Volunteer
When you volunteer, you become a part of a child’s life in a way that will make a true difference. Volunteering is free and only takes a small investment of time and energy to yield a big return.
Volunteer Opportunities with Children
Mentor
Mentors are positive and caring adult role models who work one-on-one with individual children who have little or no family involvement. Child and volunteer spend time together on or off campus, in the evenings or on weekends. Mentors help the child develop trusting relationships with others and improve the child’s self-esteem. Mentors must be 22, submit information for Missouri and Kansas criminal background screening, and attend orientation and training. Mentors must make a commitment to volunteer for six months.
Dorm Friends
Dorm friends spend an evening or a couple of hours on the weekend with a group of boys or girls playing board games, making crafts or watching a movie. Dorm friends adopt one dorm and lead up to 10 children in a variety of activities at least once a month. Youth volunteers are welcome when accompanied by an adult chaperone. Dorm friends must submit information for Missouri and Kansas criminal background screening and attend orientation and training.
Children's Activities
Groups of volunteers (ranging from two to 30+ individuals) can plan and facilitate fun activities for Spofford boys and girls. These events can include holiday parties, picnics, game nights, sporting clinics, and more. The children enjoy experiencing new friends and new opportunities while developing their social skills with community volunteers. This can be a one-time project or a regularly scheduled activity for your group or organization. Orientation provided.
Book Buddies
Book buddies read books to individual children and allow them to read to you. This interaction improves confidence and overall reading levels. Book buddies commit to a minimum of two months. Books are available at Spofford and volunteers must submit information for Missouri and Kansas criminal background screening and attend orientation and training.
Library Assistants
Library assistants help maintain the Spofford library shelving books and sorting and labeling book donations. Volunteers are scheduled at mutually agreeable times.
Youth Volunteers
Youth volunteers are high school youth, 15 years or older, under the supervision of an adult chaperone, who plan group activities with Spofford children. We also welcome youth working on Eagle Scout, Gold Award, and service learning projects.
Groups with youth under the age of 15 should contact us for service opportunities.
Volunteer orientation and training is offered monthly.
Sign up now or call Spofford at 816-508-3400.
Organizational Support Volunteer Opportunities
Many of Spofford’s other volunteer activities support our organizational structure and fund-raising efforts. These include:
The Spofford Auxiliary
United Methodist Women and other Spofford friends meet bimonthly for fund-raising projects, lunch and business meetings, and annual leadership participation in Stone Soup.
Stone Soup
Help with Stone Soup includes leadership and committee opportunities to extend Stone Soup throughout the community.
Butterfly Gala Committee
Spofford welcomes individuals to participate on the planning committee, solicit table sponsors, sell individual tickets, seek items for the auction, and assist with the details on the evening of the event.
Committee Members
The Resource Development, Administrative Affairs, Quality Assurance, and Faith-based Committees seek non-board volunteers with specialized expertise in fund-raising, human resources, total quality management, or community relations.
Sign up now or call Spofford at 816-508-3400.
Community Volunteer Opportunities
Spofford also participates in community-wide volunteer activities.
Each year, Spofford receives help through United Way Day of Caring, a Heart of America United Way event involving thousands of volunteers assisting more than 150 not-for-profit agencies in the Kansas City area.
Spofford also receives assistance from KC Cares, an organization that provides volunteer opportunities for those with hectic or unpredictable schedules. Please check with these organizations for more information.
Sign up now or call Spofford at 816-508-3400.
