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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

  • Decorating Book Bags for Foster Children at Kid's Matter Inc.

    • 04/18/2026
    • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
    • Wauwatosa Library Firefly Room - 7635 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa, WI 53213.
    Join waitlist

    Decorating Book Bags for Foster Children at Kid's Matter Inc.

    Overview:

    Kid's Matter Inc. helps kids in foster care with everything from advocacy and pro bono legal services to providing comfort items. Their mission is to help all  relatives, siblings, friends and neighbors who want to keep children safe. They are here for community members who see children impacted by abuse, neglect, violent crime and addiction and need help navigating child protection, criminal reporting or just figuring out how to get help.

    On Saturday, April 18th from 9:30 to 10:30 am, SBK families will be lending a little hand to Kid's Matter Inc. by decorating bags that will hold books. Both the foster family and the biological family will be given identical story books so that they can read together over video chat and in the process build a bond.

    What to expect:

    Families will gather at the Wauwatosa Library Firefly room to lend a hand by decorating book bags for foster families and biological families.

    Capacity & Age Recommendations:

    All ages are welcome at this project and their is no limit to the number of participants. 

    What to bring:

    Please bring your creativity! In addition, it would be wonderful if you could also bring 2 identical soft cover books. We'll make as many book bag sets as we have supplies for. 

    What to wear:

    Kids can wear their Sunbeam Kids shirts/lanyards if they want.

    Project Leader: Kristen Donlevy

    REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. 

    This project is open to members* only, but we will be happy to open it up to guests if space allows after the first week of registrations. 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 Project Leader Kristen 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! 
    Show details

  • Woods Clean Up at the Hartland North School Forest

    • 04/19/2026
    • 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
    • Hartland North School Forest: 232 Church Street, Hartland, WI 53029
    • 11
    Register

    Woods Clean Up at the Hartland 

    North School Forest

    Overview:

    The Hartland North School Forest (aka the Marschalek Woods) is a 4 acre space used by the community and the 4k-2nd grade school. Every class in the school has outdoor ed once a month in the woods where kids learn about birding, seed dispersal, maple syruping, building igloos, planting native plants, removing invasive species, and about all the insects and animals that live there (among other things). The woods boasts an outdoor classroom, a mud kitchen, a musical forest, a loose parts lab for play as well as areas designated for growing native species. In the summer the woods hosts a weekly story hike for community members geared towards young children.

    In honor of Earth Day later in the week, please join us from 2:00-3:30 pm on Sunday, April 19th to help with a woods clean up. We'll freshen up the space for the whole community to use during the upcoming warm months! 

    What to expect:

    We'll meet Courtney Marschalek who teaches outdoor education classes as well as leads the weekly community story hike. She will give us a brief intro to the forest and then put us to work. Exact jobs will be determined based on what is most needed at the time of our visit, but examples may include helping mulch the trails and pulling buckthorn. 

    Capacity & Age Recommendations:

    All ages are welcome and we have open capacity for this project. Guest families are welcome to join for this project to "test out" volunteering with SBK.

    Where to park:

    Park in the Hartland North School lower parking lot (at the dead end of Church Street near the baseball field). Look for the school forest sign at the edge of the woods near the parking lot. Go straight down the trail next to the Marschalek Woods sign and we'll meet in the outdoor classroom. 

    What to wear:

    Wear clothes and shoes that can get dirty and are comfortable to work in the forest. Feel free to bring along gardening gloves if you have some. 

    Project leader: Amanda Barnhart

    REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. 

    This project will be open to everyone but 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. 

    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! 

    Show details

  • Packing Cleaning Kits for Hanan Refugees Relief Group

    • 04/21/2026
    • 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
    • Waukesha Public Library - 321 Wisconsin Ave., Waukesha, WI 53186
    Register

    Packing Cleaning Kits for

    Hanan Refugees Relief Group

    Overview:

    Hanan Refugees Relief Group (Hanan RRG) is a Milwaukee-based nonprofit established in 2016 to provide long and short-term support services to the refugee population. Focus is on building trust by respecting and honoring the client's home culture and providing tools to succeed in their host community. Hanan RRG offers a wide variety of programs including resettlement services, ESL classes, mentoring programs, employment services, on-site food pantry, community events, and much more. 

    One of the services Hanan RRG provides is providing cleaning kits to refugees with some basic cleaning items. We will gather on Tuesday, April 21 from 5:30pm - 7:00pm to pack these kits together. 

    What to expect:

    We'll start with a brief explanation of Hanan Refugees Relief Group and how we're supporting their work, then we’ll get to work on the cleaning kits. The first portion of our project will be spent writing positive notes and drawings to include in the bags, and then we'll pack them assembly line style with the remainder of our time. Let's see how many kits we can make together! 

