Menu
Log in
Forgot password
                                                                             
Log in
Forgot password

Ready to Lend a Little Hand? 

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Sunbeam Kids! While membership benefits go beyond just in person projects, they are the cornerstone of our work -- we love getting families of all types together to build community, show the kids their collective impact, and give them confidence that they can make a difference by lending a little hand.  

NEW! Our all-volunteer leadership team has been hard at work planning and listing projects here further ahead to give you more notice to save the date. Then, registration typically opens 2-3 weeks prior to a project start date. Most projects are open to SBK Member families first as a benefit of your membership*, and then we open the registration to guests a few days later if space allows. 

*while we rely on the $40/family/year donation to keep the good work going, we never want that to be a hurdle to volunteering with us. If your family would like to request a waiver, we are able to do that no questions asked for a handful of families per year based on a private donation earmarked for that purpose. If that's the reason you haven't joined, please ask! 

Upcoming projects

  • At Home Project: Cookie Collection for Despensa de la Paz Food Pantry

    • 12/11/2023
    • 12/15/2023
    • 12:00 PM
    • Multiple Drop Off Locations Available (see list)!
    Register

    Cookie Collection for Despensa de la Paz Food Pantry


    Overview:


    Sunbeam Kids is excited to be collecting cookies for Despensa de la Paz Food Pantry's annual holiday party! Despensa de la Paz Food Pantry is part of Friedens Community Ministries, the largest food center network in Milwaukee. Friedens provides over 1 million pounds of food at four food pantry locations. Sunbeam Kids has been asked to help at their annual holiday party (more info HERE if you're interested in lending a little hand in person at this event) and one of our tasks will be to hand out cookies to the food pantry guests. We're hoping our SBK community will make a few extra batches of cookies during your holiday baking to share with our friends at Friedens! 


    Drop off details:


    We have porch drop off options in Brookfield, Pewaukee and Wauwatosa. Specific addresses of all drop off locations will be e-mailed upon registration. You can drop off any quantity of cookies at one of the designated locations between Monday, December 11th - Friday, December 15th at noon. 


    Additional details: 


    Any size donation of any type of cookie is very much appreciated! Please label your package with the name of the cookie and if they contain nuts. 


    To participate, please register with the link above so we know have a general idea of how many cookies we'll be able to provide to Friedens. Guests are welcome to participate as well- feel free to spread the word to any holiday bakers in your circle! We will e-mail you a list of drop off addresses, and you can drop off cookies anytime between 12/11 and 12/15 at noon. 

    THANK YOU for lending a little hand and helping us spread some cheer at the Despensa de la Paz holiday party! 

    Show details

  • (Waitlist) Making Mercy Mats for People Experiencing Homelessness

    • 12/13/2023
    • 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM
    • West Allis Public Library- Constitution Room (ground floor): 7421 W National Ave, West Allis, WI 53214
    • 1
    Register

    Making Mercy Mats for People Experiencing Homelessness

    Overview:

    On Wednesday, December 13th join Sunbeam Kids from 4:00-5:30 pm to assist the Mercy Mats volunteers at their regular weekly project preparing materials for sleeping mats for local people experiencing homelessness...made out of plastic bags that may have otherwise ended up in the landfill!

    Volunteers from Mercy Mats of West Allis will help new volunteers learn how to do this work, and then they will later distribute the completed mats to a homeless shelter they work with in Milwaukee. Making one mat is quite labor intensive and takes multiple weeks, but what a difference a mat makes to the person who will receive it!  

    What to expect:

    There is a job for everyone, including sorting bags, flattening bags, making plarn (you guessed it...plastic yard made from the plastic bags!). If you crochet and want to learn to assembling a full mat at home, please find Donna to request information.

    Capacity & age recommendations:

    We have space for 5 SBK families to join, and all ages are welcome (although project itself is generally best for age 3 or older)! 

    What to bring:

    Feel free to bring along any single use plastic bags you have at home (optional). 

    What to wear:

    No special requirements, but kids can wear their Sunbeam Kids t-shirts if they would like. 

    REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. 

    This project is currently open to members* but we will be happy to open it up to guests of space allows.  Please only sign up if you know you can attend. We understand illness and emergencies do come up so if you register and can no longer attend, please let us know ASAP so we can fill your spot. 

    A big thanks to our Advisory Council member Vanessa for leading this project, and thank you for lending a little hand! 

    Katie Mleziva

    Founder  | Board President

    *While we rely on member donations to keep the good work going, we never want the $40/family/year to be a hurdle to volunteering with us. If you are in need of assistance, we do have a limited number of scholarships available that are 100% confidential, just email and ask! 


    Show details

  • Holiday Helpers: Cookie Decorating & Holiday Card Making

    • 12/14/2023
    • 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
    • Pewaukee Library Community Room - 210 Main St, Pewaukee, WI
    • 5
    Register

    Holiday Helpers: Cookie Decorating for Despensa de la Paz & Holiday Card Making for Fostering Community

    Overview:

    Please join us from 6:00-7:00 pm on Thursday, December 14th for some special holiday projects. We'll have two different project stations set up and would love your help!

