Transitional Housing Corporation

Volunteer Opportunities

THC has weekly, monthly, and one-time volunteer opportunities to work with our toddlers, youth, teenagers, young adults, and adults.

Opportunities include:
Adopt an Apartment Program
Youth Enrichment Programs
Adult Basic Education/ GED Tutoring Program
Volunteer Work Days
Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Walkathon

Time for Tots

Time for Tots is a time specifically designated to engage the youngest population who reside at THC. This program will provide enrichment activities to enhance and develop the mobility, cognition, and verbal skills of toddler’s ages 0-3.

Youth Enrichment Program (YEP) (weekly opportunity)

Transitional Housing Corporation (THC) strives to enrich the lives of the young people who reside in our facilities. This is done by implementing various youth activities at each facility on a weekly basis. Each Partner Arms facility hosts a weekly youth activity on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. These educational, recreational, and cultural activities make a difference to our children who benefit greatly from time engaging in enriching activities with volunteers! Volunteers assist THC staff by helping to implement activities as directed.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings of every week between 5pm-8pm; specific times to be determined and communicated by Volunteer Coordinator & Family Services Coordinator. YEP Programs include monthly Field Trips, Garden Club, Reading Club, YEP Arts Program, mentoring, and tutoring services.

Volunteers will be expected to greet children on time, walk with children to the program site (a short distance), help with the supervision, assist children with the activity, walk with children back to their building, and wait with children until the activity ends at appointed time and/or parents come to take their children home. THC asks for a consistent commitment from volunteers for the Youth Enrichment Program. If you would like to volunteer with the Youth Enrichment Program, please see volunteer requirements.

Drop-off at the closest metro is available after YEP Programs end.

Help the Homeless Walkathon

Every year hundreds of THC supporters walk with THC for the Fannie Mae Help The Homeless Walkathon. Individuals, faith organizations, companies, and teams of friends are encouraged to join the Friends of THC Walkathon Team and walk with us! Groups can also host a Mini-Walk in the fall in support of the Fannie Mae Help the Homeless Walkathon.

Reading Club (monthly opportunity)

Taking a closer look at homelessness and those who experience it often provides understanding of how the larger community can take proactive steps to preventing homelessness. There are definite connections between illiteracy and homelessness. Studies show that “The single most significant factor influencing a child’s early educational success is an introduction to books and being read to at home prior to beginning school.” (National Commission on Reading, 1985). The most successful way to improve the reading achievement of low-income children is to increase their access to print materials.

As a part of YEP, THC implements a Reading Club on the third Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evening of each month. In a fun, interactive, and educational environment, youth focus on enhancing their literacy skills by participating in 1:1 reading opportunities, group reading activities, and tutoring services if needed. We also have a creative incentives program for children to earn books to take home for their continued enjoyment and enrichment.

The 3rd Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of every month
6:00pm - 8:15pm Tuesdays (PA2)
6:00pm- 8:15pm Wednesdays (PA1)
6:15pm - 7:45pm Thursdays (PA3)

Drop-off at the closest metro is available after Reading Club ends.

Volunteers are asked to greet the Family Services Coordinator and children on time, walk with children to the program site (a short distance), help with supervision, assist children with their reading and comprehension skills, take part in all activities planned, walk with children back to their building, and wait with children until the activity ends at appointed time and/or parents come to take their children home. Most importantly, THC hopes you and our youth have FUN and enjoy reading together! THC asks for a monthly commitment from volunteers for the Reading Club.

Garden Club (monthly opportunity, May-September)

When Spring arrives, we have just the activity to get you outside! The THC Garden Club is part of our Youth Enrichment Program. The gardens at Partner Arms I, II, and III allow the youth to learn about gardening and take pride in their neighborhood. The children will be learning math, writing skills, science, environmental stewardship and nutrition in the midst of maintaining their garden. THC is seeking volunteers to help with the Garden Club in the Spring of 2010. We would love for volunteers to come out and help us tend to our gardens while having fun outside with our young people!

Garden Club will resume in May 2010.

Adopt an Apartment Program

Homeless families entering the Partner Arms program have few possessions. Congregations, corporations, and community groups adopt an apartment by furnishing these homes for incoming residents. When families graduate from the Partner Arms program, they take all furnishings with them to their new residence. Another group then adopts the apartment for the next family moving in.

To date in 2009, THC has had seven apartment move-ins at Partner Arms 1 & 2. St. John’s Episcopal Church, Norwood, St. Francis Episcopal Church, Potomac, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Fairland, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Arlington, St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church, Bethesda, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Burke, Christ Episcopal Church, Rockville, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Rock Creek donated all the furnishings for the new residents’ apartments. Over 80 people participated in furnishing these homes!

Adopt an Apartment volunteers oversee every part of creating a home, from making the beds to arranging the silverware drawer. It is wonderful to witness the energy and spirit of each group! Each move-in paves the way for the incoming family to begin a successful transition from homelessness to permanent housing. We are extremely grateful to all the churches and volunteers for their generosity - Thank you!

If your congregation or your group would like to volunteer or adopt an apartment, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator. http://www.thcdc.org/images/uploads/St.PaulsAAPfall09_.jpg

Volunteer Work Days

We are always looking for ways to involve volunteers in one-time service opportunities. THC needs groups of volunteers to do manual labor projects around the THC residential properties. Yard work, painting, cleaning and other service projects provide volunteers a chance to use some elbow grease, bond with each other, learn about THC, serve their community, and laugh quite a lot! We plan these opportunities around the needs of THC, as well as a group’s differing ages, skill sets, abilities, and calendars. Contact THC’s Volunteer Coordinator to set up your Volunteer Work Day!

THC would like the thank Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and George Washington University for their recent involvement in a THC Volunteer Work Day.