Mission: To provide a safe and supportive environment for abused and neglected children.   Through the Center, social workers, counselors, law enforcement officers, state attorneys, victim advocates, Guardians Ad Litem, and medical professionals work as a team to coordinate investigations and interventions for each child abuse case, thus expediting the child's time in the legal system.   Combining the wisdom and professional knowledge of a "multidisciplinary team" ensures that children are not re-victimized by the system and that they and their families are provided the support and services needed.


admin@childadvocacycentergainesville.org
www.childadvocacycentergainesville.org

Children's Home Society of Florida is one of the oldest statewide organizations in Florida serving the needs of children and families.   Founded in 1902 as an adoption organization, we have since placed more than 37,000 children in loving adoptive homes.   Today, our services have expanded to include the fight to end child abuse and neglect for increasing numbers of children.Children’s Home Society of Florida is dedicated to breaking the generational cycle of child abuse and neglect for more and more children through our prevention, intervention, and adoption services.   Last year, our Mid-Florida Division served 6,898 children and families.   Our goal is to ensure every child is safe, healthy and prepared for life as we continue to focus on our mission of “Embracing Children. Inspiring Lives.”


www.chsfl.org

Application deadline is 5PM April 7th
The Florida Museum of Natural History is accepting applications for summer 2011 junior volunteers from students ages 12-17.   An application and more information are available online, or at the museum front desk during business hours.   New applicants are encouraged to apply for this fun and educational volunteer experience where they meet new friends and gain important practical life skills.   Junior volunteers must serve at least two weeks during the summer (40 hours if serving as a camp assistant) and may work a maximum of four hours per day.   A pre-service interview, required for all new applicants, will take place Saturday, April 23, and a training session from 1 to 4:45 p.m. Sunday, June 5 is required for new and returning volunteers.   Junior volunteers work with younger students in the museum's summer camps and with children and families in the Discovery Room.   They also interact with visitors in the permanent and temporary exhibits, may catch a glimpse of what goes on behind-the-scenes and celebrate their work with an end-of-summer party.


www.flmnh.ufl.edu/volunteers/vol_juniors.htm

Mission: To provide a fun, safe, educational and diabetesfriendly camp environment for children with type 1 diabetes and their families where they can gain confidence, skills and knowledge to achieve their full potential.

Gary Cornwell

fccyd@floridadiabetescamp.org
www.floridadiabetescamp.org

We freely promote volunteer opportunities in the Gainesville, Florida area.   Help support our community and get involved!

www.gainesvillevolunteer.com

Mission: Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.   Girl Scout activities provide an environment where girls can build the personal skills and social conscience necessary to make the world a better place.   Girl Scouts is one of the few organizations in the U.S. that is girl-focused and girl-driven.

Girl Scouting is available to all girls ages 5-17.   Annual membership is $12.   Financial assistance is available.

Girl Scouts of Gateway Council
For information on joining a troop in your area:
info@girlscouts-gateway.org

www.girlscouts-gateway.org

Mission: To advocate for the best interests of children who are alleged to be abused, neglected or abandoned and who are involved in court proceedings.   The Guardian ad Litem Program recruits, trains, and supervises volunteers who represent the best interests of abused, neglected, and abandoned children in court proceedings.   Guardians also sometimes represent children in child custody issues and in criminal cases.   The Guardian ad Litem is certified based on state standards which include background checks and required specialized training.


www.gal.alachua.fl.us

Host An Exchange Student From France:   Bring a French friend into your own home by hosting a teen student from France for 2 to 4 weeks in July summer 2012.   Choose a girl or a boy. As a host family (single or couple, with or without any age children) you provide room (or just bed) and meals.   The students come to improve fluency in English language that they have learned for 2-5 years and to enjoy the American cultural immersion.   They are fully insured for medical and other emergencies.   They come with a group leader/chaperone for Florida and some spending money to buy things.   You can gain a rich, warm experience of foreign culture, broaden the horizon of international understanding for your family, learn a few French words if interested and have an opportunity to get invited to their home in France!   There is NO CHARGE for this hosting.


