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"My experiences with Sunday Friends, especially your example of generosity and caring,
have been endlessly useful and inspiring". - College Volunteer
What's the Schedule?
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TIME
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SCHEDULE |
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11:00
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Shift 1 volunteers arrive to help set up, sort donations and prepare the Treasure Chest. |
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12:00 - 3:00
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Families arrive. |
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12:30
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Art projects are set up. |
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1:00
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Shift 2 Volunteers arrive, sign in outside the cafeteria then join in on art and cooking projects inside the cafeteria. |
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1:45
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Writing Activities begin. |
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3:00
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Shift 3 volunteers arrive and sign in. |
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3:30 - 4:00
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The Shopping Guide Training takes place (ask about Group opportunities). |
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4:00
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Shopping begins and we transition from writing, art and cooking to educational games. |
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4:00 - ?
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Some volunteers engage children in educational games while others escort children and parents one-on-one to shop in the Treasure Chest. |
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6:30 - 7:00
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Volunteers leave when all families have had a chance to shop and everything has been cleaned up and put away, usually 6:30-7:00. |
What's the Shopping like?
The Treasure Chest is a special "store" that is filled with donated toys, basic necessities and other items. Every item has a price tag on it that displays its price in number of tickets (not dollars and cents).
Once the Shopping Guide training is complete, the shopping begins. The Shopping Guide Coordinator pairs each family member with a trained Shopping Guide and sends them off to collect tickets from the Bank. Next, each pair enters the Treasure Chest to shop. Most families leave the program (toting their bags full of purchases) after they have finished shopping. Shopping Guides return to the Coordinator after each round to be assigned the next shopper.
What do other volunteers do while the shopping is happening?
1. Some volunteers play Flash Card games or educational Board Games with children who are waiting for their turns to go shopping. These games give volunteers opportunities to show children that learning can be fun. They also give children opportunities to earn more tickets before they enter the store.
2. Other volunteers assist with the letter writing. Some translate letters from Spanish to English. Some help administratively, logging and sorting letters.
3. Other volunteers assist children with reading or manipulative educational toys and activity sheets.
4. A team of volunteers, family members and program leaders work together to tie up the program. They put away clothes, tables, chairs, game boards, etc. They load the vehicles that will leave the program. They may also engage children in picking up trash from the grounds (in exchange for tickets, of course).
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