Click here for a list of the most current volunteer opportunities.

Are you looking for a way to make a difference in someone else’s life? Maybe someone has invested in you, and you want to extend that kindness to someone else? One of the greatest values of working with volunteers is the opportunity for our children and youth to experience a different kind of treatment and meaningful relationships with adults at their own pace. They have the opportunity to see themselves in the eyes of someone who is there simply because they care.

Who can volunteer?

Volunteering requires no previous job experience — you contribute the skills that you already have! Application and age requirements vary based on the volunteer opportunity.

What can I do to help?

Well, just about anything! We’re flexible to work with your schedule and the interests and skills you can share with our young people. Listed below are several of our ongoing volunteer opportunities, but our needs are always changing. Tell us what you’d like to do, and we may have a place for you!

For individual volunteers

Tutor Offer your time and talent to help a child or young person with reading, writing, math, social studies or science. Most of our students need guidance and encouragement mastering basic study and academic skills, as well as intensive help with specific middle and high school subjects. This usually involves a commitment of one weekly tutoring session for the length of a school year. The age requirement to be a tutor is 18.

Activity leader Do you enjoy teaching? Share your area of expertise with a group of our young people. Art? Music? Sport? Dance? Style, fashion, makeup? Dog training and grooming? Creative writing or journalism? Anything else? This can be one time or a series of classes or activities. The age requirement to be an activity leader is 18.

Professional service We are always in need of professional personnel who are willing to volunteer their specific skills. There is a need for professional volunteers including doctors, dentists, psychologists, psychiatrists, lawyers, teachers, etc. If you have a skill you think could benefit the Home, let us know! The age requirement to be a professional volunteer is 23.

For volunteer work groups*

• grounds/landscaping maintenance
• painting in cottages and around campus
• and more… just ask!

For groups – Agape Meals

The Agape Meal is a ministry designed to build community on the United Methodist Children’s Home campus through sharing a weekly meal and worship experience together, like the early church did when they first gathered. Parents and children in our Family Housing program, young adults ages 17-21 in our Independent Living Program, and participants in our off-campus Transitional Living Program are invited to gather in the UMCH dining room each Sunday from 5:00-6:30 p.m. for a meal and worship around the tables.

Volunteers are needed as:

• Table hosts who welcome guests, guide and encourage conversation and help foster fellowship
• Table servers who help by setting up the tables, and waiting on them (i.e. filling glasses, bringing food, clearing tables)
• Clean-up crew workers after the worship time

We encourage you to gather a team of about 15 people from your church, community group or other social group to come and serve together. If there are more than 15 in your group that are interested, we’d love to have another team come on another date.

If your group has musical gifts, and would like to share a song in our worship time, please let us know. Also, if there are some in your group who would like to help with childcare for the youngest children during the worship time, that would be a great help as well.

If your group is interested in volunteering in this interactive, community-building ministry, please contact Jane Howland or Carol Younger.

Occasional volunteer needs

• seasonal mailings helper
• special events volunteers
• administrative/office work
• and more… just ask!

Becoming a volunteer

To begin the process of applying for a volunteer position, applicants must submit a completed volunteer application and accompanying forms, and have a satisfactory criminal records check. If you have any questions, call 404.327.5832, or email the Volunteer Coordinator.

If you are interested in applying to be a volunteer at UMCH, please read the following information and mail the completed application, confidentiality agreement, ethical standards code and background check consent forms to: Attn: Volunteer Coordinator, UMCH, 500 S. Columbia Drive, Decatur GA 30030.

Click here to download the Volunteer Application and Forms

Please note: this application is not for Jesse’s House volunteers. If you would like to apply to volunteer for Jesse’s House, please click here.)

If you have trouble downloading the forms, or if you have any questions about volunteering, contact the Volunteer Coordinator.

*For work groups, the age requirement is 12 years old, and no paperwork is necessary.

Looking for another way to help?

If you are looking for a way to do something hands-on for the children and families we serve, but you live too far from our campus or have other constraints that prevent you from our regular on-campus volunteer positions, you can still help! You, your family or your group can put together one of the kits on our Kits List and drop them off at the Children’s Home during our business hours.

If you have any questions (or happen to take some fun photos of your group putting together a kit!), contact Alina Crews. Thank you for your kindness toward our children and families, and have fun putting together your kit!