These volunteers spend time with the boys who live at the Sacramento Children’s Home. They play board games, read stories, play outside on playground, or shoot hoops with our residents. A volunteer may simply spend some quality one-on-one time with a child who needs extra attention. Above all, they are positive adult role models for the boys in our program and help fill a void in their lives. Residential Program volunteers must be at least 21 years old and successfully pass the application process and background check. We ask for a commitment of at least two hours per week for one year or 100 total hours.

Basic Volunteers: These volunteers assist staff at one of our two Crisis Nurseries. They might read a story to a child, help at meal time, wash dishes, fold the laundry, work on an enrichment project, or play outside with the children. Basic Volunteers interact with children ages zero to five and help provide them with a safe, nurturing and loving environment. Crisis Nursery Program Basic Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and successfully pass the application process and background check. We ask for a commitment of at least two hours per week for one year or 100 total hours.
Trained Volunteers: Volunteers who are interested in a deeper commitment to the Crisis Nursery Program are encouraged to consider becoming a Trained Volunteer. Like Basic Volunteers, the primary responsibility of a Trained Volunteer is to provide nurturing care to the children in one of our two Crisis Nurseries, ensuring their health and safety at all times, and attending to their basic needs. Additional responsibilities may include, but are not limited to: meal preparation, bathing, laundry, dishes, outdoor play, circle time, diaper changes, rocking, holding, and feeding. Trained Volunteers are counted in adult to child ratios required by our Crisis Nursery Program’s state license and are critical to the program’s sustainability and success. Trained Volunteers commit to at least one 4 hour shift per week for a minimum of 6 months and must complete 16 hours of training, plus CPR/First Aid. They are also required to pass a background check, fingerprinting, TB test, and a physical abilities test. Required training is provided by the Sacramento Children’s Home. Trained Volunteer shifts are on weekdays (M-F) from 7am – 11am, 11am – 3pm, 9am – 1pm, or 1pm – 5pm. Due to the nature of our licensing requirements, Trained Volunteer shifts are not flexible.

Administrative volunteers assist in various departments within the Sacramento Children’s Home. Put your particular set of skills to good use in the finance, accounting, philanthropy or human resource departments. Volunteers help with filing, data entry and other general administrative duties as needed. Knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel is preferred. Administrative Volunteers must be at least 21 years old and successfully pass the application process and background check. Shifts and administrative projects may vary by department, but we generally ask for a commitment of at least two hours per week for one year.

The Sacramento Children’s Home Crisis Nursery is the beneficiary of the annual Sacramento Century Challenge. The event, organized by the Rotary Club of Sacramento, includes four cycling challenges, from a 16-mile fun ride for all ages, to a 100-mile full century. Over 1,000 riders participated in the Challenge, which travels as far as Isleton. Volunteers make this event what it is. With your help, we can ensure the riders have a great time, get the water and bike support they need, and enjoy themselves so much at the post-ride festival they can’t wait to return the next year. This is a great opportunity to volunteer as a group, as a family, or individually.

Community Outreach: These volunteers represent the Sacramento Children’s Home at information fairs and other community events throughout the year. They may also be asked to speak to small or large groups about our organization and the many different ways to get involved. While we occasionally need community outreach volunteers on evenings and weekends, most outreach events are held during the work week. If you have some weekday availability, an outgoing personality, and a desire to spread the word about SCH, this is the volunteer position for you! Scheduling is flexible, and we’ll provide all the necessary training and materials. Community Outreach volunteers must be 18 or older, have reliable transportation, and be comfortable setting up booths or tables at community events.
Social Media Ambassadors: Always on Facebook? Love to Tweet? Post selfies to Instagram? #WeNeedYourHelp! Social Media Ambassadors actively follow the Sacramento Children’s Home on social media and help boost engagement by frequently liking, sharing, and commenting on our posts. These volunteers should have a strong local social media presence and be active on at least one of the following platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. Social Media Ambassadors must be comfortable sharing program updates, success stories, fundraising campaigns, and other related posts, and be excited to spread the word about the Sacramento Children’s Home to their friends. You can be a Social Media Ambassador anywhere, anytime, from any device!

Volunteers are a key component of every successful Sacramento Children’s Home event. Volunteers can fill many event roles, such as assisting with computer registration and check out, helping with set up and take down, selling raffle tickets, assisting with service or bartending, etc. No matter their role, every event volunteer is important and appreciated. For more information about upcoming events, visit our events page.

Help make the holidays happy and healthy for the children and families we serve. Each year, the Sacramento Children’s Home Holiday Giving Program gives community members the chance to donate gifts to fulfill children’s wishes, adopt families, or sponsor program holiday parties. Individual and group volunteers are needed each year at our Holiday Donation Site to assist with set-up and take-down, greeting donors, and accepting, sorting, and tracking donations.If you or your group is interested in volunteering at our Holiday Donation Site, fill out the Special Event Volunteer Sign-Up Form , and we’ll contact you to discuss options.

The Sacramento Children’s Home welcomes groups from local businesses and community organizations to undertake service projects that support the mission of the Sacramento Children’s Home. Groups may donate their time to help complete a project at the Sacramento Children’s Home main campus, or at one Family Resource Centers or Crisis Nurseries in the community. Opportunities may include:

• Helping with a beautification project like groundskeeping, gardening, or painting.
• Volunteering at a program or fundraising event.
• Volunteering at our holiday donation site.
• Other projects as needed.