Volunteering at Crossroads…..Here’s why YOU should consider volunteering here, and how to get started.
BENEFITS
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!
COMMUNITY
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 college students, family members, and other members of the larger community who offer their time to benefit our program.
OPPORTUNITIES
There are several opportunities for volunteers, both in the classrooms and behind the scenes.
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 volunteers helping in the classrooms, supplying extra helping hands on a regular and ongoing basis.
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.
Volunteer Application Form
Volunteers follow an application process that starts with sending in a resume or sending the application form below to Vickir@crossroadcenter.org.
After the application is received:
1. Applicants are invited in for an interview where we talk about fitting your interests and our needs together.
2. Following that meeting, applicants provide 3 recommendation letters and complete several requirements, such as TB testing and a physical, fingerprinting and a background check.
3. Volunteers must also complete several training components to be placed with students.
* Volunteers will not be permitted to begin service until all required pieces are submitted and approved.
VOLUNTEERING/ INTERNING WITH STUDENTS
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.
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.
VOLUNTEERING BEHIND THE SCENES
Volunteers who are not interacting with students can also be a wonderful support at Crossroads. Your skills in 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 on this page.
Low student contact needs:
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.
Project Assistant – 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.