Needs From: United Way of Rock River Valley

Many kids who come to Rock House Kids live in areas prone to crime and other unsafe activities. Our drivers must be able and willing to pick up in inner-city areas and housing projects. We use large passenger vans to pick up and drop off kids each night.

You will need a current driver’s license to be one of our van drivers. A firm, influential approach is ideal.

As with our other Rock House Kids volunteers, our drivers share our vision of providing a safe place, in this case, transportation, while being a positive and godly role model for the children.

Drivers:

All Rock House Kids Volunteers:

A large part of our mission at Rock House Kids is to provide a safe place for inner-city kids. Security volunteers share in this mission and play a vital role in our evening programming.

Security Volunteers:

All Rock House Kids Volunteers:

Programming Info:

At the beginning of each evening program, we feed the kids a hot meal. Meals are often provided by an outside group, church, or individual.

Our Boulders (Teens) small groups are structured with volunteers who serve as Co-Leads (multiple leaders who share the lead responsibilities) and Assistants. The Co-Leads play a vital role at Rock House Kids.

Boulders Co-Leads:

·         Share a meal with the teens

·         Sit with the teens during chapel & the Bible lesson

·         Keep the teens engaged

·         Lead discussions in the small group setting, using the provided curriculum

·         Help the teens apply the Bible lesson to their lives

·         Create a safe and manageable small group environment

All Rock House Kids Volunteers:

·         Provide a consistent & strong presence for our kids

·         Build trust-based relationships

·         Demonstrate a strong faith walk

Programming Info:

·         The Teen Program runs from 5:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays

·         Boulders Mentors can choose either Tuesdays or Thursdays to volunteer.

·         Teaching experience is not required. 

Our Boulders (Teens) small groups are structured with volunteers who serve as Co-Leads (multiple leaders who share the lead responsibilities) and Assistants. The Assistants play a vital role at Rock House Kids.

Boulders Assistants:

·         Share a meal with the teens

·         Sit with and help the teens engage during chapel & the Bible lesson  

·         Participate in the small group setting

·         Help the teens apply the Bible lesson to their lives

·         Assist the Co-Leads with classroom management and engagement

All Rock House Kids Volunteers:

·         Provide a consistent & strong presence for our kids

·         Build trust-based relationships

·         Demonstrate a strong faith walk

Programming Info:

·         The Teen Program runs from 5:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays

·         Boulders Mentors can choose either Tuesdays or Thursdays to volunteer.

·         Teaching experience is not required. 

Rocks Station Leaders play a vital role at Rock House Kids by helping our program nights run smoothly.

Rocks Station Leaders:

·         Share a meal with the kids

·         Lead one of four stations: Bible Story, Scripture Memory, Craft, or Game using the provided curriculum.

o   Children are divided into small groups that rotate every 15 minutes through the four stations.

All Rock House Kids Volunteers:

·         Provide a consistent & strong presence for our kids

·         Build trust-based relationships

·         Demonstrate a strong faith walk

Programming Info:

·         Rocks, 3rd through 5th grade-grade program runs from 5:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays

·         Rocks Station leaders can choose either Mondays or Wednesdays to volunteer.

·         Teaching experience is not required.

Our Rocks small groups are structured with volunteers who serve as Co-Leads (multiple leaders who share the lead responsibilities). The Co-Leads play a vital role at Rock House Kids. environment.

Rocks Co-Leads:

·         Share a meal with the kids

·         Lead the children through four interactive activity stations: Bible Story, Memory Verse, Craft, and Game

·         Encourage and support the kids through each station

·         Lead the small group time

·         Keep the children engaged during chapel, small group, and activity stations

·         Create a safe and manageable classroom environment

All Rock House Kids Volunteers:

·         Provide a consistent & strong presence for our kids

·         Build trust-based relationships

·         Demonstrate a strong faith walk

Programming Info

·         Rocks, 3rd through 5th grade program runs from 5:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays. 

·         Rocks volunteers can choose either Mondays or Wednesdays to volunteer.

·         Teaching experience is not required.

Our Pebbles small groups are structured with volunteers who serve as Co-Leads (multiple leaders who share the lead responsibilities) and Assistants. The Co-Leads play a vital role at Rock House Kids.

