Volunteers

Mentors are matched with a family who comes to therapy. The mentor plays in the Community Center while they wait for their time in therapy; or while their siblings and foster parents are in therapy. This is a purposeful time to establish a relationship to encourage, connect, and pour into child in a consistent way.

Time Commitment: Typically weekly at the time of the family’s scheduled therapy visit.

Requirements:

This volunteer position will require additional trauma training that is provided by Joy Meadows quarterly. The training provides tips and tools for connection, behaviors, and trauma terminology. Minimum age is 18.

*Hosts: Assist in Joy Meadows Community Center by greeting guest arriving for tours, therapy or the clothing closet. This is generally a weekly commitment at a designated time. Other administrative tasks might include writing thank you notes, light clean up, putting away supplies, or assisting families with Clothing Closet needs.

Time Commitment: Ongoing. Typically one shift a week such as 8:45am-Noon or Noon-4pm. Some substitute hostesses needed.

Time Commitment: seasonal

There are a few different volunteer needs!

*Committed Volunteers to serve weekly during the growing season.

*Casual Volunteer helping on scheduled Serve Days to help with cleanup, weeding, mulch, harvesting, etc.

*Lead Volunteer - a Community Garden Coordinator to plan, purchase materials and guide volunteers

We need handymen and women to help us with upkeep around Joy Meadows.

*Volunteers are needed to help with maintenance projects on the 3 homes on the property on an ongoing basis.

*Assist with projects on the property such as small building projects, repairs, landscaping, preparing facilities for camp and special events.

Time Commitment: Ongoing volunteers on a maintenance team. There are some opportunities for larger one-time projects.

Assist with ongoing needs during Joy Meadows events such as Second Saturdays or other special events for families and children. This may include supply preparation, event set up or clean up, or helping at a particular station during an event.

Time Commitment: Prior to specific events for prep work. Helping the day of events.

Collect, organize and maintain clothing items and space designated for the Clothing Closet. Help families get clothes they need, or pack a bag of clothing when an online request is received.

*Driving Team: In emergency situations, an email is sent to those who have opted in to be on the Driving Team. You can select the delivery if it fits within your schedule and geographic area to pick up and deliver the clothing.

Time Commitment: Opportunities vary from 1 day a month, driving and delivering as needed, or assisting at special events.

Receive weekly emails and updates and commit to pray consistently for Joy Meadows’ confidential needs including foster, adoptive families, staff, programming, therapists and more. Attend on-site prayer time that is once or twice a month. Prayer newsletter is also published every other month to the Prayer Team.

Time commitment: “Pray without ceasing” as the Bible says, and attendance at monthly prayer time. As the Spirit leads!

Time Commitment: busy seasons are March-May and September-November.

Assist with ongoing needs for Joy Meadows Fundraising Events (Ex: get donations and sponsors, put out marketing materials, mailers, organize t-shirts).

Assist with set up, clean up, or staffing various stations during a fundraising event (EX: the Joy Run and Vision Dinner).

Outdoor Adventure day camp is for foster and adoptive children.

2024 Camps:

Elementary 1: June 11-14, 9am-2pm

Elementary 2: June 18-21, 9am-2pm

K-1st 1: June 28, 9am-12:30 pm

Teen 1: July 9-12, 9am-3pm

Teen 2:July 16-19, 9am-3pm

K-1st 2: July 26, 9am-12:30 pm

Time commitment: During the day for one week of your summer!

*Camp Guide: These are our camp counselors. They lead the children from station to station throughout the week, build relationships, and help them have fun. We ask Camp Guides to commit to the full 4 days. They will oversee their group of 4-5 kids for the week.

Additional requirements and responsibilities can be provided upon request.

Animal Care

Feed, water, and care for animals as well as maintain animal stalls and pastures. Volunteers are put on the calendar to take a shift to help with animal care, or when special events or needs arise.

Time commitment: Weekly (some opportunities available less frequently)

Equine therapy a/k/a “hippo therapy” will be led by an Occupational Therapist. Additional support volunteers are needed with the OT for each session.

Horse Handler

A Horse Handler is a volunteer who is responsible for controlling and guiding a horse during a hippotherapy session. The Horse Handler must be 16+ and able to take direction from the instructor/therapist, allow the student to guide the horse when appropriate, and maintain control of the horse at all times. A Horse Handler may also be responsible for catching, grooming, warming up, and tacking the horse before a session, or assisting the client with grooming and tacking in some cases. After a session, a Horse Handler is also responsible for untacking and putting the horse away correctly, or assisting the client with doing so.

Time commitment: Weekly commitment at the same time weekly to assist with hippotherapy appointments, along with the side walker and OT who are all required for a session with a child.  

Side Walker

A Side Walker is a volunteer who is responsible for walking alongside the riders to ensure safety and help facilitate the hippotherapy session under the guidance of the instructor/therapist. Side walkers may be asked to demonstrate or help the riders with specific tasks; support or assist the rider physically; or facilitate games or activities as directed by the instructor/therapist. After a session, a Side Walker should follow instructions from the therapist (i.e. help remove ground poles or cones used in class from the riding area, remove manure, sanitize helmets used by clients, etc.). A Side Walker must be 16+.

Time commitment: Weekly commitment at the same time to help with a hippotherapy session team, along with the horse handler, and OT all required for a session with a child. 

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