Individual Volunteer Opportunities
The Volunteer Center can link you to hundreds of volunteer opportunities that match your skills, interests and time. For more information, please contact the Volunteer Center at (816) 559-4667. The following highlighted opportunities are ongoing, unless otherwise dated:
FEBRUARY 2012
1. Daytime crisis line volunteers are needed to provide crisis intervention, information and other resources surrounding sexual assault and abuse. You must have good communication and listening skills, and must have volunteered in another capacity within the organization prior to this role. Duties also include completing contact logs. A 40-hour training session must be completed before volunteering, and be available a minimum of two shifts per month.
2. A nonprofit organization that promotes early literacy and school readiness in pediatric exam rooms nationwide by giving new books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading aloud is recruiting volunteers who can help in the office, assist with book drives, label books, and prepare book bags for kindergarteners. Other opportunities also include serving on the speakers bureau or committee work, including marketing and fundraising. Most of these positions are on-call volunteer positions.
3. A CASA volunteer is a trained community volunteer appointed by the court to advocate for the best interest of children who come to the attention of the court primarily as a result of abuse and/or neglect. Volunteers must be at least 21 years old, able to handle 1-2 cases at a time for a specific period of time, and available to work with social workers and attorneys involved with the cases.
4. A Concordia area organization needs kitchen assistants to help in all areas of food preparation, including meals for homebound seniors. Drivers are also needed to deliver meals. Morning and afternoon times are available. This is a great opportunity for individuals and small groups.
5. Do you have time, energy and enthusiasm? A Wyandotte County-based organization dedicated to sponsoring activities and sports for the developmentally disabled ages eight years and older continues to recruit volunteers to help with “stages of life” activities, including arts and crafts, lessons about health and increasing social skills.
6. The leading agency in Western Missouri helping resettle refugees in the Kansas City area need several volunteers to assist with teaching classes. These classes, such as health education and community orientation, will help refugees adjust to their new surroundings and access health resources. Volunteer teachers must have a passion for helping new refugees, have cultural sensitivity, be willing to be flexible with time, schedules, and different levels of English language and available 1-2 days/week.
7. Interested in working in the nonprofit, education, social work or psychology fields? Interns are needed for an organization connecting 11-18 year olds to the Kansas City area through service. You must be at least 18 years old, be self-motivated, have basic computer knowledge, and be able to communicate well with a variety of people. Interns will design their own schedule and project load.
8. Volunteers are needed to help ready apartments for homeless families who are trying to turn their lives around. The families work with an organization dedicated to assisting them through life skills and financial literacy classes, transitional housing and other help. The units need to be patched and painted and cleaned. This is a great group project!
9. One of the area county detention centers is currently recruiting volunteers and chaplain assistants to lead/assist with tutoring sessions in reading, math, etc., and facilitate religious services/studies. All volunteers must be at least 21 years old, pass a background check and have past experience working with incarcerated populations.
10. A front desk assistant is needed for an Eastern Jackson County-based day school dedicated to helping special needs children and youth. You will assist with the front desk duties such as answering calls and monitoring traffic.
11. Deliver meals to older adults and the disabled in the Olathe area. Drivers are needed to pick up meals at a Hy-Vee store between 10:30 and 10:45 am, and deliver the meals to those on their route. Delivery time usually takes 1 – 1.5 hours. Drivers must have a good driving record and references.
12. Help up and coming entrepreneurs start, grow and succeed in their businesses. Volunteers are needed for a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration to mentor and counsel entrepreneurs. You will lead workshops and seminars, serve in one-one-one mentoring and other specialized roles in marketing, IT and other areas. Knowledge of small business start-up and operations is needed. Weekday and weekend hours are available.
13. Ushers are needed for upcoming performances at the Lyric, Midland and Starlight Theaters. This opportunity is connected to one of the Northland senior organizations. You must be at least 21 years old, have a friendly personality, enjoy interacting with the public and be able to stand for long periods of time. Volunteers can meet at the organization to carpool.
14. A South Kansas City social service organization currently needs Meals on Wheels drivers and food pantry volunteers, and help with their garden this spring. Drivers must be available 1-2 hours a week and have a valid driver’s license and auto insurance. Food pantry volunteers will assemble baskets for clients one day a week; some lifting is involved. Training is provided for all positions.
15. One of the area’s hospice and palliative care facilities has an opportunity available where volunteers can bake cookies and other delectable treats for patients and their families. Individuals, groups and families with children 10 and older can bake the items either at or in the facility’s kitchen. There are no restrictions on quantity or the type of baked goods.
16. Tutors, mentors and gardening volunteers 21 and older are needed for an East Side community center. Duties include tutoring children and youth in the after-school program, serving as mentors in the youth programs, and assisting with the garden later this year.
17. A South Johnson County assisted living facility continues to recruit volunteers 12 and older to visit residents, lead group activities, play board games and other activities. Flexible hours and days are available; great opportunity to earn school-based community service hours.
18. Make sure Kansas City area families don’t miss out at tax time. Volunteers are needed a few hours a week at 18 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites throughout the area. The VITA program offers free tax help to low- and moderate-income families. Tax preparation experience is not necessary; however, computer and tax knowledge is a plus. Multiple training opportunities are still available.
19. A local community school for the arts needs a receptionist to help with answering phone calls, directing students to classes and serve as the center of information for the school. This position begins immediately for volunteers 15 and older.
20. A support department based at NBC Action News is recruiting volunteers to work in their call center, open three days a week. Volunteers must be at least 21 years of age and have good oral and written communication skills. Through mediation, volunteers seek to resolve consumer problems, working with clients who have been ripped off for merchandise, services or money, and to expose scams in the area. Basic computer skills are needed. Training is provided.
21. YouthFriends mentors are needed at multiple schools in the district. The time commitment for working one-on-one with a child is 30 minutes – one hour a week. You can choose from a range of in-school activities, including reading with a student to having lunch with them. Complete your application through www.youthfriends.org.
22. This organization, that serves the 55 years and older population in Raytown. seeks help in revamping their brochures and other marketing materials, a web designer to update their current website and someone interested in social media to create SCR accounts in appropriate platforms.
23. Provide entertainment to seniors living in the facility in Stanley. Volunteers are needed to play an instrument or sing to senior residents in their assisted living center.
24. Assist with special events such as Farm Heritage Days and Santa’s Express. Tasks can include helping with demonstrations, running errands and other duties. Great volunteer opportunity for youth 12 and older.
25. Volunteers 13 years old (with an adult) are needed to serve as dog and cat socializers, help with office duties and assist with the foster care and humane education programs.
26. Looking for ways to help eradicate hunger? Our Kansas City area food bank is looking for help in a number of areas, including office support, their Back Snack and Kids in the Kitchen programs, and hosting food drives.
27. One of the soup kitchens in the Kansas City, Kansas area is in need of volunteers to help with serving and clean-up for the lunchtime meal, and shelving items in the thrift store. Volunteer must be 16 years of age or older. This is a great opportunity for individuals and families.
28. Have fun while supporting Kansas City residents with disabilities on Saturday, February 18. The Barstool Open is an annual mini-golf fundraising event hosted by a nationally-recognized organization. It takes place on three separate courses, with nine bars on each course in the Brookside/Waldo, Westport and Johnson County areas. Volunteers are needed to serve as volunteer recruiters, transportation coordinators and golfing hole monitors.
