How You Can Help
YELLS is all about community, and our energetic volunteers are an integral part of that community. We have a small staff, and our volunteers allow us to provide the dynamic and individualized services our youth and families deserve.
More than 150 volunteers and more than 20 community partners donate 2,884 hours of service to us each year. The benefit: YELLS youth discover that they can make a difference, and the community we serve feels that difference every single day.
We have many needs, but that also means we have dozens of opportunities for volunteers to engage. Whether you want to help our youth with homework, lead a recreation or enrichment activity, coach our teens as they plan community events, welcome guests at the front desk, help with administrative work, clean and organize, or dig in at our Community Garden, there’s a volunteer opportunity for every interest.
YELLS also loves to work with groups of volunteers. If you or your group have an idea, email us so we can make it happen.
We value the work of our volunteers deeply, and we would love for you to be a part of our movement and our YELLS family.
YELLS has served hundreds of youth and families. We’ve opened two safe-havens on Franklin Road, expanding services from once a week Mentoring to a daily After School Program. YELLS has engaged an entire community.
A full listing of volunteer opportunities is included on our Volunteer Application form, which can be submitted to Laura Keefe at laura@yellsinc.org.
Volunteer Opportunities in the Mentoring Program
Service Project Coaches
As a Service Project Coach, you’ll support teams of Bigs and Littles as they work together to design and implement amazing Community Service Projects. Service Project Coach Responsibilities include:
- Attending First Saturday monthly work sessions (9:00 am – 1:00 pm) and Service Project event day
- Providing guidance in between meetings through emails, phone calls, or meetings depending on your availability
- Helping coach Bigs to keep up with project planning tasks and provide guidance and assistance where needed
Mentors
While Bigs are mentors to elementary-school Littles, they are still developing in their leadership and need the support of adults like you. As an Adult Mentor, you will develop a deep and lasting bond with our Bigs as you coach them to serve as better mentors & help them develop as young leaders and change makers. Mentor Responsibilities include:
- Spending a minimum of one hour each week with Bigs during our Tuesday sessions (any time between 3:00 – 6:00 pm)
- Providing coaching and support to 1-5 Bigs as a Mentor
- Serving as a positive role model and helping Bigs overcome challenges with Littles and everyday life
Volunteer Opportunities in the Afterschool Program
Homework Helpers
Our Kindergarten-fifth grade youth are always in need of adults to help them successfully complete homework assignments and increase their learning through educational games. Assistance needed from 4:30 – 6:30 Mondays through Fridays.
Teacher’s Assistants
YELLS helps youth grow to be positive young leaders through character and skill-building leadership workshop, art activities, educational lessons, and recreation. Volunteers help teachers prepare and lead workshops and activities. Assistance needed from 3:00 – 7:00 Mondays through Fridays.
Club Leaders
Each Friday we have “Choice Clubs” for K-5th grade youth. Volunteers lead unique and fun enrichment activities in anything from baking to martial arts to jewelry making to music, dance, and much more. Club leaders must develop and lead lessons for 6 consecutive Fridays between 4:30 – 6:30. They will lead a group of 5-12 youth in a subject matter of their choosing.
Volunteer Opportunities in the Community Action Café Teen Program
Apprenticeship Coaches
Teams of Café teens work together to manage the Community Action Café as a hub for community engagement, education, and action. Teams focus on areas such as Financial Management, Operations, Marketing, Hospitality & Service, Culinary Arts, and Community Planning. As an Apprenticeship Coach you will support the teams in their roles. Responsibilities include:
- Meeting weekly with Apprenticeship Team (ideally on Wednesdays between 4:30 and 6:00 pm – but other times available)
- Providing guidance and coaching as they work to carry out tasks from planning events, creating budgets, developing marketing materials, connecting with partners, and implementing customer service initiatives.
- Helping Team members grow in their responsibility, teamwork, and interpersonal relationships.
