Activity types: Help Children with autism learn to sing, dance, and act.

Time Required: Once a week for a few hours after work.

Skills Required: You don’t have to know how to sing, dance, act or even be artistically inclined – you just need to be a kind person.

Attire: Clothes you can really move in.

The Goods: The reason I say you don’t have to sing, dance, act, etc. is because the children will bring your fun artistic side out.  No need to be shy – they won’t judge you.

My Volunteer Journal:

Performing with The Miracle Project

Activity: Teaching children to write an autobiography

Time Required: Volunteer for two hours one afternoon or apply to become a teacher

Skills Required: Love of Writing

Attire: Various – dress like a teacher or wear a t-shirt and jeans, but be clean and don’t wear anything vulgar.

The Goods: Remember all those grammar rules from elementary school? No.  Don’t worry the kids barely remember them and they are currently learning them in class.  Might be a good idea to reread part of the MLA Handbook though because being “schooled” in grammar by a 4^th grader isn’t fun. 

My Volunteer Journal:

“We The Children” Learn To Write

Website: BookPALS.net

Activity types: Reading to Children in Classrooms, Hospitals, Museums, or Parks

Time Required: Read at a school once a week or just read at a special event.  There is a one hour orientation meeting you must attend before becoming a BookPAL.

Skills Required:  Ability to read and speak loudly

Attire: Look presentable or like a schoolteacher – appropriate clothes for young minds

The Goods:  The kids are wonderful! Don’t be scared of reading to older children.  Lots of people like to read to kindergarten classes, but the older kids are equally as fun and often more attentive.

My Volunteer Journal:

Reading to Little Ones with BookPALS

Working the Love and Literacy Event

Activity types: Stuff Bags, Make items like blankets for the bags (making items can be done at home and mailed).

Contact:    info@mystuffbags.org

                    5347 Sterling Center Drive
                    Westlake Village, CA 91361
                     Phone: 818-865-3860
                     866-3my-stuff (toll free)

Time Required: One morning during the week (about 4 hours), a few hours at home, or a regular time commitment.  

Skills Required: Willingness to stuff bags, make blankets or knit hats

Attire: Anything you like.  

The Goods: Have you ever wondered what to do with pesky travel size shampoos and soaps from hotels – box them up and mail them to MyStuffBags – they will go in the toiletry kits for the kids!

My Volunteer Journal:  My Stuff Bags

See Also:
BookPALS
Head Start