Volunteer

The YWCA serves over 200 children via our Early Learning Program and Empowerment Childcare. We are seeking committed volunteers to serve in our childcare classrooms. Volunteers will be positive influences in the lives of children and will provide one on one attention, reading, lead small group games, and can support teachers in implementing curriculum and lessons 

Responsibilities:

Early Learning Childhood Engagement 

• Enrich our Child Care participants with reading, storytelling and group enrichment experiences.
• Provide children with support and engaging activities. 
• Provide positive reinforcement and promote healthy, non-violent behaviors
• Assist with crafts, games or free-play.
• Assist staff with snack time including prep, hand washing procedure and clean up. 
• Communicate with other staff and volunteers regarding on-going facility, program, and client needs. 
• Maintain organized and clean playroom and childcare areas
• Complete other tasks as assigned.

Commitment 

• Volunteers are asked to commit 1-2 hours per week
• State background checks must be completed
• Ability to complete state mandated training for childcare staff

In an effort to best support staff and build positive relationships with children, volunteers are asked to commit to at least 6 months of consistent hours. 

Physical Demands: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job: frequently required to move throughout the building, may occasionally lift and/or move heavy objects or boxes and participate in caring for children, including floor play, lifting, etc.

Times available Monday – Friday from 8 am – 5pm

MotherLove

YWCA’s MotherLove program aims to help pregnant and parenting teens stay in school and graduate, access higher education and vocational training, develop the skills and knowledge needed to become strong parents and delay another teen pregnancy. We are committed to ensuring bright futures for teen parents and their families.

Flexible time commitment

• Help behind-the-scenes organizing and distributing donated baby clothes, maternity clothes, baby care items, toys or new school supplies, diapers, and formula
• Join us for our monthly group meetings here at the YWCA and help a young parent learn new skills for her life as a successful parent and student
• Provide transportation for our young parents to and from MotherLove events

Getting Ahead

YWCA’s Getting Ahead program aims to provide financial empowerment for low-income women of all ages and backgrounds to make choices that positively impact themselves, their families and their community.

Flexible time commitment

• Support the Getting Ahead Coordinator in pre-session activities for the upcoming cohort
• Help Getting Ahead Coordinator in set-up/breakdown of in-person Getting Ahead
  sessions
• Put together gift bags, care packages or totes bags for Getting Ahead cohort
• Put together Support Materials (diapers, food boxes, clothing) for participants in the
  Getting Ahead office
• Assist the Getting Ahead Coordinator in putting together resources and information before each class and
  distribute if necessary

The YWCA indoor pool hosts a comprehensive Aquatics Program with activities for all ages, abilities, and interests.

Flexible time commitment

• Join the fun in the pool as a swim assistant.
• Help children and adults learn the basics of floating, kicking, breathing, and diving
• Support the Aquatics Program with behind-the-scenes administrative work or on-the-deck supervising

Flexible time commitment

• Office support that includes data entry, filing, and organizing the YWCA archive
• Help with translating YWCA documents and materials into Spanish

From its inception, the YWCA Asheville has been committed to the physical health of the women and families it serves.The YWCA is also committed to highlighting and addressing the racial health disparities that exist in our community. Today, the YWCA offers health and wellness activities and programs to promote health for all women and families in our community.

Flexible time commitment

• Support the YW Health and Fitness staff with facilities, program support, organization and administrative duties.

Responsibilities:

• Help create a welcoming environment for members and guests 
• Greet members, guests, and parents to let them know about building rules and security
• Orient members, guests and parents to check in process and show them where to go in the building
• Help take messages for staff follow up
• Respond to basic questions and be familiar with staff and resources to better answer questions about membership and YWCA programs 
• Collect and distribute questions to the appropriate staff members

Requires ability to stand or walk for one hour or more at a time

Shifts available:

• 7:30am-9:30am Monday- Friday
• 11:30am-1:30pm Monday- Friday
• 4-6pm Monday- Friday
• Saturday times based on availability

The kitchen assistant supports kitchen safety and sanitation for the YWCA’s Early Learning Program. Responsibilities include washing dishes, food carts and overall cleaning of the kitchen, mopping and sweeping after service.

• Under the direction of the Kitchen Manager, washes dishes used in preparation and children’s dishes following meal service and cleans kitchen equipment and surfaces as required
• Under the direction of the Child Nutrition Coordinator follows all protocols for sanitation  in clean-up of the kitchen 
• Sweep kitchen floor after each meal 
• Remove trash after every meal as part of a team effort 
• Responsible for receiving and unloading delivered items from foodservice provider with the help of the Kitchen manager

The YW is seeking passionate green thumbs to help maintain and ensure a thriving YW Garden. Plants in the YW Garden are transformed into delicious meals for the children in our care by our nutrition team, used to introduce students to new vegetables and herbs, and leveraged by our teachers as curriculum in our childcares allowing for our children to watch as plants grow from seed, to sprout, to thriving plant!

Responsibilities

• Follow a seasonal work plan including: planting, watering, pruning, weeding, and harvesting
• Ensure the proper waste disposal, installation and maintenance of food and pollination plants and gardens within the YWCA Garden 
• Provide end of workday updates to YW Point of contact

Volunteer Commitment is a minimum of 1-2 hours per week during the months of April – October. 

Experience: General garden maintenance experience is preferred. If you have specialized experience please let us know.

Hours: Garden commitments can be fulfilled Monday – Saturday, 8am-4pm

The YWCA also offers Sustainability, Communications, Events, Advocacy and Racial Justice volunteer opportunities. Please reach out if you have skills that you would like to share!