VOLUNTEER
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Family Lifeline! Much of our success depends on the work of volunteers – caring individuals, and groups, who enjoy sharing their unique talents and skills in an effort to make life better for others. Whether you have a particular set of talents or are looking to gain some new skills, we will work to allow you to make the most of your volunteer time while helping others.
Visiting Volunteers
Our Visiting Volunteers program is Family Lifeline’s signature volunteer opportunity. With this program, we strive to meet the social and emotional needs of some of the community’s most vulnerable population - older adults and persons with disabilities. Volunteers provide our program participants with companionship, outreach, and advocacy. Volunteers commit to weekly visits for a year. Dates and times are up to you and your friend. If you are someone who is interested in building a meaningful relationship that facilitates true companionship, this program is for you!
Volunteers receive formal training focusing on person centered engagement and sensitivity to the needs of individuals facing difficult life circumstances (e.g., health issues, grief, etc.). These vital supports you would be providing increase the opportunity for people to remain in their homes for as long as possible by reducing loneliness and isolation.
Additionally, we have many other volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups. Many of these are great projects for school groups, corporate teams or for teens who need volunteer hours!
Contact Debbie Ward at hward@familylifeline.org or 804.402.6338 to get involved.
Other Opportunities
Book Drives
We love books! Parent Educators bring an age-appropriate book to every home visit. Story time promotes early literacy and provides an opportunity for healthy parent-child interaction, a goal of Growing Well programming. Since the books we bring stay with the family, we are always in need of more.
We accept new and gently used books for children 0 to 5. We strive to provide our families with culturally diverse books and are especially in need of books in Spanish.
You can help by shopping our Amazon wish list or hosting a book drive within your network.
Check our our Amazon wishlist HERE
Baskets of Cheer (Fall Project)
Every year, groups and individuals from across the Richmond region help us assemble holiday baskets for older adults and folks with disabilities in our Living Well programming. The baskets are delivered directly to the doorsteps of folks who may be spending the holidays alone. Baskets of Cheer help us all feel a little more connected to those in our community during the holiday season.
Basket assembly runs throughout November. Baskets are delivered in early December.
You can help with Baskets of Cheer in three ways:
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Assemble holiday baskets with your crew. Fill them with thoughtful and practical items like unscented lotion, socks, puzzle books, pens, snacks, tea, and accessibility resources (magnifying glasses, flashlights, jar grippers, etc). Drop off assembled baskets at the Family Lifeline office.
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Organize an item drive within your network. For example, organize a lotion and sock drive to collect 50 bottles of lotion and 50 pairs of socks. Drop off collected items at the Family Lifeline office.
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Volunteer for basket delivery. You will be assigned a route with basket multiple drop-offs.
Family Lifeline Young Professionals (FLYP) Board
Are you interested in leveraging your professional skills to help your community? Are you looking to grow your professional network? Learn more about FLYP here.
