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How old does my child need to be to volunteer?

Short answer: We welcome helping hands as young as age 2! Check the age icon in the event image to find the right project for your family or group.

Need to know more about our age range? Most Seeds of Caring projects have been designed with ages 2-12 in mind, but as every parent and educator knows, this is a wide range! We are very mindful to provide meaningful modifications for children at the older and younger ends of this range whenever possible, and we will alert families in the event description if the project is geared toward a more narrow age range. Additionally, we typically welcome siblings outside the stated age range to participate, however, the project content may not be as meaningful or fulfilling for them. You know your children best, so unless we have specifically requested that kids under a certain age not participate, feel free to use your judgment about what type of project will be a good fit for your group or family. And finally, if you are looking for content that is more precisely geared toward second- through fourth-graders, check out our Kindness Corps Program which is aligned to State of Ohio learning standards.

How involved are grown-ups in the volunteer experience?

Very! Whether parents, teachers or group leaders—caring grown-ups are the key to making a Seeds of Caring volunteer experience successful.

ANYWHERE PROJECTS: Grown-ups will be provided with an easy-to-use discussion guide upon registering and are invited to take a few moments to review it before spending 15+ minutes utilizing these meaning-making resources with your children.

IN PERSON EVENTS: All children must have an adult with them at all times during Seeds of Caring events. We ask that caring grown-ups actively participate alongside their kids and guide them during the event. Close supervision is required to ensure a safe, rewarding experience for all participants.

I'm a teacher or group leader and would like to know how to get my kids involved. Where do I start?

Here are two ways to get your kids involved:
1. Incorporate flexible, affordable service-based learning through our Anywhere Projects! You provide the supplies, we provide the direction and education.

2. The Kindness Corps: Seeds of Caring also offers a 6-lesson interactive programming that aligns with social-emotional learning standards and engages student groups in hands-on service projects. We provide the training, supplies and a full curriculum.

Do I need to bring proof of registration to the event?

Nope! You do not need to print your ticket or confirmation email. Your name will be on the attendee list at the event.

Is there a fee to participate in Seeds of Caring events?

We work with our partners to find affordable, yet meaningful ways to engage kids in meeting real community needs. Check the supply fee icon in the event image to find out if a cost is associated with a project.

ANYWHERE PROJECTS: Most of our Anywhere Projects require families/groups to provide their own project supplies. We always include an approximate cost in the project description so that you can determine if the supply cost associated with a project is right for you. Many of our Anywhere Projects only require paper, pens, stamps or gently used items and can be completed at little to no cost.

‍IN PERSON EVENTS: We occasionally request a nominal fee to cover the cost of event supplies. All supply fees go directly to benefit our community partners and the individuals they serve. These fees are gathered at the time of your registration and are nonrefundable. Donations to fund the work at Seeds of Caring are always welcome and appreciated.

Do I have to register? Can't I just show up the day of the event or add my donations to my friend's pile?

We ask that all families and groups register individually for our projects. It’s important for us to have an accurate volunteer count as we frequently are faced with space limitations for In Person Events and need to ensure specific donation quantities as requested by partnering nonprofits for Anywhere Projects. Plus, when you take the time to register, you’ll gain access to our signature service packets for Anywhere Projects and you’ll guarantee that we have supplies and a space ready for you at our In Person Events!

Where do I find more details about the Anywhere Project I signed up for?

When you register for one of our Anywhere Projects, you will receive a Seeds of Caring service packet as a PDF link in your confirmation email. This includes project instructions, guided discussions, drop-off details, templates and more. The service packet will also be sent in reminder emails leading up to project completion. If for some reason you cannot access or locate your service packet, email us at programs@seedsofcaring.org.

What if I registered for an event but can no longer attend?

Volunteer participation is critical. Please cancel your registration with as much lead time as possible by following these steps: log in to your Eventbrite account; hover over your name and click on "Tickets;" select the ticket for the project you wish to cancel; click "cancel order." If you’re having trouble, you can email us. In Columbus, please email programs@seedsofcaring.org and in Indianapolis, please email indy@seedsofcaring.org.

All projects are full. What can I do?

Because so many families/groups want to volunteer, the available spots in our service projects often fill quickly. New service opportunities are posted on the 1st and 15th of each month in Columbus and on the 1st of each month in Indianapolis, so keep checking back. Follow us on social media (links to our channels are in the footer) to see last-minute cancellations or try an Anywhere Project instead. As Seeds of Caring continues to grow, so will the number of projects we are able to offer!

Can I sign up a group of families or children?

