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"Volunteers don't necessarily have the time, they just have the heart." - Elizabeth Andrew
D.A. Blodgett – St. John’s could not exist without the selfless, unwavering support of an army of volunteers. Hundreds of caring individuals give their time every year. Their work allows us to create a future of hope for thousands of children, and we couldn’t do what we do without them.
Already signed up to volunteer with your group? Make sure to fill out our Confidentiality & Release of Information Notice before coming in.
Individual Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer with youth that live on our residential campus or become a mentor!
NOTICE: In order to reduce foot traffic and keep the students and staff on our residential campus safe from COVID-19, we are not currently allowing individual volunteers onto our residential campus. Thank you for your understanding.
Our residential campus is an open campus and home to youth ages 0 to 17. The youth in this program work hard towards achieving personal goals while learning the skills necessary to be successful in the community and a less restrictive placement. A large part of our goal for our residential students is to teach them the skills they need in order to be successful and to offer a broad range of opportunities and activities to encourage positive self-esteem and personal growth and awareness.
Opportunities for volunteering with our residential campus include ways that you can offer your own skills and experiences with our students in an engaging activity or growing opportunity.
This may include:
- Art/creative activity
- Cooking class
- Yoga/mindfulness activity
- Fitness class
- Sewing/knitting/crocheting
- Academics/tutoring
And many other areas not listed here!
NOTICE: In order to reduce foot traffic and keep the students and staff on our residential campus safe from COVID-19, we are not currently allowing individual volunteers onto our residential campus. Thank you for your understanding.
NOTICE: In order to reduce foot traffic and keep the students and staff on our residential campus safe from COVID-19, we are not currently allowing individual volunteers onto our residential campus. Thank you for your understanding.
Mentors at DABSJ are volunteers who provide mentoring to promote healthy parenting to young parents and support to kids ages 10-25. Our mentors are adult volunteers who commit to supporting someone in need.
Questions? Contact us!
Group Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteer with a group of up to 20 people. Help us with campus beautification or micro projects.
NOTICE: Due to COVID-19, we are only allowing outdoor projects at this time. Thank you for your understanding.
Campus Beautification Projects
We have several volunteer opportunities throughout the year to help keep our 25-acre Knapp Campus looking sharp! Opportunities include landscaping, painting, carpentry, cleaning, and more! See opportunities below.
- Spread mulch in flower beds and playground – Mid April to mid May
- Weed flower beds – May to September
- Trim flowers, bushes and small trees in and around the houses – May/June
- Edge sidewalks - using gas powered edger and backpack blower - April/June/Aug
- Spin trim – As needed
- Grass mowing
- 24” self-propelled walk behind mower detailing around buildings and landscaping
Must be qualified (and demonstrate) to operate a 60” commercial stand on our zero turn lawn mower
- Bedrooms in houses
- Paint bridge on Knapp Campus
- Paint Deck on Commons Building
- Rebuild pergola in adventure area
- Rebuild benches in grass area behind Kids First Emergency Shelter
- Rebuild benches in front of Kids First Emergency Shelter
- Interior house work such as
- Cabinet repair, adjustments, handles, hinges and locksets
- Door repair, adjustments, refinish, handles and hinges
- Patch and paint interior walls
- Window washing at Knapp Campus
- Window washing at Leonard Campus
Micro Projects
Micro projects are short one hour projects for all ages, donation drives, and more! See our opportunities below.
D.A. Blodgett – St. John’s helps more than 11,000 kids and families each year. Some of our highest needed items are for our care bags. When a child enters foster care through us, we give them a backpack filled with things to call their own and help make them a little more comfortable when entering a new foster home.
Host a donation drive for these necessary items! View a list of items needed for care bags here (3 MB, PDF).
