Care Volunteers for Parent Support Group

This is a weekly on-going volunteer position in which they are looking for multiple volunteers who are flexible but can commit to every Tuesday night from 5:45pm-7:15pm (if needed) at Sunflower House. They are hoping to start this group mid-February.   You will be caring for the children of parents who are part of the support group. The parents will be on the premise the whole time. If you are interested, reach out to Colleen Bryan.

*There will be a required Confidentiality Form and Background Check.

Happy Volunteering!

If you’re interested in volunteering at SAFEHOME and helping with their mission to break the cycle of domestic violence and partner abuse for victims and their children by providing shelter, advocacy, counseling, and prevention education in our community, then make sure to attend their training session which is coming up on February 3rd, from 9am-5pm.

In order to maintain consistency and stability in the SAFEHOME environment, volunteers need to commit to 50 hours in no less than 6 months. To become a volunteer, you need to submit a volunteer application and preferably interview with Susan Lebovitz prior to attending the training session.

Remember, the greater commitment, the greater difference you’ll make.

For more information, visit the SAFEHOME website.

Happy Volunteering!

Interested in learning more about urban agriculture? Want to meet others who share your passion for food? Excited to see where your tomatoes come from? Cultivate Kansas City offers a wide range of opportunities for volunteers- from working in the field, helping at events, to assisting in the office – they need your help!

— UPCOMING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES —

Urban Grown Tour Planning Committee
Cultivate Kansas City is looking for planners and doers to help us make the 2018 Urban Grown Farms & Gardens Tour the most successful yet! Join the Urban Grown Planning Team to work with farmers, help with marketing and use your event planning skills to support this two-day farms and gardens tour. They are looking for individuals to help with outreach, volunteers and event planning. Committee meetings will be held bi-weekly in the evenings. If you’re interested, contact Taylor Westfall at taylor@cultivatekc.org

Urban Grown Tour Farm Buddy
Interested in working with an urban grower? Be a Farm Buddy for the 2018 Urban Grown Farms & Gardens Tour! Farm Buddies provide ongoing support to sites featured on the tour by checking in throughout the spring, delivering materials, and visiting the farms and gardens on the weekend of the event (June 9-10). If you’re interested in befriending a grower, contact Taylor Westfall at taylor@cultivatekc.org

13th Annual Farmers & Friends Meeting
February 3rd | 8 am – 3 pm | Second Presbyterian Church
Dozens of area farmers, growers and friends come together each year for Cultivate Kansas City’s Annual Farmers & Friends Meeting on February 3rd. It is a day of presentations, panels and pie as we discuss the important issues facing the urban farming movement today. They are looking for a team of volunteers to help the day run as smoothly as possible! Volunteers will help with check-ins, setting up tables, preparing the potluck and more. Sign up here!

Whiskey Dinner
March 22nd | 5 pm – 9 pm | Union Horse Distilling Co.
Join Cultivate Kansas City at our first ever Whiskey Dinner, a farm-to-table fund raiser at Union Horse Distillery on Thursday, March 22nd.
They are looking for volunteers to help with registering gusts as well as serving dinner. Sign up here!

Group Volunteer Days
Although it’s cold and dreary outside, growing season is just around the corner! Plan a work the farm day with your organization, company, church or friend group to get a taste of what it means to be an urban grower. Volunteer groups can be as small as 5 and as large as 30. Contact Taylor Westfall at taylor@cultivatekc.org to schedule a day on the farm to learn about growing and get your hands dirty alongside our farm crew.

 

Visit their website for more information!

What are you doing for “new year, near me?” I know you’ll be hitting the gym and eating healthier, right? 🙂 Maybe also though, part of the new you is helping the community and giving back! One place you could start is Community LINC. I recently toured this agency and had such a positive experience. They are doing so much to end homelessness for families in Kansas City, and they need your help!

The fact is,  almost 40% of the homeless population are families and the wage needed to afford the average rent is double the minimum wage. Community LINC’s mission is to end homelessness through stabilizing, re-housing, and empowering. They provide temporary homes for families while helping them relocate and educating them to become independent and self sufficient. This Housing First model is a proven, cost-effective solution to ending homelessness nationally.

They need individual and group volunteers to help with their childcare center,  preparing apartments,  education, and special events. If you’re interested visit their webpage to find out more!

You go new you!

The Groundhog Run, benefiting the children of Ability KC, has raised more than $4.75 million for children with special needs since its inception in 1982. The race is one of very few 5K races, and believed to be the only 100% underground sanctioned 10K race in the nation. With a consistent temperature of 65 to 68 degrees, the Hunt Midwest SubTropolis is the ideal venue for runners from all over the country to compete in this annual winter event.

Ability KC brings together the Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City and the Children’s Therapeutic Learning Center. Annually, 2700 individuals and families receive services for medical rehabilitation, therapeutic preschool, and employment services. In addition, multiple specialty programs and services are offered, such as neuropsychology and rehabilitation psychology, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), corporate partnerships for employment opportunities and much more. Ability KC is proud to celebrate 70 years since the beginnings of each agency in 1947. Thousands of lives have been changed and celebrations of successes have occurred due to the generosity of the Kansas City community.

This race needs volunteers! You can help with packet pickup, manning the water stations, be a course monitor, check in other volunteers, work the start/finish line, do gear check, or oversee a food station. All of these tasks are essential to making sure the race runs smoothly and will benefit a good cause!

For more details visit their website.

Finals are finished and the holidays are here! As you’re finishing up your holiday shopping and your holiday to-do lists, don’t forget to think about giving back to get on Santa’s Nice List! First Babtist Church in Stilwell, Kansas is looking for volunteers this winter. Their Food Ministry cares for the food needs of those in and around our community.  They partner with Harvester’s and distribute food to those who need a little help two times a week.

They need volunteers on Tuesdays from 1:30-5:00pm and on Thursdays from 5:00-7:00pm. If you’re interested, contact Morgan Lutrell or Donna Rains.

Morgan Luttrell: 785-241-9820 Email: morgan@fbcstilwell.com
Donna Rains: 913-449-6601 Email: caringministry@aol.com

Happy Holidays!