Family and community involvement are vital components of a successful pre-school program. CSI Head Start program benefits each year from the invaluable support of volunteers.
We need you as part of the team. Volunteer time equals in-kind dollars. The Head Start federal grant requires that the parents and the local community provide a 20% in-kind match to operate the program. This in-kind match can be in the form of volunteer time, space, donations, and support services. To operate the program, CSI Head Start program must have $2,236,707 in local match. All donations are tax deductible.
Opportunities to be involved as a Volunteer:
- Read to children, enhancing their language rich environment;
- Join children as they play and learn;
- Go on field trips and see a child’s world expand;
- Train staff or parents in your area of expertise;
- Interact and develop positive relationships with young children in the classroom;
- Assist staff and families at various parent/child events throughout the year;
- Assist with various activities that support the program;
- Assist with literacy events for children and families;
- Serve as a Community Representative or Parent Representative on the Head Start Policy Council;
- Gain valuable experience regarding health and nutrition by serving on the Health Advisory Committee.
- Various opportunities to assist and support he program administration and office staff; or
- Assist with recruitment, program self-assessment, planning committees.
Opportunities to be involved as a Student:
- Student teaching and practicum placement;
- Work with technology, web pages, and software;
- Gain experience with various resources and goal setting with families through active participation with family advocates;
- Gain research, writing, and editing skills by assisting with publications;
- Use CSI Head Start program as a resource for projects and papers; or
- Gain public relations/marketing skills by participating in the family recruitment process.
Opportunities to be involved as an individual, business, corporation, or community group:
- Adopt a classroom or center and become a part of its weekly activities;
- Beautify a center as a group project;
- Donate material for the classroom, offices, or teaching staff; or
- Honor the center teachers with recognition programs.
At various times throughout the year the program may need items such as diapers, socks, underwear, shoes, jackets, and/or books for children birth to five (5) years of age. A current listing is provided or you can call for additional information.
Needs list:
- Diapers size 1, 2, 3, and 4;
- Pull ups size 2T-3T, 3T-4T, 4T-5T, and 6T; and
- Preschool children books new or used in good condition.
Cash Donation Needs:
- Cash donations for Literacy Activities and Programs;
- Cash donations for Dental Exams for Children;
- Cash donations for GED testing; and
- Cash donations for Crisis Management for burnouts, shelter, transportation, and other families emergencies.
Volunteer Recognition
Each spring CSI Head Start program hosts a Volunteer Recognition Luncheon honoring our many community and parent volunteers that have dedicated so much of their time or materials assisting our program. Certificates of Recognition are given to the volunteers as well as honoring our centers’ “Parent of the Year” and “Father of the Year”. The parent with the most volunteer hours for our entire program will be named the agency “Parent of the Year”.
