get involved

How You Can Help:

GET INVOLVED

Clear off your shelves and donate books, CD’s and DVD’s to MTW

Buy your books at MTW

Apply to be a weekly volunteer at the bookstore

Hold a meeting or book group at MTW

Tell others to shop and donate books at MTW

Coordinate at book drive in your neighborhood, school or faith organization

School Groups:

Coordinate a school wide bookdrive; MTW can support you with all the materials and ways to engage different grade levels and classes to set fun goals.

Financial Support:

Support MTW to expand its reach and invest critical capacity building funding to help us reach more youth!  Donations support youth stipends and hands-on, real-world training for youth. Donate to More Than Words.

Volunteer opportunities GET INVOLVED

Please Note:  Volunteer opportunities are available as spots become open.  For certain volunteer work, age restrictions, time commitments, interviews, training and/or background checks may apply.

Individual volunteers may be needed at one of our three major fundraising events:

1. The Walk for Walker/Needham,

2. Fore the Children Golf Tournament

3. Lives in Bloom Gala/Boston.

Volunteer opportunities may also become available during our annual holiday toy drive and on our Needham campus.

Group of volunteers: Walker is delighted to welcome volunteer groups on a rolling basis. Groups may participate in a one-time event such as a painting or gardening projects.  Group volunteer opportunities are also available in our residential program through our “adopt-a-home” program.  A group of volunteers can help children and staff in a particular residential unit with homework, cleaning, painting, cooking dinner, or other activities.

School Groups: Walker is proud to partner with local schools to assist students in fulfilling community service hours.  Volunteer opportunities may be available in the classroom, residence, after-school, summer program or our administrative office.

Financial Donations:

The $1.5 million Walker annual fund is the foundation of our fundraising efforts, helping to provide many of the things we need to deliver the highest-quality special education and therapeutic programs.

In-Kind Donations:

An in-kind gift of goods or services is a wonderful way to support the children, adolescents, and families who depend on Walker. If you or your employer wishes to donate an item, product, or service to Walker, please download and review our in-kind gift donation form  at www.walkerschool.org. You may also visit the Walker gift registry at Target.com to purchase new items for children in Walker intensive and acute residential treatment programs.

Wish list: New Items

Gift cards for children’s clothing (Target, Old Navy, etc.)

Gift cards to party favor stores (iParty, etc.)

Birthday wrapping paper

Spring outdoor activity supplies (flashlights, hand-held compasses, binoculars, tennis balls, playground balls, yoga balls, bug/nature examining kits, sidewalk chalk, bubbles) board games, puzzles, Legos and other creative/building toys

Art project kits

Storage bins (clear or colored plastic)

Children’s books (appropriate for children ages 5-13)

Tickets to local sporting events

Outdoor sporting goods (self pitch wiffle ball machine, nerf footballs, frisbees, chainsfor basketball hoops, footballs, wiffle balls/bats, kites, sprinklers, baseball batting helmets, air pumps, hammock, fishing poles)

Bean bags, large pillows, lap desks & posters (sports or animal)

Bags (backpacks, purses, gym bags)

Toys

Wish List:  GENTLY USED items

Toys, furniture (rocking chairs) and outdoor play equipment may be accepted on a

case-by-case basis.  Gently used children’s books (appropriate for children ages 5-13) are

currently accepted as well.

It is always necessary to contact us before bringing items to Walker.  Due to a lack of

storage space, current needs and our donation policy, certain items may not be accepted.

Note: Items we are UNABLE to accept include:

broken, ripped, incomplete or extremely worn toys, books, games and puzzles

used clothing, blankets, stuffed animals or linens toy weapons or toys with weapons

used computers or other electronics

For more information, contact Amy Perna

at 781-292-2110 or aperna@walkerschool.org.

get involved

Volunteer opportunities

(no direct service volunteers under 18 years old):
Reach offers full training for direct services volunteers as well as monthly supervision.

Shelter volunteers, Gardening  volunteers, Outreach volunteers, Support Group co-facilitators, Court advocate volunteers, Child care volunteers, Office assistance, Gala event committee volunteers, Board members.

