Volunteer!
 

Volunteers are needed for HCPP’s new site at Northwest Church Family Network! Please email Meg Newman at meg.hcpp@gmail.com if you are interested in making a commitment to serving children through our program.

Concerned community members who have experience with children and an interest in social justice are encouraged to apply to volunteer with HCPP. Consistency and trust is often lacking in the lives of children who are homeless, so interested volunteers should be prepared to make a weekly or biweekly commitment to playtime. Volunteers are also required to undergo a background check and attend a training session which lasts about 3 hours and occurs on a quarterly basis throughout the year.

In return, this position offers an exciting opportunity to build meaningful relationships with children, become immersed in the community, and get involved in advocacy work around issues effecting homeless families in the District. If you are interested in becoming a regular volunteer with HCPP please email the Program Coordinator, Meg Newman at: meg.hcpp@gmail.com for more information. You will be asked to fill out an application, agree to a background check, sign a waiver of liability, and study our volunteer training packet. For more info about each of our five service opportunities, click here.

IMPORTANT: Please do not show up at any of our site locations without prior approval from our Program Coordinator or Site Coordinators. The privacy of shelter residents and program rules must be respected. Thank you for your cooperation!

 

Turning Point Transitional Housing Program
*please note: we are only taking wait list requests for this site right now due to an overwhelming volunteer response*
Monday & Thursday 6/6:30 – 8:30 pm
Columbia Heights Metro to 1434 Harvard Street NW
This is a transitional housing program designed for young mothers who receive a range of services. Volunteers play with children while mothers attend “Life Skills” classes.

DC General Hypothermia Shelter
Tuesday 6:30 – 8:30 pm - starting December 11
Stadium Armory Metro to 1900 Massachusetts Ave. SE
This abandoned hospital has been renovated to house 100 families as an emergency shelter during hypothermia season. HCPP has been given an empty room to fill with toys and use for playtime. Volunteers will play with children of all ages.

Northwest Family Church Network
Wednesday 6-8 pm - starting early January
Convention Center Metro (10 min walk from Gallery Place) to 216 NY Ave. NW
This is a transitional housing program for parents who are homeless and/or living with HIV/AIDS. There are about 60 children living in the building and NCFN recently lost it’s funding to provide children’s programs. Volunteers will play with children of all ages both inside a large area with ideal art spaces as well as outside when appropriate.

Hope Apartments
Saturday 11 am – 1 pm - starting Dec 1
Far Southeast, Volunteers will carpool from downtown DC to 3715 2nd Street SE
This is a transitional housing program designed for parents in recovery from substance abuse to live with their children which is one of very few programs of this kind in the city. Volunteers will play with small groups of mostly elementary-age children in bright cheerful play spaces as well as outside.


PLAYTIME LEADERS NEEDED
Interested in making a more substantial commitment to the lives of homeless children? Gaining valuable leadership and child development skills? Building the infrastructure of a young nonprofit organization? Utilizing skills working with children? HCPP seeks individuals who are interested in designing creative play activities; recruiting, training and managing volunteers; contributing to special event planning; etc. Please email Meg at: meg.hcpp@gmail.com for more information about leadership opportunities and an application for selection.

Basic Volunteer Information for all Sites:

Leadership: Previous DC Village site leaders have been divided among the various sites. Volunteer recruitment and initial management will be done centrally by Meg Newman. Each site will then be led by a Site Coordinator who will organize and manage volunteers and communicate with the organization host. These Site Coordinators are all former Day Leaders from DC Village for the time being, but we are looking for new leaders across the board, so please email Meg and/or speak with your Site Coordinator if you are interested in pursuing a leadership role.

Time: Since consistency is so important in the lives of children who are homeless, we are asking volunteers to try to commit to coming each week to playtime, but understand that conflicts do arise. Please indicate any major scheduling restrictions (ie: travel frequently for work, conflict every other week, etc) in your response email.

Training: There will be a training for new volunteers from all sites in January 2008. More information forthcoming, but the training will be mandatory.

Background Checks: All volunteers who have not had a background check will be required to do so before volunteering at a new site. More information will come from your Site Coordinator once you sign up for a new site.
 

Contribute your skills
HCPP is always in need of assistance of professionals in a variety of areas to help our program grow within a limited budget including: child development, website development, photography, grant writing and fundraising and the list goes on! The children also benefit from those who are willing to share their skills such as: art, music, dance, sports, literacy – even juggling!

Attend an Event
HCPP’s first fundraising event in May 2006 featured Valerie Plame Wilson.  Our November 2007 event featured the unveiling of the Family Portrait Project.  Stay tuned for what 2008 will bring!

Join our Mailing List
If you would like to join our weekly electronic newsletter, please email playtimeproject@gmail.com.