Volunteer opportunities All programs offer free training and ongoing support.
For older adults
Experience Corps older adult (55+) volunteers work in elementary schools to help children succeed by tutoring, reading aloud, storytelling and writing activities. Volunteer as few as 2 hours a week or as many as 15 hours/week. Some stipends available. For information call (215) 204-8559.
Family Friends is an in-home support program in which older adults (55+) visit families that have children with disabilities and chronic illnesses. Volunteers visit families once a week for two hours. Receive an $8 stipend for each visit. Contact Nancy Hale Sills (215) 204-3193.
For youth
Project SHINE (Students Helping in the Naturalization of Elders) is a national program based at Temple university which recruits and trains college students to provide language, literacy, and citizenship tutoring for older adult (50+) immigrants and refugees. Students tutor between two and four hours each week in community organizations throughout Philadelphia. Work-study positions available. Contact Liz Hayden (215) 204-8570.
Time Out is a respite and in home support program in which area college students are recruited and trained to provide companionship and supervision to the frail elderly in Philadelphia in order to give caregivers a much needed break. Student participants have flexible schedules, gain experience in geriatrics, and earn $7.00 per hour. Contact: Susan Goldberg Smith at (215) 204-6540.