Upcoming 2010 Events for Volunteers:
Thursday, July 15th- Volunteer information session at Family Resources Community Action at 3pm, 245 Main Street, Woonocket (3rd floor conference room). Come and learn about the various volunteer opportunities available to support the agency. Contact Elena Marchand at 401-235-6083 or email emarchand@famresri.org to RSVP.
Every Saturday from 8am-Noon- Join in at the GrowUp Community garden and lend a hand. This is an open work session for volunteers and a great way to get involved with your local community. Our community garden is located adjacent to the Woonsocket Harris Public Library on Clinton Street in Woonsocket.
Our 22nd Annual ShelterWalk to benefit the Woonsocket Shelter will be held on Saturday, October 16th, 2010. Interested in walking or forming a team? Please contact Elena at emarchand@famresri.org or call 401-235-6083. Interested in helping out on the planning committee? Our next meeting is Wednesday, July 14th at 4:30pm at FRCA, 245 Main Street. Call or email Elena to RSVP.
The holiday season, yes the holiday season, will be here before you know it. We are currently recruiting volunteer bell ringers for our 2010 Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign. If interested in this feel good volunteer opportunity that will really get you connected to the spirit of the season please contact Elena. Volunteers typically ring the bell for a two hour shift of their choosing.
Family Resources Community Action administers the application process for the Adopt a Family Holiday Program for families with children in need living in Woonsocket. We process over 1200 applications a year for this program and are looking for volunteers willing to get trained on the application process and are able to commit to a set schedule during the application period. An ideal candidate would be able to volunteer for one 2-3 hour shift once a week from September-early November.
Click here for a current overview of specific volunteer opportunities.
FRCA assists over 1,000 low income individuals with income tax preparation each year, helping those who qualify to secure Earned Income Tax Credits. Volunteers are needed to help clients with intake paperwork and copy tax forms. IRS-certified Volunteers are also needed to help prepare clients’ income taxes.
For more information, contact Elena Marchand at emarchand@famresri.org or 401.235.6083.
FRCA teams up with The Salvation Army each holiday season to raise funds to assist low income residents of Woonsocket and North Smithfield with basic needs. Volunteers are needed to help raise awareness and funds by ringing the bells at selected store locations in Woonsocket & North Smithfield.
Kettle Campaign volunteers are needed daily from the week of Thanksgiving til Christmas eve. Volunteer shifts are two hours long and fall between the hours of 10am & 8pm. We collect names of interested volunteers all year long and will start organizing and filling slots mid fall.
Volunteers are also needed to assist with Adopt-A-Family Applications and other holiday programs that provide gifts to eligible low-income families.
For more information about Holiday Program Volunteer Opportunities, contact Elena Marchand at 401- 235-6083 or emarchand@famresri.org
Our annual Golf Tournament and ShelterWalk events help support the Woonsocket Shelter and homelessness prevention programs. Volunteers are needed to help solicit sponsors and raffle items, recruit golfers and walkers, and participate and/or assist the day of the events.
We welcome teams of family members, friends, co-workers, classmates, church groups and neighbors to participate in ShelterWalk and host a yard sale or toiletry/linen drive to provide families leaving the shelter with needed items. Any and all ideas are welcome!
The FRCA Annual ShelterWalk is held the third Saturday of October in Woonsocket. This year's ShelterWalk will be held on Saturday, October 16th, 2010. Click here for the registration form. Click here for more information about the Woonsocket Shelter and Transitional & Permanent Supportive Housing Programs.
For more information, contact Elena Marchand at 401-235-6083 or emarchand@famresri.org
Agape Center volunteers are needed to assist with meal preparation and clean-up, food distribution, stocking of shelves and distribution of personal care products. Click here to learn more about the Agape Center.
Volunteers are also encouraged to participate in the AIDS Walk to raise awareness about the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS. The Agape Center Team participates in the annual AIDS Walk sponsored by AIDS Project Rhode Island. Proceeds raised by the Agape Team go to support Agape's programs and services. For more information about joining the Agape Team contact Sue Jarosz at sjarosz@famresri.org or 235-6003.
We have a constant need for volunteers in our Family Support Center to help with food/commodities distribution, organize food drives to help supplement resources and assist with the food coop on Saturdays.
Childcare Providers
Throughout the year FRCA hosts several evening training and meeting opportunities for the families we serve. On evenings that we host events we also offer free child care. We are currently looking to screen and train a pool of volunteers to provide childcare. We offer an 8 week parenting class that runs 4 times per year (Wednesdays 5-7pm); a School Succes Coalition meeting that is held on the fourth Thursday of the month from 4:30-6:30; a family support meeting that is held on the third Wednesday of the month from 5-7pm; and foster parent training that is held on the third Thursday of the month. BCI and CANTS checks will be required.
We provide internships for individuals at the associates, bachelor's and graduate level who are in training to become professional human service providers. Internships can focus on direct service and advocacy as well as working within community and administrative systems. FRCA has provided internship placements for colleges throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts including Rhode Island College, Providence College and the Community College of Rhode Island.
Due to the scope of service at Family Resources Community Action, internships can generally be customized to address the needs of students. Agency staff with the requisite expertise and credentials provides regular supervision, oversight and liaison with field advisors from the student's school. Students may also take advantage of training provided at FRCA and every effort is made to integrate interns into the program teams in which they are working. For more information about internships at FRCA contact Steve Johnson, HR Director at 401-235-6058 or sjohnson@famresri.org