- Purpose: Help keep buildings and equipment in good working order.
- Results:Your assistance can add life to buildings and equipment and save MCUM money on maintenance and replacement costs.
- Suggested Activities:
- repair and mend equipment
- grounds keeping, painting, and light maintenance work
- Measures: Area or equipment to be maintained should be in good working order to the standard expected by the supervisor.
- Qualifications:
- Minimum age 18
- Dependability
- Pride in work
- General fix-it skills
- Timeframe: 3-4 hours per week during the hours of 8am-noon and 1pm-4pm, Monday thru Friday
- Site: Administrative building, Childcare building, and a small single-family home
- Supervision: Executive Director
Donate to MCUM’s endowment at the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County.
Support Us
Volunteer and Make a Difference!
Volunteers are essential to the success of MCUM's programs. All aspects of our operation benefit from the time, expertise, and enthusiasm that volunteers contribute, from the childcare kitchen to the team that prepares the monthly newsletter. We welcome individuals, families and groups as volunteers, accomplishing one-time projects or making an ongoing commitment. In 2009, hundreds of volunteers donated 6,631 hours to help with programs and special events. Just some of the volunteer opportunities we offer are listed below.
Administrative Positions:
- Purpose: Help keep the office running smoothly.
- Results: Staff will be free to attend to other tasks.
- Suggested Activities:
- answer telephones, route calls, take messages
- assist clients and donors
- copying, filing, assisting with bulk mailings, and other office tasks
- Measures: Work should be done efficiently and completed to the standard expected by the supervisor.
- Qualifications:
- Minimum age 18
- Dependability
- Able to follow directions
- Appropriate dress
- Office skills or experience preferred
- TB Test and Physical (for preschool only, if hours exceed 8 in a month)
- Timeframe: 3-4 hours per week during program hours
- Site: Administration or Preschool Office
- Supervision: Office Manager or Childcare Administrative Assistant
- Purpose: Experienced volunteers can take on more responsibility and assist the Volunteer Coordinator in day-to-day activities by mentoring new volunteers within a familiar job or program.
- Results: Volunteers gain new responsibilities and experiences while helping the volunteer program to grow.
- Suggested Activities:
- Volunteer orientations
- Volunteer supervision and evaluation
- Other activities as suggested by the volunteer coordinator
- Measures: Volunteer coordinator and volunteers will be satisfied with the volunteer supervisor’s performance.
- Qualifications:
- dependability
- above average reading, writing, and comprehension skills
- good problem solving and organizational abilities
- ability to follow directions
- ability to follow through with a project
- attention to detail
- ability to work self directed
- minimum 4 months experience for individual volunteer supervisors and 2 months experience for Winter Food Drive supervisors
- Timeframe: minimum 3-4 hour shift per week in either the Childcare Program or the Emergency Food Pantry
- Site: Administrative building or Childcare building
- Supervision: Volunteer Coordinator
Childcare Services Positions:
- Purpose: Help prepare and serve nutritious meals to the children.
- Results: Children and staff will be served warm food quickly.
- Suggested Activities:
- wipe and set tables
- prepare and serve food
- shop at the Hoosier Hills Food Bank or grocery stores
- Measures: Children staff should be served quickly to the satisfaction of the supervisor.
- Qualifications:
- minimum age 18
- TB test and physical (if hours exceed 8 in a month)
- drug test within 30 days of start date (if hours exceed 8 in a month)
- dependability
- able to follow directions
- enjoy and relate well to young children
- Timeframe: minimum 2 hour shift per week, 8am-10am or 11am-1pm, Monday through Friday
- Site: Childcare Kitchen and Dining Room
- Supervision: Cook
- Purpose: Meet a child’s special needs by providing individual attention. Special needs include language barriers, behavioral management, history of abuse, and delayed development.
- Results: The child will gradually improve in communication and behavior.
- Suggested Activities:
- engage a child in an activities such as reading, drawing, etc.
- assist the child as s/he participates in class activities
- help the child interact with other children
- work with teacher to carry out planned activities
- Measures: The child will enjoy the volunteers company. The teacher should approve of the volunteers activities.
