Volunteer | 3R's

Volunteer Opportunities

GENERAL

The following volunteer opportunities are for individuals 18 and older.
However, we also have opportunities for individual high school students, corporate and other groups and those needing to fill community service hours. Please email office@ruths.org for more information.

Time Commitment:

The following volunteer opportunities require minimum 2 hour shifts. Volunteers are welcome Tue.-Thur. from 10:00-5:00 and Fri. from 10:00-3:00.

Clothing:

Close-toed shoes are required for safety reasons. We recommend comfortable shoes, such as sneakers. We also recommend dressing in layers as the warehouse can be chilly for most of the year.

Volunteer Coordinator -

We are looking for a volunteer who will be the contact for ALL volunteers, including business groups, individuals, special needs groups, school groups, and individuals needing to fulfill community service requirements. This person will monitor the assigned email address to respond to inquiries from potential volunteers and will be responsible for scheduling the volunteers and ensuring staff knows when to expect them.

Book Club/Amateur Librarian –

We are looking for a volunteer who LOVES books. This opportunity will involve sorting, organizing, and shelving a variety of books (picture books, novels, reference, text books, professional books, etc.). Teachers love books. 3Rs has tons of books with more being donated all the time. Specific knowledge of reading levels by grade and/or current school literacy curriculum is a bonus, but not required.

Cloth and Felt Preparation –

We are looking for a volunteer to measure, cut and roll fabric; organize and stock cloth and felt in the Teacher Resource Center. Familiarity with different types of fabric is helpful, but not required.

Math Manipulatives Preparation –

We are looking for a volunteer to sort, organize and bag all different types of math manipulative sets (base ten sets, tangrams, pattern blocks, etc.). This opportunity is most suited for a retired or active math teacher who is familiar with these items and how they are used.

Science Donation Sorting -

We are looking for a volunteer to assist us in determining what items are most useful in science/STEM classrooms. We receive a lot of donations of science and STEM supplies and need help knowing what to keep and what to recycle or dispose of. This opportunity is most suited for a recently retired or active science or STEM teacher.

Sort & Package Writing Instruments –

We are looking for a volunteer to sort and package writing utensils. We receive new and used pens, pencils, mechanical pencils, colored pencils, markers, highlighters, etc. in large quantities. Each item must be checked individually to ensure it still works before it goes into the Teacher Resource Center. The items that are still usable are counted and packaged according to our guidelines for placement in the Teacher Resource Center.

Counting & Packaging –

We are looking for a volunteer to count and package loose items (i.e. pompom balls, google eyes, pipe cleaners, beads, pencil erasers, etc.). We often receive items out of their original packaging or in very large packages. Packaging such items in our own way allows us to provide consistency to the teachers who visit the Teacher Resource Center and to spread out large quantities among more teachers.

Art & Craft Donation Sorting –

We are looking for a volunteer to assist us in determining what items are most useful in art classrooms. We receive a lot of donations of new and used art and craft supplies and need help knowing what to keep and what to recycle or dispose of. This opportunity is most suited for a retired or active art teacher.

Paper & Cardstock Sorting –

We are looking for a volunteer to sort a variety of paper by type and color and make bundles or packages of certain types of paper. This volunteer would also keep the paper aisle in the Teacher Resource center neat, organized and stocked.

Stocking Shelves –

We are looking for a volunteer willing to make a long-term commitment to a regular schedule. This volunteer will need to learn how we stock items in the Teacher Resource Center (i.e. end caps, special items, constant items, which items we bundle or package vs. putting out loose, etc.) and learn the locations of items in the warehouse. The basic every day tasks will include putting items on the shelves and making the shelves and displays look organized and tidy.

Sorting Donations –

We are looking for a volunteer who really enjoys sorting and organizing. They should be extremely organized and focused. We receive a wide variety of items in donation that are often given to us mixed up in boxes or bags. This volunteer will sort donated items into the various categories for the Teacher Resource Center, i.e. office supplies, school supplies, STEAM items, etc. This process is tedious but is also one of the more important things we do here so we can make these items available to the teachers.

Warehouse –

This opportunity includes general warehouse activities, such as restocking pallets, moving items on shelves, etc. This volunteer may also help us take items apart to repurpose or recycle; check/inspect furniture and/or machines with motors (electric pencil sharpeners, fans, clocks, paper shredders, etc.) to be sure they work; and put together furniture or other items we receive new in boxes.

This opportunity is physical in nature may include lifting, pushing/pulling, standing and walking for long periods, climbing ladders, and using a dolly or pallet jack.