jdcharu@hotmail.com
www.frenchfunfood.com

Tweens and teens age 12 to 17 work alongside Museum staff throughout the summer, sharing programs and exhibits with visitors and public program participants.   A variety of positions are available, including discovery cart attendant, discovery room assistant, camp teacher's assistant, puppeteers, and more.   It's easy to make new friends who love the Museum just like you do. This is also a great opportunity to learn about the "behind the scenes" work necessary to present programs and events.   All junior volunteers are trained and supervised.


www.flmnh.ufl.edu/volunteers/vol_juniors.htm

The vision of Kids Count in Alachua County, Inc. is that all elementary children in the community who need extra support to succeed in school and life will have that opportunity.   To work towards this vision, Kids Count partners with schools, churches and other organizations to offer highly effective programs that inspire hope, enhance learning, improve confidence and build life skills.   Kids Count provides qualified staff, volunteers and expertise for the programs it supports.  

There are 3 components to the Kids Count Program: literacy tutoring, character development and enrichment.

Volunteers Needed Kids Count volunteers love children and know that they are making a difference in the lives of our students. Whether it is providing academic support, homework help, or assisting with an exciting enrichment activity the volunteers and the children are involved in, our volunteers are helping to build positive relationships and a positive future for the students. Due to the success of our programs volunteers are needed to work with our students grades in K-3. A minimum of one hour per week is required.

Donations Needed Kids Count In Alachua County appreciates the support of the community. Your contribution is not just a donation, it is an investment in the future of our children and our community. No matter how small or how large the contribution your generosity will enable us to continue to make a difference in the lives of children.

Kids Count Wish List Kids Count appreciates donations of items that can be utilized by our program. Please contact us if you wish to donate any of our wish list items.
-Healthy snacks (consider sponsoring snacks for a month)
-Colorful rugs
-Table & chairs for young children
-Large shelving unit for kitchen
-Digital camera
-Flip video camera
-CDs with children's songs
-Parachute (large for outside) -Outside activity items: portable volleyball net, portable soccer goals, plastic "bases", hula hoops, jump ropes, sandbox toys, balls
-Inside activity Items: Play-doh, simple board games, simple puzzles (100 pieces or less), etc.
-Arts and crafts materials
-Large blankets suitable for outside circle time
-Clothes in kids' sizes (for emergencies) coats, shorts, shirts, pants, underwear, sweatpants/shirts
-Children's books


www.kidscountalachuacounty.org

The Pink Wish Foundation, Inc is a national non-profit organization dedicated to empowering the girls of today and women of tomorrow through etiquette instruction, academic excellence, community outreach and economic empowerment.

Empowering Girls and Young Women: The Pink Wish Foundation offers a variety of programs that seek to enrich the lives of young women and girls by exposing them to a variety of techniques to effectively communicate and interact in all professional and social settings.   Pink Wish programs have been designed to meet the needs of young women and girls who face life's challenges especially in the absence of their fathers.   We will make a long-term investment to ensure that each life is provided with vital resources and support to be successful leaders of their households and communities.

Empowering Boys and Young Men: The success of the pink wish programs for girls has since encouraged the launch of programs for the empowerment of young boys and men.   Our efforts and capacity continue to grow that we might empower children throughout the United States as well as beyond our borders.

www.pinkwishfoundation.ning.com

Mission: To provide temporary housing, basic amenities and support to families with critically ill children being treated at medical facilities in the Gainesville area.   We operate a 30-bedroom house and a Ronald McDonald Family Room at Shands Children's Hospital.

Kimberly Mayden, executive director

Emailinfo@rmhgainesville.org
www.rmhgainesville.org

Mission: To advocate and fundraise for a full service, state-of-the-art children’s hospital in Gainesville while promoting excellence in patient safety and insuring that all families are treated with compassion, courtesy and dignity.

Please visit the website to learn how you can donate and/or volunteer your time to help.


info@SebastianFerrero.org
www.SebastianFerrero.org

March 3rd and 4th
9:00AM - 3:00PM
Admission is free, but some children's activities may have a fee

Volunteers needed in 2-3 hour shifts for painting section, food sales, kids area, vendor set up and more.

Third annual Where the Sidewalk Ends: Family Arts Festival to celebrate Youth Art Month.   The festival includes art vendors, music, food, art activities, art demonstrations, live reenactments and family-friendly organizations.   Plus kids activities like painting, sidewalk chalk, bounce houses, petting zoo, hoola hoops, face painting, make and take projects, story times and much more.

www.yoppinc.com