Topics in this section: Volunteer Opportunities | Spring 2008 Volunteer Opportunities





Share Your Heart: Become a Heart to Heart Volunteer

Make a Difference in your community by volunteering. Share your skills and talents and help countless families in Hillsborough County get the services and help they need. There are volunteer opportunities available for adults and teens.

Volunteer Opportunities

Community Childcare Centers

Our community childcare centers serve approximately 180 children, ages infant to 12 years, in the Palm River and Clair-Mel areas. Weekday volunteers are needed to enrich the lives of these children in various ways. We have infants and toddlers who need to be rocked, hugged and played with. Our pre-school children love to be read to, individually or in small groups, as well as enjoy play interaction. The after-school age children need tutoring, individualized attention developing a “buddy” relationship, team sport interaction and someone to provide special creative activity projects.

Rainbow Family Learning Centers

These specialized, therapeutic childcare centers for abused and neglected children ages 5 and under need special, caring volunteers in the morning to rock, hug and play with the infants and toddlers. Reading, creative activities and play interaction are also needed with the pre-school children. The Rainbow centers are located in South Tampa, Plant City and Ruskin.

Visitation Program

A program that works with Hillsborough Kids, Inc. to provide monitors to facilitate court ordered supervised visitation between parents and their children. Volunteers are needed to help monitor these supervised visits each week. Visits occur Monday through Thursday at the Hillsborough Kids Inc. Town n’ Country and Temple Terrace locations. The two-hour sessions take place in the mornings and afternoons. Volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of three months to facilitate visitations on a weekly or bi-weekly schedule depending on the family. Volunteers are also required to attend two-day training and submit to a background check.

Baby Bungalow

This comprehensive early childhood resource center for children ages 0 to 5 needs volunteers to hug, rock and play with infants and toddlers during daytime parent workshops at Baby Bungalow’s main location in South Tampa. Volunteer support is also needed on Monday mornings to help with WeeFit registration in South Tampa. Volunteers are also needed to help maintain and organize children’s playthings and help staff members with bulk mailings and clerical work.

FRANC (Fathers Resource & Networking Center)

The FRANC program offers resources and support to all fathers and father figures to help dads be the best father they can be. Volunteers are needed during weekday hours to perform a wide range of clerical activities, including data entry and confirming appointments.

Breakaway

Breakaway is a developmental childcare center for infants and toddlers affected by substance abuse. The children’s parents are enrolled in DACCO’s drug abuse rehabilitation program and are required to attend Breakaway for parenting instruction. Located in Temple Terrace, Breakaway needs morning volunteers to rock infants, play with and read to toddlers and help staff with activities. During summer months, volunteers are needed during the week to engage children through play, storytelling and outside activities.

You Rock! Youth Volunteer Program

Teens ages 13-17 years are encouraged to volunteer and get involved in their community. Teens can volunteer at our commercial childcare centers, the main office, or during special events. Each year one teen is awarded the You Rock! Youth in Philanthropy Award for the efforts during the year.

Administrative and Office Support

Volunteers are always needed at the South Tampa office to perform clerical duties such as data input, filing, answering phones and preparing large mailings. Other volunteer opportunities are available for individuals & groups

Our individual programs often have special activities throughout the year that offer hands-on volunteer opportunities. We have special events for our families that require volunteer support year round.

If your company, civic association or school is interested in a one-day group volunteer activity, please call Maria Lewis at 813-673-4646, Ext. 244.