Tutor/Academic Support Volunteer
Teens will work on homework and improving their academic success each day at the Café. Adults are needed to help teens plan for academic success as well as complete specific homework assignments in various subjects. Assistance needed from 3:00 – 4:30 Mondays and Wednesdays and 3:00 – 6:00 Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Leadership Mentors
Our YELLS Teens are learning a variety of new interpersonal, career readiness, and leadership skills to prepare them for their futures as well as their current work in the Café. Adult mentors are needed to help them develop and apply these skills and grow in their customer service and servant-leadership. Times are flexible between 3:00 and 6:00 for adults to meet with a teen or teens and provide constructive feedback and coaching to support their personal growth as they work within the Café.
Expert Workshop Facilitators
To prepare teens to excel in their own lives and run their Community Action Café hub, we will provide continuous workshops on everything from specific skills for operating their Teams to general social development and leadership skills. Expert facilitators are needed to lead these sessions in an interactive and engaging format.
Volunteer Opportunity with the Summer Program: Facilitate Engaging Workshops with YELLS Youth
Do you love to create, inspire, and empower? Are you great with teens and have a passion you want to share? We’re looking for dynamic individuals to share their unique passions and skills with our YELLS teens through engaging and interactive activities or workshops. This summer is all about exposure, and we want to offer our youth some wild opportunities, unique skills, and unforgettable experiences. We’re looking for all types of activities from the educational to the obscure. You can lead a Zumba session, or teach our teens to DJ, thrift shop, photograph, act, design, speak out in spoken word or silence their minds in meditation. We welcome your out-of-the-box ideas!
Please click here for more info on how to engage as a Facilitator.
Volunteer Opportunities at YELLS Events
In addition to our daily need for volunteers to work with our youth, we welcome volunteers at upcoming events.
Franklin Fair (Saturday, April 16 from 1:00 – 4:00 pm – rain date April 23): Join our YELLS Mentoring Program Bigs and Littles as they lead a day of family fun for our community. The whole family will enjoy the games and festivities, and parents will have the opportunity to develop their career readiness and prepare for our Job Fair on the CobbWorks Mobile Career Center. Volunteers are still needed to help lead games, serve food, and assist with registration. Location: Liberty Pointe Apartments – 707 Franklin Gateway, Marietta, GA 30067
YELLS Community Dinner (Friday, April 22 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm): Join us for free food and fellowship to grow as a community. This is the third of a series of Community Dinners designed by our YELLS Mentoring Program Bigs to unite neighbors and build relationships. Location: YELLS Community Action Cafe – 779 Franklin Gateway, Marietta, GA 30067
Franklin Gateway Job Fair (Saturday, April 30 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm): YELLS teens are planning a Job Fair at their Cafe for adults in our community. We’re also still accepting employers. Location: YELLS Community Action Cafe – 779 Franklin Gateway, Marietta, GA 30067
Community Garden Spring Planting (Saturday, April 30 from 1:30 – 3:30 pm): Change out of your interviewing suit after the Job Fair, and put on your overalls to join us in our Community Garden for spring planting. Plots are still available for Franklin Gateway residents as well! Location: Liberty Pointe Apartments – 707 Franklin Gateway, Marietta, GA 30067
Extras Needed for Cafe Commercial (Wednesday, April 20 from 4:30 – 6:00 pm): Our teens are putting their video production skills to use as they shoot a commercial for their Community Action Cafe. We need you to serve as an extra by simply enjoying some time in the Cafe and letting our teens serve you. Location: YELLS Community Action Cafe – 779 Franklin Gateway, Marietta, GA 30067
Franklin Gateway Documentary Premiere and Open Mic Night (Save the Date for Thursday, May 19): YELLS teens just finished filming and our now editing an exciting documentary showcasing their community. Be the first to see the debut, and then stick around to celebrate and hear the incredibly talented voices of our community during the Open Mic Night. Location: YELLS Community Action Cafe – 779 Franklin Gateway, Marietta, GA 30067