Volunteer

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Are you looking for an opportunity to help your community and assist those in need while joining a team of amazing people?

 

The Jonnycake Center has a variety of volunteer opportunities for individual and group volunteers from teenagers to seniors, including:

  • High school students completing their volunteer graduation requirement.
  • Some individuals needing court-ordered community service.
  • Volunteers with special needs.

 

We have many volunteers who donate thousands of hours in support of Jonnycake programs. We could never provide the extensive support to the Westerly-Chariho community without our dedicated and hardworking volunteers. Help us make a difference! Call or email today and find how you can help. Our Volunteer Coordinators Adrienne and Jamie would love to talk with you and can be reached at (401) 377-8069 extension #114 or by email at volunteer@jonnycake.org.

 

 

RECURRING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE:

Volunteer

FOOD PANTRY

The Food Pantry

The Jonnycake Center manages the largest food pantry in South County and provides 17,220 equivalent meals per month.  With food purchased from the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, local vendors and community donations, the Center provides a week’s worth of food to a family once a month.  With only one full time employee, volunteers play a significant role in the Pantry.  Volunteers are relied on to process clients’ food orders using a client completed shopping list.  Additionally, volunteers stock shelves and process donated food items for distribution.

 

Hours of operation are:

Mondays 12 – 3
Tuesdays 9 – 12
Wednesdays 9 – 12
Thursdays 9 – 12 & 3 – 6
Fridays 9 – 12
Saturdays 9 – 12

 

Although not required, a commitment to a regular work schedule is preferred.

Thrift Store Volunteer

Thrift Store Volunteer

 

The Jonnycake Cake Center of Westerly maintains a large thrift store that sells clothes, furniture, books, children’s games and toys, electronics and household items. Sales from the Thrift Store are a critical component of our ability to pay our overhead expenses and to help fund our social service programs such as emergency financial aid and food pantry operations. With a steady flow of donated items, volunteers are needed in the sorting room and the Thrift Store to assist with basic retail management operations. These include:

 

  • Assist the Thrift Store manager and staff with day to day operations
  • Sort and clean donated items for pricing and display
  • Stock shelves, create displays and rotate merchandise
  • Unload donated merchandise from vehicles
  • Assist customers with loading purchased items into their vehicles
  • Assist customers in locating items
  • Position furniture on sales floor
  • Organize inventory of housewares, books, dishes, electronics, glassware and furniture
  • Redisplay items handled and misplaced by customers
  • Update mannequins and other displays

 

Although not required, a commitment to a regular work day schedule and 2-3 hours per shift is preferred.

 

Hours of operations are

Mon-Wed: 9am – 4pm,

Thur: 9am – 6pm,

Fri-Sat: 9am – 4pm,

Sun: 10am – 2pm.

TEEN OPPORTUNITIES

Teen Opportunities

 

The Jonnycake Center is proud to support local students in the completion of their school requirement for volunteerism. Students must be at least 15 years old or accompanied by an adult if younger and can work in all areas of The Center. Additionally, Seasonal Volunteer Opportunities are available for students. Students may also opt to complete an offsite project that supports the Center’s mission. Examples are a food drive to support the Pantry, a winter coat drive, backpack/school supply drive, toy drives, children’s shoe drives, and others. If you are interested in doing a drive, please start by coordinating your activity with Center staff. Student volunteer hours will be closely monitored and documentation will be provided upon completion of service.

COURT ORDERED COMMUNITY SERVICE

Court-Ordered Community Service

 

The Jonnycake Center accepts volunteers who have court-ordered community service. Certain offenses may disqualify you from doing your community service at the Jonnycake Center and must be approved in advance. Volunteering for court-ordered community service is more structured than the regular volunteer program. Your hours will be closely monitored and a letter documenting hours of service completed will be provided.

SEASONAL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteer

Giving Garden

Giving Garden in Charlestown

 

The Jonnycake Center of Westerly’s Giving Garden in Charlestown, formerly known as the Charlestown Community Garden, provides over 4,000 lbs of fresh organic vegetables to local food pantries and soup kitchens, including our own. The garden is in need of volunteers from May to October on Tuesdays and Thursdays mornings from 9am to noon.  Garden volunteers perform basic gardening functions such as planting, weeding, and harvesting.  No prior gardening experience is required.  The garden is located in Ninigret Park next to the Charlestown Senior Center.

 

Contact Sarah Shaw, the Jonnycake Center of Westerly’s Food Pantry Manager, at communitygarden@jonnycake.org or call (401) 377-8069 x112 for more information.

Adopt-a-Family Holiday Program

Adopt-a-Family Holiday Program

 

Our signature “Adopt-a-Family” holiday program provides magic for local children and families. Before the pandemic, donors throughout the region would provide toys and gifts that volunteers would collect, sort, and distribute. Meals containing traditional fixings for Christmas and holiday dinners were made available from the Food Pantry.

 

In accordance with public health measures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Adopt-a-Family program has been redeveloped. Donors now provide financial assistance and gift cards in an equivalent amount of what clients formerly received. The gift cards for local merchants, retailers, and grocery stores allow clients to make their own personal and unique purchasing decisions for their families. Gift cards and assistance are disbursed in mid-November. Please contact our Volunteer Coordinator at Volunteer@jonnycake.org if you would like to be part of the process.

Holiday Program Sign-ups

Office Assistance

 

During the holiday season, the Jonnycake Center has extensive programs to support our clients and ensure they have a fulfilling holiday. This includes help with getting clients signed on with the Adopt-a-Family program. To ensure client’s specific needs are met, they must complete an extensive packet of information. Volunteers are needed to assist clients in completing these forms.

 

Hours are:

Mondays 12 – 3
Tuesdays 9 – 12
Wednesdays 9 – 12
Thursdays 9 – 12 and 3 – 6
Fridays 9 – 12
Saturdays 9 – 12

Ready to join us?

Please download the Volunteer Application, including the waiver, fill it out electronically, and email it to volunteer@jonnycake.org.

Alternatively, you can print, fill out the forms, and return them to the Volunteer Coordinator.

 

Thank you.

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