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The Wishing Wheels Bike Drive culminates with a day of fun & festive cheer as we work together to assemble hundreds of bikes for well-deserving children. We look forward to sharing the spirit of togetherness and giving as we move into the holiday season. We thank you in advance for making this community effort such a resounding success.This is an outdoor event, please dress accordingly. All are encouraged to attend. Parents, please be sure to bring your children, as we empower our kids to make a difference in their community.Volunteers are needed for:Greeting and instructions to participantsTrash collection and disposalBike Building assistanceSet up of the eventDisstribution of Bikes at Guilford Fairgrounds on Monday, 12/14

November is Children’s Grief Awareness Month, a time to recognize, honor, and support children who are grieving the loss of someone they love. Join The Cove Center for Grieving Children in our social media campaign, “Be a Champion of Hope for Grieving Children,” to help spread awareness and show your support.We invite individuals, families, businesses, schools, healthcare providers, counseling practices, community organizations and anyone else to join us in raising awareness for grieving children. Request a free awareness sticker, snap a photo wearing and share it on social media. We will be doing the same and highlighting community participation throughout the campaign.To receive a free sticker, email info@covect.orgPlease include your name, mailing address and number of stickers you would like.You can participate at any time during the month of November. Have a Zoom meeting? Ask everyone to wear blue and take a screen shot, send it to us and we will share on social media. There are many ways to participate!

RUN FOR THE COVEThe 29th Annual Run for The Cove will be held at Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison, CT on Sunday, October 18, 2026. This annual event raises funds to support Cove programming statewide. The Certified 5K Race is entirely on the BURT paved trail running along the water to Meigs Point. The 2 Mile Memorial Walk features scenic beach views and memorial signs on memory lane. The Kids Fun Run is held on an all-grass special course.We are seeking volunteers to serve as Race Marshalls, Memorial Walk Leads, Set up and tear down and more!Please email Allison Gamber for more information. We would love to have you!

What is a Mentor? A mentor is a reliable adult volunteer who serves as a consistent advocate and positive role model for a local student. You aren't there to be a tutor, a parent, or a disciplinarian; your role is to be a supportive friend who helps a student build the confidence and resilience they need to succeed.What You’ll DoInvest One Hour a Week: Meet with your mentee on school grounds for approximately one hour weekly.Build a Bond: Engage in low-pressure activities like playing board games, sharing hobbies, or simply talking.Be a Steady Presence: Provide a non-judgmental ear and a consistent schedule that a student can count on.Follow the Calendar: Mentoring takes place exclusively during the school day and only while the school year is in session.QualificationsNo specialized experience or background in education is required. We aren't looking for experts—we are looking for community members with a willing heart, a consistent presence, and a desire to make a difference.Click here for application.

Community Dinners on the Green is the highlight of our Summer programming. Reaching hundreds of families in our community with free food, games and crafts for kids! Each day has a different theme and food from a local restaurant. Volunteers will help by unloading the van, setting up tables and food, providing food service, making crafts and popcorn, cleaning up, and loading the van. Tuesdays in Branford on the Blackstone Library lawn and Wednesdays on the East Haven Green, both from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM. *Volunteer Orientation required for all new people interested*

Field trip volunteers work in pairs to help run the field trips program for Pre-K through 5th grade classes from the Greater New Haven area. During each class visit, volunteers read stories out loud and help each student pick out five books. We ask for a commitment of one field trip per week for an entire school year (approx. 1.5 hours). Field trips visit Tuesday-Friday mornings at 10AM. We provide On-site orientation prior to your first field trip, and shadowing is also an option. Please note, we have limited opportunities.Volunteer Application

Help choose books that go out to families and state-wide organizations through our Books for Kids program

The Soundview Family YMCA team, in collaboration with the Branford Board of Education, is teaching your children to be safe in and around the water. The Y’s Safety Around Water program teaches children of all ages and from all backgrounds that water can be fun, not scary. Knowing how to be safe around water is one of the most important life skills we can teach our children - it gives them confidence, and can save their lives. The YMCA is looking for volunteers to help swim instruction. DATE March 11- May 1 DAYS Tuesday & Thursday 3:45pm - 4:45pm Please contact Valerie Parker at vparker@cccymca.org for more information about how to help.

This volunteer opportunity is open to individuals 18 years old and beyond. Striving to maintain your independence can be challenging, especially if you find yourself without a nearby family or you’ve leaned on your friends one too many times. In those moments, it’s easy to allow yourself to feel isolated, but if you ask, there may be someone in your local area who can offer a hand to help. That’s where the Neighbor Helping Neighbor program comes in, offering infrequent or episodic support to someone who just needs a little help to maintain their independence. It could be a weekly check-in call, a monthly ride to the bank, or picking up some groceries and carrying them into the house

A Swim Instructor Aid is responsible for assuring the safety, well being and enjoyment of all participants in his or her class.  The Aid is responsible for assisting assigned instructors as they prepare and teach classes in accordance with YMCA of the USA guidelines and procedures. This includes but is not limited to demonstrating and correcting individuals so that they learn to the best of their ability and monitoring the environment to ensure that is safe for participants. As an instructor aide, you will be learning how to teach and interact with young children in a responsible manner.  You will closely work with instructors to help young swimmers learn new skills and enjoy the water.   