For In Person Events, no. For Anywhere Projects, yes. Here's the deal: Because Seeds of Caring's In Person Events have such limited seating capacity, we cannot typically accommodate groups and ask that every individual family register themselves so that we have an accurate headcount. However, all of our Anywhere Projects are open to group/class/team participation, and we welcome you to get as many youth involved in these projects as you'd like! Anywhere Projects that are especially low cost and group friendly are designated with a green group friendly icon in the main event image.

Is there a limit to the number of projects I can sign up for?

No, but we ask that volunteer families and groups be thoughtful of others who want to participate. Consider signing up for one or two projects at a time, and only for projects you are confident you have a clear calendar and capacity for. If you are unsure that you can actually participate on a specific date, hold off on registering and taking a spot until you are certain of your availability.

How can I maximize this experience for my child?

Oh, we love this question! First of all, we suggest talking with your child before and/or after the project about why you chose to participate, what volunteering/community engagement means to you, and the community need the project is impacting. We’ll provide lots of resources to help you do this! We also suggest turning the lead over to your children: empower them to be a part of deciding which project to register for, let them select items that will be donated, and allow them take the lead on completing all activities and crafts (even if it takes a little longer!).

ANYWHERE PROJECTS: We will provide you with lots of specific resources to help guide your family or group's discussion via our service packet, included as a PDF link in your confirmation and reminder emails. These packets will include videos, story read-alouds, discussion questions and more. We’ll also include a list of extension activities so that you can continue the conversation and reflection long after project completion.

IN PERSON EVENTS: Every In Person Event starts with 15-20 minutes of meaning-making, engaging kids’ hearts and minds. Whether through a game, guest speaker, worksheet or story read-aloud, we’ll invite families to pause and reflect on the community need being met and the individuals being impacted. We’ll also send you home with a list of extension activities so that you can continue the conversation and reflection long after project completion.

Do I have to have kids to participate? Can I help Seeds of Caring in any other capacity?

While all of our programming is designed specifically to empower our youngest citizens to take action, we rely on lots of caring grown-up volunteers, called Ambassadors, to make this work possible. We are always in need of In-Person Co-leaders, porch drop volunteers for Anywhere Project donations, assistance with community outreach, funding development, administrative tasks, and more. To learn more about becoming involved with the Seeds of Caring Ambassador team, email programs@seedsofcaring.org.

I'm not in Columbus or Indianapolis. How can I get a Seeds of Caring chapter in my city?

We're working on it! Seeds of Caring has the bold goal to become the leading national nonprofit for youth service and volunteerism but we can't get there without the infrastructure necessary for successful expansion. And for that, we need funding from generous donors who agree that a kinder, more connected world IS possible with our kids in the driver's seat. Want to help? Email info@seedsofcaring.org.

How do Anywhere Projects work?

Q: How long does an Anywhere Project take?
A: 60-90min

Q: Where can I complete an Anywhere Project?
A: ANYWHERE! For example, at home, your school gymnasium, the basement of a synagogue, library meeting room. Really, the sky’s the limit!

Q: How do I know what to do?
A: You'll be emailed a service packet when you register.

Q: How much do Anywhere Projects cost?
A: Registration is always free, but supply cost varies by project.

Q: What exactly does the group friendly icon mean?
A: Projects marked with the green group friendly icon are particularly well-suited for larger groups of kids and have a supply cost of less than $5 per child.

Q: What supplies do I need?
A: It depends on the project! Sometimes, you’ll need nothing more than paper and markers. Other times you'll need sandwich supplies, beads, glue, etc. The emailed service packet includes a detailed supply list.

Q: What’s included in an Anywhere Project?
A: Each Anywhere Project always includes: an education component, scripted empathetic discussion questions, and a hands-on service project.

Q: Why do I need to drop off my donations on certain dates and times?
A: Our nonprofit partners count on your donations for specific needs/events, and our friendly volunteer Ambassadors loan us their porches to collect donations for a specified time period.

Q: Where do I drop off my donations?
A: The service packet you receive provides possible drop-off locations on the first page. You can pick the location that’s most convenient for you. (Occasionally, we offer a mail-in option for projects too). Want to dive deeper? Check out a more detailed video about how Anywhere Projects work here.

How can businesses get involved?

We are currently seeking corporate sponsors and would love to speak with you if you know of a company that seeks to empower our youngest generation to create a kinder, more connected community. We can also provide a custom volunteer event for families of employees at your workplace. Contact us at info@seedsofcaring.org to chat about it.

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