Volunteering At Children's Friend

Children’s Friend offers multiple volunteer opportunities. Below are our current opportunities but we are always open to suggestions and ideas! To volunteer or for more information, please contact Amanda Ball, Foster Care Recruiter & Volunteer Coordinator, at (401) 276-4344 or aball@cfsri.org.

Event Volunteer Opportunities

Special Events: We hold special events throughout the year for our families. We always need volunteers to help set up, facilitate, and break down these events. The special events are a time for our families to gather together and enjoy quality time together. Many of our events are theme-based and depending on the theme they may include arts & crafts, games, reading, learning opportunities, literature on various topics, vendors, presenters, community partners, and more!

Annual Events: We also hold annual events to raise awareness, support, and money for Children’s Friend. These include our Children’s Friend Walk usually held in May, our Concert Festival held during the summer, and our Spirit of Giving Holiday Drive held in December. We always need volunteers to help set up, facilitate, and break down these events as well.
 
Regular Volunteer Opportunities
Administrative: Volunteers help with administrative tasks including copying, mailings, filing, alphabetizing, data-entry, and other related tasks.

Clothing Closet: Volunteers help in one or more of our five clothing closets throughout Providence, Pawtucket, and Central Falls. Tasks include sorting and organizing donated clothing, toys, and other items throughout the drop-in center(s).

Programs: Volunteers work with a specific program (sometimes more than one) based on interest, skill, and/or need. Tasks vary and may include administrative assistance, clinical support, research, project assistance, helping with events, attending meetings, and other responsibilities that may come up.

Special Projects: Volunteers help with various projects that one of our departments or programs may be working on throughout the year. Tasks vary depending on the nature of the project and will be decided on a case by case basis.

Direct Contact Volunteer Opportunities

Classrooms: Volunteers help the staff in our classrooms. Tasks may include playing with the children, reading to the children, helping on the playground, helping during lunch and snack time, helping during nap time, playing games, and any other classroom activities.

Activities: Volunteers plan age appropriate activities to do with the children in our programs. Examples include: reading a book and doing a related activity, having a scavenger hunt, making cookies, arts & crafts, and educational activities.

 Donation Drive & Fundraising Opportunities

Our children and families are always in need of various items. Below are different types of items that our children and families benefit the most from as well as some ideas for fundraising.

Donation Drive Opportunities

Backpacks & School Supplies: Many of our Head Start & Child Care children will be moving on to kindergarten next year and we want to send them with the tools they’ll need to succeed! We are looking for new and lightly used backpacks and school supplies.

Diapers, Pull-Ups, & Formula: These three items are such a necessity for our young ones and they go through them so quickly, so our families with young children are always in need of diapers, pull-ups, and baby formula. All formula must be sealed and all diapers and pull-ups must be packaged. 

Books: What child can’t benefit from reading? Our families are constantly looking for educational books and reading materials. We are looking for new and lightly used books and reading materials. Bi-lingual material encouraged!

Clothing & Household Items: Clothing and household items are needed by all of our families all of the time! We will only accept new and lightly used donations.

Fundraising Opportunities

Walk: Start a team and raise money for our annual Children’s Friend Walk held in May. Ask your friends, family members, co-workers, and/or community affiliations, to support you!

Holiday Drive: Sponsor a family for our annual Spirit of Giving Holiday Drive. Contact us in the fall to be matched with a family that you’d like to buy gifts for from their wish list for the holiday season.

Car Wash: Hold a car wash to raise money in support of Children’s Friend in your neighborhood, school, local business, park, or any place that would be suitable for a car wash.

Other: Have other fundraising ideas? Feel free to let us know what you think!

Please Note: 100% of the donations to Children’s Friend goes directly to our programs and will be used to help our children and families receive the services and necessities that they need to thrive.

Should you be interested in any of these volunteer opportunities, please contact Amanda Ball, Foster Care Recruiter & Volunteer Coordinator, at (401) 276-4344 or aball@cfsri.org for more information.