Give the Gift of Time
The Homeless Children's Playtime Project is made possible through the dedication of more than 600 volunteers every year. There are a number of different ways you can support Playtime as a volunteer, including:
- becoming a General Volunteer and supporting us with behind-the-scenes work
- undergoing training and background checks to become a Play Ranger and serve in our playrooms
- signing up as a Volunteer in Motion to help us with occasional transportation needs
You can read more about each type of volunteer opportunity below, as well as how to get started!
Join our General Volunteer list
Our General Volunteers help us receive and sort donations, prepare mailings, beautify playrooms, and even run Pop-Up Playtime events in the community! They are an important part of ensuring our small but mighty team can continue to serve hundreds of children and families every year.
To get started, fill out this form to join our volunteer email list!
Please note: General Volunteers do not volunteer in our evening play programs. Volunteers interested in serving in our playrooms (aka Play Rangers) must undergo training and a number of background checks. You can read more about how to become a Play Ranger below!
Play Rangers
Running our weekly programs wouldn't be possible without the tremendous commitment of our volunteer Play Rangers. They interact firsthand with the children and youth we are fortunate to serve. This is a perfect opportunity if you're looking to make a meaningful and sustained difference in your community and in the life of a child. Play Rangers commit to spending two hours once a week working directly with children in our evening ((typically Monday-Thursday, 5:30-8 PM) play programs at partner shelter locations throughout the DMV.
Sign up for a New Play Ranger Training to get started!
Volunteer Play Rangers must be at least 18 years old. All Play Rangers are required to complete a New Play Ranger Training and submit background clearances before they can get started.
Become a Volunteer in Motion
We're always looking for volunteers with cars who can commit once a month to move donations from our office to our partner shelter site locations. Interested volunteers serve on an on-call basis; the exact dates/times of pick-up and drop-off will depend on volunteer availability and amount of donations. Volunteers in Motion receive notifications when needs arise.
To get started as a Volunteer in Motion or learn more, email our Program Manager Nicolien at nicolien@playtimeproject.org.
Other Opportunities
Have questions about any of the above opportunities, or have an idea about a different way to support Playtime? Reach out to our Volunteer Program Manager Nicolien Buholzer at nicolien@playtimeproject.org.
