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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

    • 07/26/2025
    • 08/10/2025
    • 12:00 PM
    • Multiple Drop Off Locations Available (see list)!
    Register

    At Home Project: School Supplies Collection for

    Shechem at Hope Street


    Overview:


    Sunbeam Kids is excited to be collecting school supplies for Shechem at Hope Street to help kids in our community start the upcoming school year on the right foot! 


    Hope Street describes itself as "the Greenhouse for People on 26th and Capitol." It provides housing and community to empower broken men, women, and children to cultivate relationships and to restore hope that flourishing is possible for all. Shechem at Hope Street is a community center with a gymnasium​, café, classrooms, event space, and a resource room and has a flourishing after-school program for youth​.


    These school supplies will be given out for free to families attending Shechem's back to school event on August 13th (look for an upcoming project registration email to help at this event!). Having a brand new set of school supplies is a great way to boost kids' confidence headed into the upcoming school year, especially for families that may struggle to provide these items for their kids otherwise.


    Drop off details:


    We have porch drop off options in Brookfield, Franklin, Pewaukee, Waukesha, and Wauwatosa. Specific addresses of all drop off locations will be e-mailed upon registration. You can drop off any items from Shechem's wishlist at one of the designated locations between Saturday, July 26th - Sunday, August 10th. 


    Needed items: 


    Higher priority items:

    • backpacks
    • 3'' binders
    • looseleaf notebook paper
    • folders
    • notebooks
    • pencil pouches that hook into a binder 
    • pencils, erasers, and pencil sharpeners
    • black/blue/red pens
    • highlighters
    • notecards 
    • headphones for chromebooks
    • reusable water bottles (medium priority)

    Lower priority items:

    • washable markers 
    • colored pencils 
    • crayons 
    • post-its
    • graphing calculators

    Additional details: 


    Any size donation is very much appreciated! 


    To participate, please register with the link above. We will e-mail you a list of drop off addresses, and you can drop off anytime between 7/26 and 8/10 in one of the drop off bins at your convenience.


    THANK YOU for lending a little hand and helping us make it a great start to the school year for these kids! 

    • 07/26/2025
    • 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM
    • 924 East Clarke St. Milwaukee, WI
    Register

    Food Distribution Support at Kinship Community Food Center

    Overview:

    Join Sunbeam Kids at Kinship Community Food Center (formerly Riverwest Food Pantry) on Saturday, July 26th to lend a little hand in the Food Distribution Center from 7:30-11:30 am. We'll divide into two two-hour long volunteer shifts- see more details below. Kinship works to end hunger, isolation, and poverty alongside neighborhood residents and volunteers. They served 16,725 people in 2024 and distributed over 322,000 lbs of food!

    What to expect:

    Sunbeam Kids families will be supporting Kinship by working in the Food Distribution Center as part of their regularly scheduled food distribution program. Exact needs will be determined at the time of the project based on what is most needed that day. 

    Capacity & Age Recommendations:

    This project is best for kids age 7+ based on our prior experience. Children under the age of 10 need a parent with them at all times. Youth ages 10-13 need chaperones as well and will be assigned to jobs with chaperones nearby. We have space for approximately 2-3 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 wear:

    Wear comfortable clothing for indoor work. 

    What to bring:

    A donation of hygiene products are highly encouraged but are not mandatory.

    Parking information:

    Please reserve the parking lot for the families Kinship serves. There is plenty of free street parking along Clark and Weil streets. Please enter through the doors facing Weil Street on the NW corner of the building and walk downstairs when you arrive. 

    Additional information:

    We will have two different shifts available for this project- feel free to sign up for one or both! Shift 1 will be 7:30-9:30 am and Shift 2 will be 9:30-11:30 am. When you register, you will be asked to select which shift you will volunteer at.

    A waiver form will need to be completed ahead of time for any minors participating. We will e-mail the waiver to participants in the week leading up to the project. 

    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 SBK Project Leader Beth Collins for leading this project, and thank you for lending a little hand! 

    Amanda Barnhart

    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! 

    • 07/29/2025
    • 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
    • Green Power Garden: S53W24747 Glendale Rd, Waukesha, WI 53189
    Register

    Gardening for Good at Green Power Garden

    Overview:

    We're heading back to Green Power Garden on Tuesday, July 29th from 5:30-6:30 pm to help in the garden. 

    Green Power Garden is a volunteer led program that donates all of their produce to area organizations to get fresh food in the hands of people who need it. One of their main recipients is HOPE Center. 

    What to expect:

    For this project, you will get your hands dirty planting, weeding, and tending a large community garden!

    Volunteers will help with any garden care that is ready to be done- we'll be flexible with whatever help is needed that evening. No gardening experience is necessary. The people that run GPG love to teach kids about gardening!