Volunteers will assemble literacy packets that go out mother and families across the state through our Books for Babies program

Literacy Tutors provide one-on-one reading instruction for students from 1st to 12th grade. You don’t need any prior experience teaching or working with children, just a love of reading and a desire to help a child succeed. We ask for a commitment of one hour per week, Monday-Friday 3-7pm or Saturday 10-2pm. Our tutors are trained in the New Haven Reads model which follows the science of reading. We provide a required one hour training session and a site orientation before your first session. You may also shadow a session, and we offer ongoing, in-depth training 3-4 times each year.View our tutoring locations here!Volunteer Application

Dudley Farm Camp Counselor-in-Training (CIT) ProgramAre you 14–17 years old and looking for a fun, hands-on way to earn volunteer hours while gaining valuable leadership experience? Join the Dudley Farm Camp Counselor-in-Training (CIT) Program!CITs work alongside camp counselors to help create a fun, safe, and engaging experience for younger campers. Responsibilities may include assisting with farm animals, gardening, crafts, games, water activities, demonstrations, and other hands-on camp experiences. CITs will also have opportunities to develop leadership, communication, teamwork, and mentoring skills while learning more about Dudley Farm and its historic agricultural traditions. Camp is Monday-Friday from 9AM to 1PM.CITs may choose which weeks in July 2027 they would like to participate, making it easy to fit the program around other summer plans. This is a volunteer position. In lieu of payment, CITs will receive volunteer hours that may be used toward high school graduation requirements.If you are interested, email the Museum Director, Kaitlyn Goodwin at director@dudleyfarm.com or call (203) 457-0770.

To empower children to make a difference, by providing necessary opportunities to give back to their community, enhancing their own charitable path. Real change can start with us, and that helping others is a priority in life. Together with parents, the community, and support from local businesses, we have an amazing platform to make the change that we envision.

The Cove provides hope and healing for grieving children and their families, as well as training for the professionals who work with them. The Cove a volunteer-driven organization, was started in Guilford. The Cove’s peer support, family-based model was developed to help children find healing due to the death of a parent or sibling. The Cove was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 1998. Beginning in Guilford, the program now includes 5 satellite sites providing a 20 week family program. Current programs The Cove Family Program, a 20 week program, includes a module for each school age group. Each site has a Site Director who is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who serves as a parent/caregiver educator and Program Director. The Site Director is supported by trained volunteer facilitators who work directly with grieving children in peer support groups. Children are invited to explore, express and process their grief through age appropriate projects and activities involving art, journaling, grief process group work, movement, music, sports and games. Over 70% of the processing activities are art-related, to open up expression and help children to process their grief in a positive and safe environment. Educational materials and resources are provided to supplement processing activities. Children are given tools to understand that their grief is a normal process that can be managed in healthy ways. Parent/Caregivers are educated to support their child's grieving process and open up family communication

Founded in 2004, The Diaper Bank of Connecticut (DBCT)'s flagship diaper distribution program centralizes the fundraising and distribution of free diapers to low-income families in Connecticut through existing service providers, including hospitals, local food pantries, soup kitchens, childcare centers, social service agencies, and shelters. Recognizing that an inadequate supply of diapers puts families with young children at an increased risk for physical and mental health issues. DBCT has to date distributed more than 42 million free diapers through its extensive Diaper Distribution Network(DDN) of 165+ agencies throughout the state. The Diaper Bank of Connecticut works: 1) To ensure that families living in poverty have an adequate supply of diapers, period supplies, and incontinence products; 2) To raise community awareness that “basic human needs” include diapers, period supplies, and incontinence products and that these needs are not being met for families living in poverty; 3) To advocate for policy reform so that diapers, period supplies, and incontinence products are included in the definition of, and provision for, the “basic human needs” of families. Having access to diapers improves babies’ overall health, reducing instances of diaper rash, urinary tract infections and other medical problems. It also has been shown to improve mothers’ mental health and family dynamics- by relieving a recurring, continual stressor. By providing diapers to families, we help them on a path toward economic stability. Parents cannot use childcare without an adequate supply of diapers, so many who can’t afford diapers end up missing work or school. This will make them less reliant on public assistance programs in the future, all while improving babies’ health and home lives.

The Barn is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, located at 8 Campus Dr. in Madison Connecticut, that provides programming and events for shoreline youth and their families.Our mission at The Barn, is to empower young people to pursue their interests and passions: encouraging a sense of community through creativity, music and the arts in a safe and supportive environment.The Barn is committed to embracing, nurturing and preserving a culture of inclusion and acceptance. Our community thrives from sharing unique experiences, perspectives and knowledge.  Together we build each other up and we are better and stronger when we are all connected. There is always room on our stage, and at our events,  for you to shine; regardless of race, gender, religion, skill or economic status.Our current programming includes:Musicals, plays, & murder mysteriesThemed summer campsScience, Technology, & Art WorkshopsRoboticsSocials & DancesFamily Events including game nights, trivia, & Ties & Tiara's dances!Holiday EventsGeneral creative workshops including comedy, face painting, cupcake decorating, etc.!

Guilford Youth Mentoring (GYM) is a highly regarded, school-based non-profit organization dedicated to fostering supportive relationships between local students and adult volunteers. Established in 2000, the program operates within all seven Guilford Public Schools, serving students from Pre-K through Grade 12.The program is recognized as a statewide model for collaboration, endorsed by the Connecticut Mentoring Partnership and the Governor’s Prevention Partnership.The mission of Guilford Youth Mentoring (GYM) is to connect students with caring adult volunteers to foster the self-esteem, academic engagement, and social-emotional skills necessary for personal success. By providing a consistent, one-on-one relationship, GYM helps students navigate challenges and reach their full potential within a supportive school environment. No specialized experience or background in education is required—all you need is a willing heart, a consistent presence, and the desire to be a positive role model for a local student. All mentoring takes place for approximately one hour per week, exclusively on school grounds during the school day and academic year.