    First, we'll be decorating Christmas cookies for the Despensa de la Paz Food Pantry holiday party the following weekend. Despensa de la Paz is part of Friedens Community Ministries which is the largest food center network in Milwaukee. Sunbeam Kids has been asked to help at the holiday party for Despensa de la Paz's guests (project details coming soon!) and provide cookies for the families that attend the party. 

    We'll also be making holiday cards for our friends at Fostering Community. This local organization supports families involved in fostering and adoption. There are more than 2,000 children in foster care in Milwaukee County. Fostering Community seeks to encourage and empower families involved with both fostering and adoption through family events and community connections. They've reached out to Sunbeam Kids to make Christmas cards for the kids in foster care that they serve! 

    What to expect:

    We'll start with a brief explanation of Despensa de la Paz and Fostering Community and how we're supporting these organizations. Then we’ll get to work making cards and decorating cookies. Families are welcome to spend time doing both projects and following their kids' leads as to where they want to focus their time.

    Capacity & Age Recommendations:

    All ages are welcome. We expect to have capacity for approximately 20 families. Due to the large capacity, this project is open to both members* and non-members who would like to try a project with SBK this holiday season!

    What to bring:

    We will supply all cut out cookies to decorate. If you are able, bring a container of frosting, sprinkles, or other decorating supplies. SBK will have extra decorating supplies on hand as well so there will plenty to choose from as we decorate.

    All card-making supplies will be provided. Bring your creativity and lend a hand making and decorating holiday cards! 

    What to wear:

    Kids can wear their SBK shirts/lanyards if they are willing. Consider bringing an apron for the time you spend cookie decorating. 

    Additional information:

    This project will be held in the Community Room at Pewaukee Library. Enter the doors off the parking lot and the room is immediately to your left. 

    REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. 

    Please only sign up if you know you can attend. We understand illness and emergencies do come up so if you register and can no longer attend, please let us know ASAP so we can fill your spot. 

    A big thanks to our Board VP Amanda for leading this project, and thank you for lending a little hand! 

    Katie Mleziva

    Founder  | Board President

    *While we rely on member donations to keep the good work going, we never want the $40/family/year to be a hurdle to volunteering with us. If you are in need of assistance, we do have a limited number of scholarships available that are 100% confidential, just email and ask! 

    Show details

  • Holiday Helpers at Friedens Community Food Center - Despensa De La Paz

    • 12/16/2023
    • 8:45 AM - 12:00 PM
    • 1615 S. 22nd Milwaukee, WI
    • 0
    Registration is closed

    Holiday Helpers at Friedens Community Food Center - Despensa De La Paz

    Overview:

    We have been invited to provide some extra hands at Despensa de la Paz food pantry's holiday party! Treats are served at this annual event and Santa comes to give out gifts to the kids who visit the pantry. It'll be a fun morning to celebrate with Despensa de la Paz's guests and spread some holiday cheer! The holiday party is Saturday, December 16 and we've been asked to help from 8:45 am to approximately 12 pm (with clean up taking place after, but this extra commitment is totally optional- SBK families are free to leave at noon). 

    Despensa de la Paz is part of Friedens Community Ministries. Friedens is Milwaukee's largest network of food centers and works to build community through nourishment. They have 4 locations and each year they serve 45,000 individuals and families in need of nourishment and friendship. They also work to reduce food waste and provide food demos and teach gardening to support nutrition and wellness.  

    What to expect:

    We will be handing out cookies to the party guests, helping kids at the food pantry create holiday decorations, and any other tasks needed that morning to help the party run smoothly. 

    Capacity & Age Recommendations:

    Any age is welcome at this project. We have space for approximately 3 families to sign up, dependent on the size of the SBK families attending (please use an accurate headcount in your registration for this reason). 

    What to bring:

    It is REQUIRED for every adult to not only sign up here with Sunbeam Kids, but also fill this form out ahead of the project. https://friedenspantry.org/new-volunteer-form/

    No need to bring anything unless you'd like to bring some crayons/markers to donate for the holiday decoration making. 

    What to wear:

    No special attire needed, but feel free to wear something festive if you would like!

    Parking information:

    There is plenty of street parking in the neighborhood around this location. 

    REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. 

    This project is currently open to members* but we will be happy to open it up to guests if space allows. Please only sign up if you know you can attend. We understand illness and emergencies do come up so if you register and can no longer attend, please let us know ASAP so we can fill your spot. 

    A big thanks to our Advisory Council member Vanessa for leading this project, and thank you for lending a little hand! 

    Katie Mleziva 

    Founder | Board President

    *While we rely on member donations to keep the good work going, we never want the $40/family/year to be a hurdle to volunteering with us. If you are in need of assistance, we do have a limited number of scholarships available that are 100% confidential, just email and ask! 


    Show details

Address:
PO Box 1854
Brookfield, WI  53008

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software