Pebbles Co-Leads:

·         Share a meal with the kids

·         Introduce the Bible lesson through multimedia and other interactive activities

·         Lead the kids craft/other hands-on activities to help reinforce the Bible lesson

·         Keep the kids engaged during Bible lesson, chapel, and craft time

·         Create a safe and manageable classroom environment

All Rock House Kids Volunteers:

·         Provide a consistent & strong presence for our kids

·         Build trust-based relationships

·         Demonstrate a strong faith walk

Programming Info:

·         Pebbles, 1st through 2nd-grade program runs from 5:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays

·         Pebbles volunteers can choose either Mondays or Wednesdays to volunteer.

·         Teaching experience is not required. 

Assist our members during after-school or summer programming. Work alongside tutors to help our members with basic academic skills (literacy and mathematics). The Boys & Girls Club of Rockford provides area youth a building-centered program where they can go to feel safe and at the same time be exposed to positive, caring adult role models. Our clubs offer diverse program activities in three areas: Academic Success, Good Character and Leadership Development, and Healthy and Life Styles. Our motto "great futures start here" is a true representation of what we strive for at our clubs.

All individuals must complete a background check, in person onboarding, and complete a video safety module prior to volunteering. All volunteers must be 16 years or older.

Learn more about our clubs and apply to volunteer online at our website: https://www.rgreatfutures.org/s/volunteer-page 

The Winnebago County Health Department (WCHD) has partnered with the United Way to promote reading during early childhood. As part of this initiative the Winnebago County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) will have opportunities for MRC volunteers to read to children while they wait with their parents for their WIC appointment, a supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants, and Children.

Opportunities are for 1 hour shifts between: Mondays: 9AM-11AM & 1PM-4PM

                                                                                Tuesdays: 1PM-4PM

                                                                                Wednesdays: 9AM-11AM & 1PM-4PM (Late shift available 4:30PM-5:30PM                                                                                                             on the 1st & 3rd  Wednesday of the month)

                                                                                Thursdays: 10AM-11AM & 1PM-4PM

                                                                                Fridays: 9AM-11AM & 1PM-4PM

Note: WCHD is closed on federal holidays. 

Volunteers must pass a free background check and complete mandatory training before volunteering. To register with the Winnebago County MRC visit:

https://app.betterimpact.com/PublicOrganization/84418090-53c2-4828-978c-6e93b5ae8d37/1

When completing the application indicate that you are interested in the “Reach Out and Read Program.” Once your application has been approved the Winnebago County MRC coordinator will reach out to you with next steps.

We are expanding our opportunities for reading volunteers in area schools this fall! Reading volunteers help us raise the county's literacy rate by developing a meaningful relationship with a child, fostering a love of reading, and building the confidence children need to succeed in school. There are multiple ways to get involved throughout the school year: Volunteer as a 1st grade reading mentor, a kindergarten classroom helper, or play card/board games with elementary age kids over their lunch hour. Commit for the whole school year, or volunteer as your schedule allows. Typical time commitment is one hour per week; time of day will vary based upon school schedule. Upon signing up, you will be contacted by United Way for placement in the reading program that is the best fit for you.

Volunteer monitors a misc. food table (mostly produce) in our Choice area and helps select the appropriate items based on their family size and what we have available.  Our immediate need is for fill in volunteers at this position.

This role works with our Clients to get pet food.  Hours are 9 - 11am  Monday.  The volunteer must be able to handle larger packages of food and move them from shelves to front door in shopping carts.  Occasional help is needed to get food from cart into Client's vehicle. 

Occasional repackaging or bundling of pet foods, pet toys, etc.

Some light data entry work is required to keep records for Kibble Korner, a separate organization from Rock River Valley Pantry.  

Our most immediate need now is to have someone to fill in for our regularly scheduled volunteers on these mornings.  Please let us know if you would be available.

Volunteers may work in any number of teams, or individually, to prepare packaged and frozen goods for distribution later from either our main pantry at 421 South Rockton Ave or our satellite pantry at 1100 Broadway. Our immediate need is for fill in volunteers at this position.

Volunteer guides clients thru what they are able to take from a misc array of produce, canned & bottled condiments and other articles that might include clothing, umbrellas, etc.

