First Steps for Potential Volunteers

1. Explore the list of volunteer position descriptions below.
2. Contact the program to inquire about positions currently available.
3. If a visit to the program is scheduled, you may download and complete these forms:
   • Application
   • Volunteer/intern Agreement

Diane Ennis, Quality Improvement Volunteer

Diane Ennis has been a volunteer with our Agency since 2010. She has been instrumental in the accomplishment of many major initiatives, from COA, to Policy and Procedure manuals, Performance and Quality Management, and Risk Prevention and Management. Each of these initiatives involved great attention to detail, patience, organization and dedication. In addition, Diane brings the value added benefit of sharing her many gifts and community involvements, including her Bell Choir who performed in our conference room during the City of Taunton holiday celebrations.

This year, a new initiative was underway, and this one was a large undertaking. Diane became involved in the reorganization of thousands of records. Diane and a team of volunteers were responsible to get them reorganized, labeled, indexed, re-boxed and ready for appropriate storage. Diane’s leadership in this initiative led her to create a system, train others in the system, and ensure the correct implementation of this system, which will allow these very important records to be retrievable throughout their legally required storage.

When this enormous task was not moving quickly enough for Diane, she added days to her volunteering; from one day, to two days, to sometimes three days per week, so that she could ensure progress was being made. She trained three additional volunteers, ensuring the standardization of this very important process. Two decades of records, neatly organized, boxed floor to ceiling, await the final touches.

Diane’s volunteering not only accomplished tasks—it created a community of volunteers who work as a team to accomplish tasks. Further, it created incredible piece of mind to know such a significant accomplishment was being done with quality and care. Thank you Diane for all your hard work!!

Jim Keiper, Total Achievement Program Volunteer

The TAP team has had the pleasure of working alongside Jim since 2007 at the TAP program in Norton. Jim truly embodies the spirit of volunteerism by giving his time, energy, and expertise every afternoon he spends with us. He has impacted the program positively by bringing to light improvements we could implement. The children know that “Mr. Jim” would readily help them with their homework or play a game with them during free time. He’s the staff member the children prefer to play football or soccer with! He always has a kind word to say even to the most troubled children in our group and asks each of them for a smile and a high five every day. This small gesture to extend his hand and ask for a high five and a smile is probably the first positive thing being asked of the children each day and it has proven to be a great way for them to feel good and connect with another person in a simple, non-threatening way.

It is clear how much he enjoys the children and how important they are to him; and his willingness to go above and beyond to learn is apparent. He attends team meetings, trainings, asks questions and puts a great deal of thought into his work here. Some volunteers might come and just do their hours and leave, but you can see that Jim makes this a part of his life. Our team would not be complete without “Mr. Jim”.

Danny Brundage, Teen Parenting Program Volunteer

Danny has been volunteering at our teen parenting program since 2012. He is attending college and working, yet makes time to volunteer with the children at our program. Danny is punctual and dependable and the children really enjoy his company. Our children range in age from newborn to three. Danny is equally comfortable holding a newborn, playing with play dough or lining up cars on the floor with an older child. It is not often that a young male is willing to give his time to care for children and this is so very commendable. Many of our children do not have positive male role models in their lives at all. Our staff members are all female; therefore there is little opportunity to expose the babies and children to male nurturing in any form. Danny has provided this for us. Our teen mothers are quite comfortable handing their children over to Danny, and this in and of itself is a testament to the trust he has earned at our program. Danny will make a wonderful teacher or social worker. He is a role model for young gentleman going into these fields, as well as for other interns and volunteers. He is gentle and kind and we are very fortunate and grateful to have him at TLP.

Nancy Chisholm, Teen Parenting Program Volunteer

Nancy has been volunteering at our teen parenting program since 2012 and has become a core member of our team. She is vital to helping us run our educational and therapeutic groups for the teen moms whom we service.

In order for our moms to attend groups three times a week, we rely heavily on our volunteers who come out to our program multiple times a week to help babysit and play with the babies and young children. Nancy takes the time out of her day to come help us out during each and every time slot. She is a constant dependable person who our babies and young mothers have come to count on. Seeing a familiar face helps to ease our mothers as they leave their children to attend group sessions. Nancy always comes in with a smile on her face and is immediately ready to pick up a baby who needs comforting to or to play a game with an older child. Nancy has been there alongside staff watching our babies grow, develop and meet their milestones. She has assisted the babies in learning to sit up, crawl, walk, and develop their own unique personalities while they discover the world around them. Nancy is gentle and patient and her calm demeanor helps to relax those around her. Last year we had a baby with serious digestive issues which caused him to spit up a good portion of his bottle after each and every feeding. Nancy came in with a spare towel in one hand and large amounts of love and empathy for him in the other. During November 2013, our teen moms had the opportunity to go to an off-site 6-week parenting group run by Project Connect in Attleboro. The hours were later and were also a bit longer than our normal timeslot; Nancy came with us off-site to help out, never once complaining or missing a night. Her dedication is admirable and she is priceless to us. We hope to have Nancy with us for many more years and so much want to let her know how much she means to our program.