- Qualifications:
- minimum age 18
- TB test and physical (if hours exceed 8 in a month)
- drug test within 30 days (if hours exceed 8 in a month)
- knowledge of child development or interest in working with small children.
- knowledge or skill relating to the need particular need of a child.
- Timeframe: At least one shift per week at 9:30-11:30am or 2:30-4:30pm Monday thru Friday. Length of commitment will vary according to the needs of the child and availability of the volunteer.
- Site: Childcare building
- Supervision: Classroom Teacher
- Purpose: Ensure the safety of children while playing with them indoors and outdoors.
- Results: Children will develop physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually.
- Suggested Activities:
- play with several children at one time
- encourage children to try new activities
- promote safety
- teach a variety of games and activities
- assist teachers as needed
- Measures: Children should enjoy interacting with the volunteer. The teacher should approve of the volunteers activities.
- Qualifications:
- minimum age 18
- TB test and physical (if hours exceed 8 in a month)
- drug test within 30 days (if hours exceed 8 in a month)
- enjoy and relate well to children
- have knowledge of child development
- Timeframe: minimum 2-3 hours per week from 9:30-11:30am or 2:30-5:30pm, Monday thru Friday.
- Site: Childcare building
- Supervision: Classroom Teacher
- Purpose: Help teachers and children during and between activities throughout the day.
- Results: Children will benefit from additional supervision and attention. Teachers will benefit from the extra help. Activities and transitions between activities will run smoothly and quickly.
- Suggested Activities:
- assist teachers in putting out cots, cleaning up, and other daily routine tasks
- play with several children at one time
- encourage children to try new and different activities
- promote safety
- plan, organize, and carry out special projects or activities
- Measures: Children should enjoy interacting with the volunteer. Teachers should approve of the volunteer’s performance.
- Qualifications:
- minimum age 18
- TB test and physical (if hours exceed 8 in a month)
- drug test within 30 days (if hours exceed 8 in a month)
- knowledge of child development.
- enjoy and relate well to children.
- Timeframe: minimum 2-4 hours per week, various shifts are available Monday thru Friday:
- 6:30-9:00 A.M. – greeting children as they arrive, A.M. snack and breakfast, free play
- 9-12 P.M. – play time outside or inside, organized group activities, lunch
- 12-2 P.M. – lunch and nap time
- 2:30- 5:30 P.M. – children wake up from nap, afternoon snack, outside or indoor playtime
- Site: Childcare building
- Supervision: Classroom Teacher
- Purpose: Teach children new skills through a creative project
- Results: Children will learn something new and exciting through hands-on participation in a group or individual project.
- Suggested Activities:
- plan, organize, and carry out project for a small group of children
- teach children proper use of tools and/or materials used in project
- work on project for a specific amount of time or until finished
- work with teachers to develop a curriculum for each age group
- Measures: Children should enjoy the project. Teachers should approve of the project.
- Qualifications:
- minimum age 18
- TB test and physical (if hours exceed 8 in a month)
- drug test within 30 days (if hours exceed 8 in a month)
- knowledge of skill that can be taught to small children.
- enjoy and relate well to children
- Timeframe: Lessons should last 30 minutes and be taught between 9:30am. and 11:30am. or 2:30pm and 4:30pm, Monday thru Friday. Volunteers are encouraged to present their topic to several classrooms at one time. Length of commitment will vary according to the project.
- Site: Childcare building
- Supervision: Preschool Director and Classroom Teacher
- Purpose: Expose children to stories from various cultures and historic periods while they develop listening skills.
- Results: Children will learn about a different culture or time.
- Suggested Activities:
- work with teachers on themes, stories, and presentations
- stories should be enjoyable and age appropriate
- Measures: Children should enjoy the story. Teachers should approve of the story.
- Qualifications:
- minimum age 18
- TB test and physical (if hours exceed 8 in a month)
- drug test within 30 days (if hours exceed 8 in a month)
- experienced in telling stories
- enjoy and relate well to young children
- Timeframe: Stories should last 30 minutes and be presented between 9:30am and 11:30am or 2:30pm and 4:30pm, Monday thru Friday. Volunteers are encouraged to read stories to several classrooms during one volunteer session.