Our immediate need is for volunteers to fill in for regulars when sick or vacationing.

Volunteer would assist staff in the pickup of donated goods, mostly food.  This role needs someone who can easily communicate comfortably with stores and businesses that are donating goods.  Often working behind the scenes in these businesses' store rooms, lockers, etc. and need to be aware of and must respect their policies.  Most immediate need is every Monday & every other Wednesday.  Ongoing need to fill in when volunteers can't make their shifts Monday thru Fridays.

Gardeners Needed at the Rock River Valley Pantry Vegetable Garden!  (please call or email first)

We are entering our 13th year at the pantry garden.  In 2012 a few Master Gardeners had an idea and created the 3000 plus square foot garden to serve the pantry clients. It is a demonstration garden so folks can see how things grow; a teaching garden where folks can learn how to grow their own veggies; and, of course, a giving garden as all produce is shared with clients.

The garden is organic. We catch rainwater from the roof to use, have big compost bins for discarded produce donated by supermarkets, use no pesticides, include milkweed plants for Monarchs and colorful zinnias for all of us!

Please consider helping out and, in turn, we love to share our gardening experience with others.   The clients visit the five day a week pantry from 1-4 so those are the hours we work.  The garden is watered Tuesday and Friday mornings.

Can you spare a few hours each month to help us out?  Nothing is more satisfying than to send visitors off with a bag full of fresh vegetables. Please contact Barbara Flores, Master Gardener, garden coordinator, at bafheartland@gmail.com or 815-289-8602 or contact Jim McFarlane,  RRVP Volunteer Coordinator at Jim.McFarlane@RRVP.org or 815-965-2466.

Come Help Us Garden!

Would you like to get your hands dirty while helping feed our neighbors?  Rock River Valley Pantry's (RRVP)'s garden at 1103 Broadway is looking for volunteers to help plant, tend, and harvest delicious vegetables to be shared with pantry clients at our Crusader site.

We work in the morning hours when the pantry is open to clients (and the summer sun is not so hot!)  In addition to taking our veggies into the pantry where they can be picked up during the food distribution, we often welcome clients into the garden where they enjoy seeing how their food grows.

We would love to have more volunteers join us.  No experience necessary!  If interested, please send an email to debokeson@gmail.com or jim.mcfarlane@rrvp.org. 

Helps clients unload food from grocery cart onto table outside building.

Our immediate need is for fill ins for week days.

Make a difference in our community by volunteering at our Emergency Food Pantry. Register and fill out a volunteer application here. Various 2-hour shifts are available. 

For any questions, call 815-972-1135.

The Family Peace Center is looking for individuals who love working with children to serve in our children's space during business hours (Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm) as well as select weekday evenings (5pm - 8pm) for wellness offerings such as support groups, journaling workshops, yoga classes, etc. offered to our clients. There are occasional Saturday morning opportunities as well.

We offer a variety of flexible volunteer opportunities. From helping us out at events, helping out in different departments such as textiles, collections, workshop, historic gardens, and more!

Be part of our team of volunteers that assists with our book distribution program as we aim to distribute over 100,000 books this year into our community! Put stickers on books, count and organize book inventory and donations, pack boxes, and help with other various office related tasks. Volunteer with a group or as an individual and get to know someone new!

Do you enjoy diving into historical research? Join the volunteer team at Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum as we deep dive into Rockford's history! Research volunteers work at their own pace on their own schedule to help the museum staff uncover history's mysteries. Research projects range from writing blog articles to helping shape the history of the Tinker family on our general admission tours or even helping with upcoming exhibit research.

Conduct tours of the historic Tinker Swiss Cottage.

 Help maintain the Victorian Rose Garden and other flowerbeds at Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum.

Enjoy working with your hands and making a difference? Share your expertise with Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum! Maintenance volunteers work at their own pace with their own schedule to help with small maintenance projects around the museum campus.

Host Families voluntarily take in children for short periods of time. They are screened and approved by our staff.

Please go to this website to learn more.

https://safe-families.org/involvement/host-family/

Volunteers brainstorm, develop, and implement a variety of events, programs, and fundraisers for the Ethnic Heritage Museum & Graham-Ginestra House. Some of the events include: