Volunteer to Help Joy Meadows Support Foster Families in Kansas City
Not everyone is called to be a foster parent—but everyone can make a difference in a child's life.
At Joy Meadows, volunteers are the heartbeat of our mission. From serving meals to mentoring children to organizing the Clothing Closet, our volunteers provide the wrap-around support that helps foster families thrive. Whether you have a few hours a month or want to make an ongoing commitment, there's a place for you here.
We serve foster, adoptive, and kinship families across Kansas and Missouri from our 26-acre campus in Linwood, Kansas—just 30 minutes from downtown Kansas City. Our volunteers come from Johnson County, Wyandotte County, Leavenworth County, and throughout the KC metro area.
How to Become a Joy Meadows Volunteer:
For Individuals
Getting started is simple:
Complete a New Volunteer Application
Includes two reference checks
Background screening required
Attend New Volunteer Orientation
Available virtually or in-person
Learn about trauma-informed care and Joy Meadows programs
Connect with Our Team
Joy Meadows Staff will help match you with the right opportunity
For Groups & Organizations
Churches, businesses, and community groups are welcome to serve together:
Complete the Group Volunteer Application
Schedule Your Serve Day
Work with Joy Meadows Staff
We'll match your group size and skills with available projects
Complete Liability Waivers
Each participant signs a waiver before serving
Find Your Best Fit
Serve weekly
Mentors, hosting/admin support, prayer team, ongoing maintenance or garden help
Serve seasonally
Summer camps, events, larger projects, property and trail work
Serve one time
A serve day, donation drive support, special event setup/tear down
If you’re not sure where you fit, start the application and we’ll help you choose a role.
Ways to Volunteer at Joy Meadows
There are many ways to get involved—choose what fits your schedule, skills, and passion.
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Commitment: One-time or ongoing | Time: Half-day or full-day projects | Best for: Groups, corporate teams, handy individuals
Our 26-acre campus in Linwood requires ongoing maintenance to stay beautiful and functional for the families we serve. Property volunteers help with everything from gardening to building projects.
What property volunteers do:
Garden and orchard maintenance (weekly volunteer days available)
Painting and facility upkeep
Trail maintenance and landscaping
Special building or repair projects
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Commitment: Seasonal | Time: Full days during camp weeks | Best for: Energetic individuals, college students, youth leaders
Our Summer Camps give foster and adoptive children the chance to explore, play, and grow in a trauma-informed environment. Volunteers are essential to keeping camper-to-adult ratios low and creating meaningful connections.
What camp volunteers do:
Lead small groups of campers
Facilitate outdoor activities (hiking, kayaking, gardening)
Provide encouragement and supervision
Help with meals and logistics
View all summer programs →
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Commitment: Ongoing or seasonal | Time: Varies | Best for: Animal lovers, those with equine experience
Our Animal Programs provide hands-on healing experiences for foster and adoptive children. Through interactions with horses, goats, chickens, and other animals, kids build trust, regulate emotions, and develop confidence.
What animal program volunteers do:
Assist with equine therapy sessions
Help children groom and care for animals
Maintain animal areas and equipment
Support therapeutic riding activities
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Commitment: Flexible | Time: 2-3 hours per shift | Best for: Individuals who enjoy organizing, welcoming families
The Clothing Closet is a free resource stocked with clothing, shoes, baby gear, and seasonal essentials. Children entering foster care often arrive with little to nothing—our Clothing Closet ensures they have what they need to feel comfortable and confident.
What Clothing Closet volunteers do:
Sort and organize donated items
Help families shop in a welcoming environment
Restock shelves and maintain inventory
Assist during special distribution events
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Commitment: Weekly | Time: 2-3 hours during therapy hours | Best for: Patient, caring individuals
The Therapy Center at Joy Meadows provides trauma-informed counseling for foster and adoptive children. Our Family Mentors engage with children in the waiting area while their siblings are in session—offering a fun, caring environment so no child has to wait alone.
What Family Mentors do:
Play games and do activities with waiting children
Provide a calm, supportive presence
Help children feel comfortable and safe
Allow parents to focus during sessions
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Commitment: Ongoing | Time: 2-4 hours/month | Best for: Individuals, small groups, church teams
Care Communities are small groups of 4-8 volunteers who wrap around a single foster family, providing consistent, personalized support. This is our most transformative volunteer opportunity.
What Care Community volunteers do:
Provide meals during difficult weeks
Help with transportation to appointments or visits
Offer tutoring or homework help
Complete "honey-do" tasks around the house
Give encouragement and friendship
Care Communities coordinate via group text or email, making it easy to fit into busy schedules. When families are supported, children experience greater stability, healing, and hope.
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Commitment: One-time | Time: Varies by event | Best for: Anyone wanting to try volunteering
Throughout the year, Joy Meadows hosts special events that need volunteer support. This is a great way to get started if you're not ready for an ongoing commitment.
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
What Volunteers have to say:
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![Joy Meadows volunteer sharing their experience serving families in foster care]()
"Volunteering at JM reminds me how much the Lord delights in each and every person. Zephaniah 3:17. My heart breaks when I see [one of the foster children] come every week and his face reflects such incredibly deep sadness & despair. I pray every week, "Lord bring a smile—even a little one—to his face and some light to his eye. Lord, please take away his deep, deep despair and replace it with Your joy."
Gaylene VanHorn
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![Volunteers helping during a Joy Meadows community event]()
Serving as a volunteer is one way I can help provide something that gives others the opportunity to enjoy a carefree life experience, whenever they visit Joy Meadows
Jim Slightom
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![Volunteer portrait at Joy Meadows foster care community]()
To love on kids, to play with kids, to just listen to them and enjoy time interacting with them is a blessing that any ministry can hardly give back like working with foster kids can!... Being a part of this Joy Meadows Family brings me joy.
Barb Gunkler
Why Volunteer with a Foster Care Community?
On any given day, thousands of children in Kansas and Missouri are in foster care—removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, or family crisis. These children need stability, healing, and joy. The families who care for them need community support to keep going.
When you volunteer at Joy Meadows, you become part of something bigger:
You help prevent foster parent burnout. Foster families who feel supported stay in the system longer—providing stability for more children.
You create moments of joy. A child who has experienced trauma deserves to just be a kid—playing, laughing, and feeling safe.
You show up for families in crisis. Your time and presence tell foster families: "You're not alone in this."
In 2025 alone, Joy Meadows volunteers contributed over 5,000 hours of service, helping us serve 900+ children through our programs.
FAQs
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No prior experience is required for most volunteer roles. All volunteers complete an orientation that covers trauma-informed care basics and Joy Meadows programs. We equip you with what you need to serve well.
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It depends on the role:
Second Saturday: 3-4 hours once a month
Care Communities: 2-4 hours per month (flexible, coordinated with your team)
Clothing Closet: 2-3 hour shifts as available
Summer Camps: Full days during camp weeks
Event volunteers: Varies by event
We have opportunities for every schedule.
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Yes. All individual volunteers complete an application with two reference checks and undergo background screening. This protects the children and families we serve.
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Individual volunteers must be 18 or older. Youth under 18 can volunteer alongside a parent/guardian or through organized youth group activities coordinated with our team.
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Absolutely! Corporate groups, church teams, scout troops, and community organizations are welcome. We'll work with you to schedule a serve day and match your group with meaningful projects. Complete the Group Volunteer Application to get started.
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One-time volunteers are always welcome! Special events, serve days, and seasonal drives are perfect for trying out volunteering without an ongoing commitment. Check our events calendar for upcoming opportunities.
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Yes! We accept donations of clothing, household items, and financial gifts. You can also host a donation drive in your community or workplace.
Ready to Make a Difference?
Every child in foster care deserves stability, healing, and joy. Every foster family deserves a community that shows up for them.