Boiler Volunteer Network

Kids

The majority of the information on this page came from the Volunteer Opportunities at-a-Glance booklet put out by the United Way of Greater Lafayette Volunteer Center . If you would like to be included in our catalog, email us at bvn@purdue.edu or call us at (765) 496-2450. For bus schedules, go to the gocitybus.com site.

Kids/Youth

Big Brothers/Big Sisters
3805 Fortune Dr., Suite 2, Lafayette, IN 47905 - 765.446.2227
email: info@bbbslaf.com
Give your time and energy to a child who needs a positive influence in his/her life. Volunteers must be over 19 and able to spend from 40 min to 4 hours a week with a child for one year. School-Based Mentoring (Bigs in School) - volunteer mentors are matched one-to-one with a child in grades one through five at Miller, Glen Acres, Miami, or Murdock elementary schools, as well as Sunnyside Middle School, and Tecumseh Junior High School. Matches meet once per week at the school during the lunch period (40 min) with a focus on building friendship. Community Program - a big brother, big sister, or big couple spend 2 - 4 hours per week with a child doing various activities - going on a picnic, watching a movie, taking a walk. To be eligible, couples must be married for at least 2 years. Faith Partners - nonviolent juvenile offenders will be matched with either individuals or couples from a local faith community. Faith Connection - children between the ages of 6 and 14, whose parents request a mentoring relationship with a faith focus, are matched with individuals or couples from a faith community. Spanish speaking adults are needed to help with communications between staff, parents, and youth participants.

Book Cycle
6142 Gallegos Dr., West Lafayette, IN 47906 - 765.567.4088
Help enhance early childhood literacy. Book Cycle provides a book-exchange for preschoolers and primary-school age children and their families. The books belong to the participants and ownership in one book may be exchanged for ownership in another book. This is a preventative program, an activity outside of school that instills a love of reading and learning at an early age. Volunteers are needed to be liaisons between the Book Cycle coordinator and the contact people at the exchange sites (sites are located at all Head Start locations and all Tippecanoe Child Care facilities). Volunteers check monthly to remind site about data collection, to inquire about needed supplies, and to deliver and pick-up books and supplies. Volunteer are also needed to help with weekly book exchange. Volunteers can also help with book purchases, computer skills (data collection), and /or design of print materials. You can volunteer weekly, monthly, or several times a year. Contact Colleen Reader, Book Cycle Coordinator.

Bauer Family Resources
330 Fountain Street, Lafayette, IN 47901 - 765.742.5046
Volunteer in the Youth Development Program. Youth Underground is a free drop-in program for ages 5 - 18. Volunteers assist with homework, play sports and games, coach/referee sports, help teens develop their communication and work skills, and generally act as a positive role model.

Counseling Center (Bauer Family Resources)
100 Sawmill Rd., Ste. 3200, Lafayette, IN 47905 - 765.742.4848
Volunteers are needed to help with childcare while parents are in counseling.

Cary Home for Children
1530 S. 18th St., Lafayette, IN 47905 - 765.474.4616
Volunteer to be part of "Friends of Cary" and help create a fundraiser for the kids. Attend one meeting a month and get involved with the fun and festivities. If you have individual time or talent to share with an adolescent, contact the Executive Director. Teach him/her a craft, hobby, etc.

Girl Scouts of Sycamore Council
615 N 18th St. Suite 203, Lafayette, IN 47905 - 765.449.4009
email: GirlScouts@sycamorecouncil.org
Volunteers are needed to work directly with girls to plan and carry out the program as Troop or Assistant Troop Leaders. You can also help develop and facilitate workshops for the girl scouts or be a resource center volunteer. Volunteers must be 18 years or older.

Group Homes for Children
3307 Longlois Dr., Lafayette, IN 47904 - 765.447.7410
Become a Town Pal and mentor a child. Help him or her develop self-esteem. volunteers must be at least 21 years old and pass a criminal history check. A valid drivers license is also required. Training is provided.

Hanna Center
1201 N. 18th St., Lafayette, IN 47904 - 765.742.0190
Volunteer to assist with the after school program from 3 to 6 pm. Help with snacks, tutoring, games, arts and crafts, sports, etc.

Head Start
3600 Eisenhower Rd., Lafayette, IN 47905 - 765.449.0487
Assist teachers with children 3 to 4 year olds in the classroom. Volunteers can help with classroom preparation, set-up and clean-up at mealtimes, preparing bulletin boards, and playing games with the children. Volunteers can also assist in the classroom by reading stories, supervising the children, serving food, and/or participating in music, art, or drama activities (including developing art and/or puppet shows).

