Volunteer Service Opportunities (330) 379-2055
On any given day, Summit County Children Services serves more than 2,000 abused, neglected and dependent children. The agency relies of the generosity of the community to provide children with the “extras” – holiday gifts, school supplies and Easter baskets – not covered by tax/operating dollars. This kind of collaboration with area organizations, businesses, churches, groups and individuals is evident by the donations and financial support received for the various programs.
Holiday Toy Room
Gifts for nearly1,500 abused, neglected and dependent children (all ages) are needed each year. From October through December, Summit County Children Services operates a Holiday Toy Room which is a major distribution center for toys and gifts. Toy donations and/or financial contributions are needed to continually keep the Toy Room stocked during the holiday season. Items needed include:
Infants & Young Children
Cradle Gyms
Musical Toys
Rattles
Building Blocks
Coloring books
Crayons
Cooking Sets
Craft Kits
Puzzles
Dolls (all ethnicities)
Games Learning Toys
Lego Sets
Riding Toys
Tinker Toys
Toy Dishes
Cards/Trucks
School Age & Teens
Alarm Clocks
CD Players (portable)
Hair Dryers
Cologne/Perfume
Curling Irons
Board Games
Hand-Held Games
Basketballs
Footballs
Soccer Balls
Gym Bags
Sleeping Bags
Jewelry
Jewelry Boxes Purses
Radios/Boom Boxes
Wallets
Watches
Movie Tickets
Fast Food Gift Cards
In addition to toys, specific clothing items are needed for children of all ages (and sizes): pajamas, socks, undergarments, hats and gloves. Volunteers are always needed to work in the Toy Room to assist families with their toy and gift selections.
Grocery Store Gift Cards
At Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, Summit County Children Services hopes to provide grocery store gift cards to nearly 600 client/needy families for whom the agency is providing ongoing services. Gift card donations (any dollar amount to any area grocery stores) are needed to help ensure children have food to eat during the holidays.
Easter Program
More than 1,600 filled Easter baskets are needed each year for children in foster care and kinship care as well as those receiving ongoing protective services. Baskets with lots of candy, age appropriate toys, coloring books, crayons, and stuffed animals are needed. Distribution is usually two weeks before Easter.
School Supplies Program
The goal of the School Supplies Program is to ensure that all children served by the agency start each school year with the necessary supplies. Each year, more than 1,500 children are given back packs filled with school supplies – all donated. Volunteers are needed to help sort, pack and distribute the back packs.
Kindergarten & Lower Elementary
School Boxes
Crayons
Blunt Scissors
Block Erasers
Glue Sticks
Pencils
Writing Tablets
Pocket Folders
Tissue Boxes