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Volunteering at Crossroads…..
Here’s why YOU should consider volunteering here, and how to get started.
Did you know that there are many scientifically proven benefits of volunteering?
It’s true! Benefits that include improved mental, emotional, and physical health make volunteering a great idea!
At Crossroads Center for Children, we recognize that volunteers are an integral part of connecting our school to the community. We are grateful for the many parents, grandparents, and community members who offer their time to benefit our program. Volunteers help in many capacities here, such as serving on the Board of Trustees, conducting and helping with our fundraising events, and working on a myriad of special projects. Additionally, we have some volunteers who are helping in the classrooms, supplying extra helping hands on a regular and ongoing basis.
There are several opportunities for volunteers, both in the classrooms and behind the scenes. In order to protect our body of students, staff and volunteers, we follow a structured process with our potential volunteers that adheres carefully to O.C.F.S. (New York State Office of Children and Family Services) and N.Y.S.E.D. (New York State Education Department) regulations, and helps us to develop a volunteer program that can best serve our students.
VOLUNTEERS CAN HELP WITH MANY THINGS HERE AT CROSSROADS. What if YOU shared your time and talents?
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We look for kind, reliable people who want to make a difference on an ongoing basis. Since the process of clearance takes some time, please get started now! Taking the first step is up to you. We look forward to hearing from you if you are interested in volunteering, whether you’d like to add extra hands to help in the classrooms, fundraising, or around the school with projects and organizing.
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VOLUNTEERING WITH STUDENTS
Volunteers who interact with students at Crossroads follow an application process that starts with sending in a resume or sending the application form below to Vickir@crossroadcenter.org. Applicants are invited in for an interview where we talk about fitting your interests and our needs together. Following that meeting, applicants provide 3 recommendation letters and complete several requirements, such as TB testing and a physical, fingerprinting and a background check. Volunteers must complete several training components in order to be placed with students. Volunteers will not be permitted to begin service until all required pieces are submitted and approved.
It might sound like a lot, but our children are worth every bit of effort!
High student contact volunteers:
Classroom helper– classroom – assist in supervision and implementation of classroom activities.
Lunch helper– classrooms – assist in supervision of lunches.
Mystery Reader – classroom – provide direct reading to student classes.
PE helper – gym or outside – assist in supervision and implementation of PE activities to student classes.
Art helper – classroom – assist in supervision and implementation of art/craft activities to student classes.
Music helper – classroom – assist in supervision and implementation of music activities to student classes.
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VOLUNTEERING BEHIND THE SCENES
Volunteers who are not interacting with students can also be a wonderful support at Crossroads. Your skills for technology, organizing, cleaning, making materials and even gardening and raking can be a blessing here if you have just a little time on an ongoing basis. The process for getting started is similar to the one above. Please send your resume or use the application form below. Complete and send it to Vickir@Crossroadcenter.org. You’ll come in for an interview and we’ll figure out together how to fit your interests with our needs. Depending upon the project of interest, you may need to provide paperwork requirements and fulfill training requirements. Volunteers will not be permitted to begin service until all required pieces are submitted and approved.
Low student contact
Mulch Maintainers – Help us keep our playground safe. Mulch needs to be raked weekly, and enhanced as needed.
Facilities helper – Help with projects around the school, such as putting up shelves and fixing things that break.
Prepper – for teachers, therapists, administrators, etc. – laminating, copying, cutting, shredding, materials set up, filing.
Clinic helper – help with cleaning toys, creating and organizing materials, making copies, laminating and cutting, in the clinic.
I.T. Assistant – assist with website maintenance, social media.
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Volunteer Application