- Site: Childcare building
- Supervision: Classroom Teacher
- Purpose: Help children appreciate the enjoyment that comes from music and dance while developing coordination, rhythm, and musicianship.
- Results: Children will be exposed to different forms of music and dance.
- Suggested Activities:
- make instruments from household materials
- teach children a particular style of music and/or dance
- work with teachers to develop age-appropriate lessons
- Measures: Children will enjoy the activity. Teachers will approve of the activity.
- Qualifications:
- minimum age 18
- TB test and physical (if hours exceed 8 in a month)
- drug test within 30 days (if hours exceed 8 in a month)
- knowledge of particular music or dance
- enjoy and relate well to children
- Timeframe: Lessons should last 20-30 minutes and be taught between 9:30am and 11:30am or 2:30pm and 4:30pm, Monday thru Friday. Volunteers are encouraged to instruct more than one classroom during each volunteer session.
- Site: Childcare building
- Supervision: Classroom Teacher
- Purpose: Stimulate thinking and interest by exposing children to a variety of art projects.
- Results: Children should feel satisfaction from a finished product.
- Suggested Activities:
- preparation and cleanup of activities
- work with teachers to develop projects
- Measures: Children will enjoy the activity. Teachers will approve of the activity. Appropriate areas will be used for messy projects and projects will be appropriate for age group.
- Qualifications:
- minimum age 18
- TB test and physical (if hours exceed 8 in a month)
- drug test within 30 days (if hours exceed 8 in a month)
- enjoy and relate well to children
- knowledge and enthusiasm for art
- Timeframe: Projects should last 30 minutes and be worked on between 9:30am and 11:30am or 2:30pm and 4:30pm, Monday thru Friday. Volunteers are encouraged to instruct more than one classroom during each volunteer session.
- Site: Childcare building
- Supervision: Classroom Teacher
Emergency Services Positions:
- Purpose: Keep the pantry well stocked, clean and organized.
- Results: Shelves will be well organized and bags of groceries will be ready for clients to pick up.
- Suggested Activities:
- weigh and log food donations
- sort donations of food
- stock pantry shelves as needed
- rotate stock to prevent spoilage
- sort & stock paper bags
- prepare sacks for distribution
- Clip labels and box tops
- assist in food donation pick-ups
- shop at the food bank
- clean freezers
- Measures: Work will meet the expectations of the supervisor.
- Qualifications:
- dependability
- simple math skills
- able to lift up to 40 lbs.
- Timeframe: minimum 2-3 hours per week during the hours of 8am-noon and 1pm-4pm, Monday thru Friday
- Site: MCUM Food Pantry
- Supervision: Emergency Services Coordinator
- Purpose: Purchase items at the Hoosier Hills Food Bank to keep pantry shelves stocked.
- Results: MCUM will have enough food for clients.
- Suggested Activities:
- read and follow Hoosier Hills Food Bank guidelines
- choose food from food bank that is needed for pantry
- load purchased food in van
- unload and stock items on the shelves
- record weights
- Measures: This job will be done to the standard expected by the supervisor.
- Qualifications:
- minimum age 18
- good driving record
- dependable
- able to lift up to 40 lbs regularly
- Timeframe: 2-3 hours during the Hoosier Hills Food Bank hours. The food bank is open Monday – Thursday 9:30am-noon.
- Site: MCUM Food Pantry and Hoosier Hills Food Bank
- Supervision: Emergency Services Coordinator
"Each One, Feed One" Food Drive Volunteer
The "Each One, Feed One" Food Drive is held each August at grocery stores across Monroe County. More than 250 volunteers are needed to staff this three-day drive that restocks our pantry shelves after the summer, a time of traditionally slow donations. Volunteers are primarily needed to collect donations at area grocery stores (store volunteers) and to coordinate store activities (store coordinators).
The 2011 "Each One, Feed One" Food Drive will be scheduled soon. At that time, updated information will be available here. If you or your group is interested in volunteering, contact Meri Reinhold, Executive Director, at (812) 339-3429.
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Monroe County United Ministries
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827 W. 14th Court, Bloomington, IN 47404
(812) 339-3429 | Fax: (812) 339-2912