| Our mission | To help families in need achieve and maintain self-sufficiency through housing, food, counseling, education, and other support services. |
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| Needs |
Drivers – Food Pantry Donation Pick UpDrivers are needed to pick-up food donations from food banks, local restaurants, and grocery stores. These fresh food donations are a healthy addition to the standard nonperishable food items. Pick ups typically take place in the morning, but scheduling varies Monday through Thursday.Skilled Professionals for Home RepairsFamilies Forward owns homes where families in crisis can live as they receive necessary services to get back on their feet. Occasionally, maintenance issues arise and we have a need for services from skilled professionals. In particular, we are looking for electricians, plumbers, contractors, and appliance repairmen who would be willing to donate their services.Laundry VolunteerVolunteers are needed to help launder linens on an as-needed basis. These linens consist of bedding donations that we receive as well as the linens that we need to clean for families who are joining our Housing Program. Families Forward will drop off and pick up loads of laundry to volunteers’ homes in our service area.Office VolunteerThere are several opportunities to volunteer in our office including as a front desk volunteer, bilingual office volunteer, data entry volunteer, administrative assistance volunteer, and computer lab assistance volunteer.Food Pantry Stocking and DistributionHelp us prepare food bags and distribute food to local families in need. Volunteers have a great time sorting food, stocking the pantry shelves, and greeting families who come in for food supplies each month. This important work is done in a caring, casual, and fun environment. For safety reasons, on-site volunteers must be at least 10 years of age.Back to School Program VolunteerAt the beginning of each school year, Families Forward distributes backpacks filled with new school supplies to over 1,000 school-age children in our community. Children also receive new and gently-used clothing to start the new school year. Volunteers are needed to sort school supplies and clothing donations, fill backpacks, and distribute backpacks to the families.Periodic Home MaintenanceVolunteers who are skilled at interior painting would go on an as-needed basis to our interim homes and work independently in the home to paint interior walls and hallways. Families Forward supplies the paint and supplies unless the volunteer is willing to donate both the materials and his/her services, and the volunteer is responsible for setting up/preparation, painting, and cleaning up.Adopt-a-Family Program VolunteersEach year, over 800 families are adopted through our Adopt-a-Family program, bringing joy to more than 2,200 children with special gifts for the holidays. Help prepare gift bags, distribute gift bags, host a toy drive, or adopt a familyPrepare a Home for a FamilyNew families who enter our Housing Program are just beginning their journey out of homelessness and toward a sustainable future. Regular and independent volunteer groups are needed to help prepare Families Forward’s homes for each new family.Community-Wide Food DriveFamilies need food all year long – but often, our food donations dwindle during the summer months. To prepare for these slower times, Families Forward partners with local grocery stores and community groups for one weekend in the Spring, Summer, and Fall to collect food donations to be able to serve hungry families every month of the year. Volunteer groups are needed at grocery stores to invite shoppers to purchase additional food items, and to bring collected food donations back to our Food Pantry to be sorted.Thanksgiving Baskets VolunteerThe holidays are the busiest time of year for volunteering at Families Forward. Each year, nearly 900 families receive Thanksgiving Baskets. Opportunities include Thanksgiving Food Drives, basket preparations, basket distribution, and bilingual volunteers. For safety reasons, on-site volunteers must be at least 10 years of age. |
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| How you help |
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| About us | Families Forward offers a comprehensive array of support services to at-risk families in our community. They range from the simplest form of help, putting food on the dinner table with groceries from the food pantry, to weekly career coaching sessions for parents needing guidance towards a higher income and a better future. |
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| What people say |
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