Kids First
2300 Cason St., Lafayette, IN 47904 - 765.409.2148
email: tippkidsfirst@aol.com
Volunteers are needed to perform interactive puppet shows for youngsters ages 5 - 12. Most of the shows promote acceptance of individuals with special needs. One show deals with bullying, and another deals with teasing. An 8-hour training is required and can be arranged to suit the volunteer's schedule. Most performances take place Monday - Friday between 9 ma and 3 pm, during the school year. Some performances are held for after-school programs and/or during the summer. Volunteers must be high school age or older. Scripts are 8 - 10 minutes long (3 - 5 pages) and must be memorized. volunteers must be able to interact well with children and be physically able to manipulate the puppets and perform the shows.

Lafayette Urban Ministry
420 North 4th Street, Lafayette, IN 47901 - 765.423.2691
email: lum@lafayetteurbanministry.org
Volunteers are needed to work in the after-school program by helping children with homework, activities, arts and crafts, etc. Also, volunteers can help the program by driving a van for or participating in field trips.

Lyn Treece Boys & Girls Club
1529 N. 10th St., Lafayette, IN 47904 - 765.429-6734
email: mail@bgclub.lafayette.in.us
Volunteers are needed to assist with homework from 3 pm - 4:30 pm, Monday - Friday. Other opportunities include: facilitating drug awareness/prevention classes, facilitating self-esteem groups for girls, helping with sports clubs, teaching computer technology programs, teaching dance, and helping with other groups. Anyone with a specific talent is welcome to share.

McAllister Recreation Center
1915 Scott St., Lafayette, IN 47904 - 765.807.1360
Provide recreational programming, maintain sports field for youth activities, or help decide on costuming for the Summer Theater. Also, host a holiday party for pre-school children.

Mourning & Dancing
500 N 6th st., Lafayette, IN 47901 - 765.420.1739
Become a facilitator or a buddy with the annual Trails of Hope Camp (held at Camp Tecumseh). Volunteers must like working with children, be at least 18 years old, and be able to stay at the camp for the entire weekend. Training is provided.

Murdock Elementary After-School Program
2100 Cason Street, Lafayette, IN 47904 - (765)771-6120
The after-school program matches children in grades 1 through 5 one-to-one with a volunteer. Matches meet for 1.5 hours each week, between the hours of 2:45 pm and 5:15 pm. Volunteers work one-to-one or in a small group to help the child with homework, reading, playing games, and building friendship.

New Community School
710 North St., Lafayette, IN 47901 - 765.420.9617
Volunteer opportunities include: Lunch-time volunteers arrive at 11:30 am and stay until 1:00 pm, any day the school is in session. Duties include: setting-up and taking-down the tables and chairs, supervising the children (with the support of 2 staff members), trash removal, and vacuuming the lunch room. Volunteers must be at least 21 years of age, be tolerant of high noise levels, and be able to perform repetitive lifting. Reading volunteers are needed from 9:30 am - 2:30 pm, any weekday that school is in session, to read approved stories to children in grades k - 7. Must be at least 18 years old, work well with children, and be enthusiastic about literature. Arts and crafts volunteers are needed any weekday school is in session from 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm. Volunteers will work with the after school staff to provide games, crafts, and other activities for children k - 7. Must be at least 18 years old and work well with children. All volunteers must have a background check.

Ready to Read
LSC 2300 Cason, West Lafayette, IN 47904 - 765.771.6000
Ready to Read is a literacy program for pre-school children. Volunteers help children 3 - 6 years old learn to read. Volunteers read at local preschools for an hour on weekday mornings. Volunteers can commit to helping once a month, once a week, or more often. By using simple techniques volunteers help the children become actively involved in the reading experience. The children develop their vocabulary and other important reading skills. Training and support is provided.

Salvation Army
1110 Union St., Lafayette, IN 47904 - 765.742.0006
The youth group needs help with activities and basic "crowd control" of young energetic kids on Tuesday evenings form 5:30-7:30. Tutors are also needed to help with the "Homework Club" which meets weekly during the school year.

Tippecanoe County Childcare
100 Sawmill Road Suite 1200., Lafayette, IN 47904 - 765.742.4033
Work with pre-school or school aged children by reading to them, supervising arts & crafts, helping with special events, parties, or bus supervision. You can also help with sanitizing toys, tables, chairs, etc.

Therapeion Therapeutic Riding Center
11030 South 200 West, Brookston, IN 47923
(765) 414-8066
email: therapeion@yahoo.com
Volunteers can help provide equine assisted therapy to children with disabilities, at-risk youth, and children dealing with mental health issues. Volunteers will work directly with the children during classes, acting as the horse handler. They may also groom and exercise the horses; perform barn chores; help with landscaping and gardening; serve on committees; and plan and/help with special events. Training is provided. No previous experience is required. Groups are welcomed. All volunteers working directly with children must be at least 18 years old.

YWCA
605 N. 6th St., Lafayette, IN 47901 - 765.742.0075
Assist with the Stay and Play childcare, the summer or school break camps, preschool, or the youth basketball league. Also, volunteers are needed to provide entertainment, teach arts & crafts, tutor children or sponsor a holiday party.