Without our adult and youth volunteers, Haven of Hope for Kids would not be possible.  Volunteers currently consist of the seven other members of the Board of Trustees, six members of the Advisory Board and 35 other adults and children who actively assist in the program.  Volunteers drive families, if they did not have a car, take families shopping, host barbeques and accompany families fishing, hiking, horseback riding, swimming and on other planned activities.

 

For the families our volunteers are the face of Haven of Hope for Kids.  Our volunteers also work behind the scene with such essential tasks as painting the cottage and organizing the donation of furniture, books and household items.  Other generous individuals and companies in the community provide free admissions for our families or welcomed families to their farms. Condit Toyota in Newton provided us a van for our use over the summer.

 

There are so many ways for volunteers to help.  But, if you do volunteer you will soon discover that you receive far more than you give.  From our guest families we have learned that faith, hope, joy and love are possible and most evident in the most difficult of times.

 

Each family and each volunteer has been touched in many meaningful ways; some so simple: A mother sharing with another the story of her family’s difficult journey, the excitement of a child catching her first fish, the pride of a father rowing his wife and children across a beautiful lake, the satisfaction of a child overcoming her fear of a water slide, the courage of a child touching, then brushing and ultimately riding a 1,200 pound horse, the emergence of a close friendship between a teenager from the city and a volunteer her own age from the country. There have been long talks that have included laughter, hugs and tears. The lasting achievement we believe is that our families leave for home knowing that they are less alone than they thought and have more caring friends than they imagined.

 

Know also that we would welcome you here to see first hand what we are doing. If would would like to volunteer, please download and complete our application form and mail or email it to us.