Financial support:

Goals: Annual operating budget $1.5m;

Donate to the Independence Fund:

The purpose of the Independence Fund is to help survivors maintain their economic self-sufficiency. The Independence Fund provides small discretionary funding for survivors that is accessible and can pay for expenses not covered by existing sources (eg, car repairs, job training, camp, lessons, uniforms, and basic needs)

In Kind Donations:

Reach has a wish list on their website http://reachma.org/wishlist.html for in-kind donations of items needed for children or the home. Examples include diapers, strollers, bedding, toiletries etc.). Click on the link to find out how you can help.

get involved

Volunteer opportunities:

We are currently open to hosting college student interns at our office to assist us with administrative, operational work. Foundation staff is currently exploring additional volunteer opportunities as well. For inquiries or more information, please contact foundationinfo@lifeisgood.com.

Financial support:

Individual donations to the Life is Good Kids Foundation make a big difference in the lives of children facing life-threatening challenges such as violence, illness, natural disaster, and extreme poverty. The foundation is a 501 (C) 3 public charity, and your contributions are tax deductible.

In the past 3 years, we have provided training, resources and support to over 2,000 Playmakers who have helped to heal and strengthen over 70,000 children. It costs $1,200 to credential each Life is Good Playmaker. Since each Playmaker on average deeply touches the lives of at least 20 children a year, we can efficiently provide a child with a more joyful, loving, creative, and empowering place to heal and grow for about $60 a year. Every little bit helps and can make a huge difference!

Learn more here: http://www.lifeisgood.com/foundation/get-involved/

Upcoming event

On September 11, the Life is Good Kids Foundation is holding a major Festival in New England to help raise money for the Kids Foundation. Amazing music acts (including Jason Mraz and Ben Harper) will be leading the way to raise awareness and financial support that the Kids Foundation does- learn more here: http://www.lifeisgood.com/festivals/

get involved

Individuals and Volunteer with Kids:

Please contact Judy Cockerton

Groups of volunteers:

Homework Buddies, Garden Helpers, Suitcase Project Committee, Friends of Treehouse Fundraiser for all Treehouse programs

School groups:

Our Peers Helping Peers Program collects gift cards from Target, Walmart and Costco and hosts book drives, suitcase collecting, lap top purchases and Treehouse Garden expansion.

Financial Support and in-kind donations…

Specific Goals:

We would like to raise $350, 000 to hire additional staff to support the mission of the Treehouse Foundation and help inspire a re-envisioning of foster care in America.
The innovative work of the Treehouse Foundation is supported by individual donors and donations made by foundations.

In kind donations:

garden supplies, outdoor recreation items, summer camperships, literacy materials (books, educational software, computers, art materials,  art materials, cameras, digital recorders).

get involved

Individuals:

Become a volunteer tutor one hour per week in Brockton, Stoughton, Middleboro, Norwell, New Bedford or Peabody. School on Wheels provides training for tutors.

Volunteers with kids:

Come to the School on Wheels office in Brockton and learn about homelessness, assemble some backpacks and find out how your family cn support School on Wheels.

Group of volunteers:

Small groups can come to the School on Wheels office in Brockton to assemble backpacks.

School groups:

School supply drive (link directly to SOW website, gives instructions), read-a-thon (link directly to packet on SOW website)  or other fundraiser to support us in providing children impacted by homelessness with backpacks, books and school supplies.

Financial support:

Financial donations can be made payable to School on Wheels and sent to us at 831 Pleasant Street Brockton, MA 02301. Or visit us at www.sowma.org

In-kind donations:

New backpacks for all ages, laminated pocket folders, pencil pouches, scribble pads of paper, educational workbooks and flashcards, new books. All supplies must be brand new.

get involved

Fundraising event planning
Day-of event help
Board membership
Marketing support for new national Rings for Dreams campaign

Wish list:

Help with increasing donor base and fundraising
Volunteers to host dinner parties to introduce Web of Benefit’s mission
IT consultant for websites