SAHMS Who Want to Volunteer with Small Kids. Recently Asked but UPDATED! HELP!

Updated on December 13, 2011
S.F. asks from Columbia, SC
6 answers

What I would really like is a place to volunteer at that also has an area where you could bring your children to socialize and play with other children while the parent volunteers. Have you ever heard of anything like this? If not I would love to start a group of SAHM's who could volunteer their time but also have someone to watch their small children. Im not even sure how to go about starting something like this. And suggestions...or advice? Would you other SAHM's like something like this?

So I recently asked this question. Here is the update! Really need some input!

It seems as though this is one of the bigger issues with how to volunteer with little ones. I have asked other moms and done some research. There really isnt to much that tthe children can do yet or anyone who can watch them while you want to volunteer. So I have been thinking about maybe starting a non profit organization that could address these issues.
I envision a building that could be used administratively and also as the center for the children to play while their parent/s are volunteering. Organizations who need the most help could contact us, we then in turn could contact our database of moms and dads who are available to help volunteer. At the appointed time the parents could bring their children to the center and then head off to volunteer. I think this approach is multi faceted because it address's organizations that have the most need while also providing a safe place for the children to be watched. For the parents that want to volunteer it gives them the opportunity to go into society and use their skills in a productive and helpful way. Also they could probably use the experience for their resume's whenever they did decide to return back to work. It would be free unlike joining something like MOPS where you have to pay a membership fee. For the children its an opportunity to socialize with other adults and children, something that can sometimes be hard to come by when they stay home with their parents. I'm unsure of how the child/adult ratio would apply here like it does in daycare centers because this would be an organization that is free of charge to parents who are volunteering their time.

The biggest winner of all though, is the organization that needs help because they have another resource of people who can contribute to their need. Imagine if 40 parents were to join, the organization that needs help would be able to get so much more accomplished. SAHMS and SAHDs are a demographic waiting to use their time and skills for the greater good of the community.
My only problem....Im not 100% sure where to start. Where do I go to recruit people to help get something like this started?

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So What Happened?

Thanks everyone! Some really good input and you guys gave me some good stuff to think about! I'll keep you posted to let you know what happens!

More Answers

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L.A.

answers from New York on

If you want to do this as a "pilot project" here are some thoughts for doing this small scale, just to get your feet wet.

Find a charity that needs short term volunteers. i.e. if the American Cancer society is doing a telephone fundraising drive. They might already have a space and date and volunteer facilities in mind.

in conjunction with the event organizers, set up a meet up, or post on local area bulliten boards,etc. that you want to orcestrate a group of SAHM/Ds to man the phones. You, and some tween/teen mother's helpers then man the show with adult supervision ratios in line with area daycare. If you want to do this for say 4 tuesdays in a row, for a 4 hour time block/6 hour time block. See how you like it, see how it works for you, the parents, the organization. then scale it up.

By all means speak with a lawyer.

If you are looking to facilitate your own volunteer efforts in this fashion ask organizers if they might pair you with another mom. You might be able to split fees for a babysitter, or take turns taking all the children so the other gets a turn at volunteering.

good luck to you and yours
F. B.

3 moms found this helpful

J.W.

answers from St. Louis on

Please don't take this the wrong way because it is just an observation but it sounds like you want to volunteer for free daycare.

I don't see how it could be a benefit to any organization because there are expenses to running your office/daycare even if your staff is also volunteers. So then the organizations using it would be paying you so the people are no longer volunteers.

I never had trouble finding places to volunteer with my young kids in tow. They just had to behave. There was usually a table for them to color on and there were other kids around. Still I was watching them, ya know? Oh this place was my parish school. Most informal places allow you to bring your kids.

3 moms found this helpful
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A.L.

answers from Chicago on

I think this would be a great thing, but I see a couple issues with it. You would need to check state law about providing child care. You may need to get licensed etc. Also if it is free, how are you going to cover the people who watch the children? If that is also volunteer, what are you going to do if your volunteers don't show up, etc.

Also, if you are in a building etc, there will be overhead costs, such as rent, utilities and stuff how will that be paid for?

I think it is a very good ambition and I don't really know where to go from here, but those are just some thoughts I had. I would start with your state laws regarding providing child care and all of that.

2 moms found this helpful

M.L.

answers from Houston on

A lot of charities are downtown or all over the place. How would that go with the center, what if the parent has t drive 20 miles to the center then 20 miles to the volunteer site? Also, many places that need volunteers only need one or two at a time, so having an open center for a lot of children isn't really going to be feasible for the majority of circumstances. This is a great idea, but so many issues. I guess my husband works with volunteers on a regular basis, it is tough, challenging and they need a lot of grant money to make it work... also, many volunteers don't ever even show up. Most volunteers are older people. Not sure how a non-profit could do it at all in an actual space, but perhaps having floating babysitters that actually go to the parents home would be best.

2 moms found this helpful
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J.F.

answers from Bloomington on

Like I responded to your post before, I've thought of doing this too. I think it is totally do-able if you iron out all the kinks....and yes, there are a lot of them.

My grandmother ran a second hand store for years. Her building was always donated. Maybe some shared space with a church!??! They usually sit empty during the day. They may even have a nursery room to use. I'm sure you could work out a give and take situation with them for the space.....maybe newer donated toys for the nursery, your volunteers do their mailings, etc.

With everyone on smartphones, do you really need an office to run things out of? Probably not. You could do that from home.

Find out what you need to cover any liability. What happens if a parent who is watching someone else's kids doesn't do a stellar job and someone gets hurt? What happens? I'm sure you will need background checks on the members who watch the kids, and consent forms, etc., etc., etc..

Keep working it out!!! There may be some grant money out there that you can tap into to take care of some of the money kinks.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.M.

answers from New York on

Why don't you just volunteer to babysit?

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