    Capacity & Age Recommendations:

    All ages are welcome at this project, and we are able to bring as many families out to the garden that day as want to join us! Guests are welcome to join us at this project.

    What to bring:

    Volunteers should bring their own gardening gloves if they have some (GPG has plenty to borrow if not) and water bottles. You may also want to bring bug spray and sunscreen since we'll be outdoors for the entire project.

    What to wear:

    Please wear comfortable clothes that can get dirty in the garden. Kids can wear their Sunbeam Kids shirts if they want!

    Additional information:

    The garden is located behind a personal residence. Volunteers can park in the driveway (there is space toward the back of the driveway and next to the pole barn), and the project leader will be on the lookout for everyone at the project start time. 

    Project Leader: Melissa Bushman

    REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. 

    We're happy to welcome guests to the project. 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 SBK Board Member Melissa Bushman for leading this project and thank YOU for lending a little hand! 

    Amanda Barnhart

    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! 


    • 07/30/2025
    • 5:45 PM - 7:00 PM
    • University School Milwaukee - 2100 W Fairy Chasm Rd, River Hills, WI 53217
    Register

    Let's Play Ball with Miracle League Baseball

    Overview:

    The Miracle League through the YMCA allows people of all ABILITIES play organized baseball. Players with diverse-ABILITIES dress in uniforms, make plays in the field, and round the bases, just like their peers in standard baseball leagues. 

    This is a great chance for our SBK kids who love sports to play with some new team members, however, no sports experience, equipment, or knowledge of baseball is necessary. Players will have a range of abilities and volunteers age 10+ are paired with a player to assist during the game as player partners. In the past, we even had the chance to dress up as the mascot, Homer!  It's all about making it a great experience for the players and their families.

    This project has been a favorite among SBK families, and we are excited to be headed back to play ball on Wednesday, July 30th from 5:45 to 7:00 pm! Please note this date is updated from what was originally published in our July newsletter.

    What to expect:

    One of the most important elements of a Miracle League game is the "player partner" program. Each player is paired with a friend to assist them on and off the field during a two-inning game.

    Check out this brief video from TMJ4 to see what you can expect. 

    Note: usually there is a formal game, but sometimes when fewer kids show up they do drills instead. Please know that any role your family plays is meaningful to the participants! 

    Capacity & Age Recommendations:

    Player partners must be age 10+ years per the YMCA, but all ages are welcome to come cheer! We have committed to bringing 15 player partners (kids or adults) and can bring as many fans for the cheering section as want to join in the fun. 

    What to wear:

    Dress in clothes comfortable to play ball. We love it when you wear your SBK t-shirts, but player partners typically are offered a YMCA volunteer t-shirt as well if you'd like one. You can bring a baseball glove if you want, but this is not required. 

    Project Leader: Vanessa Eisenmann

    REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. 

    This project is open to members* for the first week of registration, and we're happy to welcome guests if we have additional space in the week leading up to the projectPlease 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 Project Leader Vanessa for leading this project, and thank you for lending a little hand! 

    Amanda Barnhart

    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! 


    • 08/13/2025
    • 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
    • Schechem at Hope Street: 2510 W. Capitol Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53206
    • 4

    Back to School Event with Shechem at Hope Street

    Overview:

    Hope Street describes itself as "the Greenhouse for People on 26th and Capitol." It provides housing and community to empower broken men, women, and children to cultivate relationships and to restore hope that flourishing is possible for all. Shechem at Hope Street is a community center with a gymnasium​, café, classrooms, event space, and a resource room and has a flourishing after-school program for youth​. 

    Join us on Wednesday, August 13th to lend a little hand at Shechem's back to school event! Youth that attend community events at Shechem will be able to pick up free school supplies and participate in some fun activities at the center. What a great way to build confidence by feeling prepared and get excited for the school year ahead! 

    What to expect:

    We will be helping hand out school supplies and whatever other jobs can use support to make the even a success! 

    Capacity & age recommendations: 

    Any ages are able to lend a little hand at this event. We have room for about 3-4 SBK families depending on the size of families that register (please use an accurate headcount in your registration for this reason). This project will be open to members first and any remaining spots will open to guests a week prior to the event. 

    What to bring: 

    Nothing is required for this project, however Shechem would welcome school supplies donations to make this event a success. We will pass along a wishlist when we receive one.

    What to wear:

    Kids are welcome to wear their SBK t-shirts if they would like, otherwise just wear comfortable clothes and shoes. 

    Project Leader: Vanessa Eisenmann

    REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. 

    This project is currently open to members* but we will be happy to open it up to guests if there is available space approximately one week prior to the project date. 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 Project Leader Vanessa for leading this project, and thank you for lending a little hand! 

    Amanda Barnhart

    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! 

Address:
PO Box 1854
Brookfield, WI  53008

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