    Capacity & Age Recommendations:

    All ages are welcome and we have space for about 12 families at this project. Members* will be able to register for the first week, and then we will open any remaining available spots to guests one week prior to the project.  

    What to bring:

    In order to make this project a success, we are asking all families who register to commit to bringing items to pack, no matter how big or small. Bringing supplies to donate helps kids personally connect to the project, knowing the item(s) they brought are helping other families. NOTE:  If you would like to participate but are unable to bring items, please let us know via email (confidential) and we will buy supplies on your behalf. We just want to make sure we have enough supplies to pack.

    Please use Sign Up Genius to note what supplies and quantity you’ll be bringing. 

    Unable to attend?

    If you are unable to attend in person but would still like to contribute some cleaning kit supplies, we will have a bin drop off location in Waukesha though 4/18. Please register with the ticket type “We will drop off cleaning kit supplies!”. The drop off address is included in the confirmation e-mail. Use the Sign Up Genius link above and include “bin drop off” in the notes. Please note that anyone attending the project in person is welcome to bring their supplies along that day. 

    Project Leader: Umbareen Jamil

    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 allow others to fill the spot. 

    Thanks 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! 

    Show details

  • Diaper Duty Calls! Sorting at Milwaukee Diaper Mission

    • 04/22/2026
    • 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
    • 4900 S Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 200, Cudahy WI 53110
    Join waitlist

    Diaper Duty Calls! Packing Orders at Milwaukee Diaper Mission & Diaper Collection

    Overview:

    Did you know... A third of families in Milwaukee struggle to afford enough diapers to keep their baby clean, dry, and healthy and 68% of families with children in Milwaukee qualify for low-income status, yet no state or federal government assistance programs (like SNAP and WIC) supplies these families with diapers. That is why Sunbeam Kids is thrilled to be partnering with Milwaukee Diaper Mission to spend time packing diaper and baby wipe orders in the warehouse on Wednesday, April 22 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm. 

    What to expect:

    Join other SBK families at the Milwaukee Diaper Mission warehouse in Cudahy to pack diaper orders, wrap diapers for future orders, and restock diapers on shelves.

    Capacity & Age Recommendations:

    All ages are welcome. We have space for approximately 4 families depending on the size of families that register - please use an accurate headcount in your registration for this reason. 

    What to wear & bring:

    No need to bring anything to this project, but kids are welcome to wear their SBK shirts/lanyards if they are willing. Closed toe shoes are required since this project takes place in a warehouse. 

    Project Leader: Rachl Sweet

    REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. 

    This onsite project is open to members* only at this time. We are happy to open any remaining spots to guests if space allows 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 Rachl 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!

    Show details

  • COMING SOON - Street Angels' "Lunches for Later"

    • 04/30/2026
    • 4:15 PM - 5:30 PM
    • Elm Grove Village Hall Community Room; 13600 Juneau Blvd

    "Lunches for Later" Bag Lunch Packing

    Overview:

    Street Angels is a mobile outreach organization that provides assistance to those experiencing homelessness in Milwaukee. Three days a week, the two outreach buses serve dinner to 100-240 individuals. A bagged "lunch for later" is also provided to each person. On Thursday, April 30th, Sunbeam Kids families will get together to make sandwiches and pack bagged lunches as a group. 

    What to expect:

    During this project, Sunbeam Kids will be decorating brown paper bags for the lunches, making sandwiches, and packing approximately 100 bag lunches which will be distributed to individuals experiencing homelessness during the Street Angels' outreach that evening. We will be joined by families from the Elm Grove Junior Guild who will also be packing 100 bagged lunches to get to the grand total of 200 needed by the Street Angels for their evening route. This will be a fun chance to share camaraderie with another group doing good work in our community too! 

    Capacity & Age Recommendations:

    All ages are welcome at this project, and we are able to include approximately 7 families from Sunbeam Kids. 

    Location: 

    We will be meeting in the O'Neill Room. Enter through the library doors and proceed downstairs. The O'Neill Room is located on the lower (basement) level.

    What to bring:

    In order to make this project a success, we are asking all families who register to commit to bringing items to pack, no matter how big or small.  Bringing supplies to donate helps kids personally connect to the project, knowing the item(s) they brought are helping others. NOTE: If you would like to participate but are unable to bring items, please let us know via email (confidential) and we will buy supplies on your behalf. We just want to make sure we have enough supplies to pack the full amount of lunches needed.

    Please use the Sign Up Genius Link HERE to indicate which items you plan to bring by Tuesday, April 28th.

    Unable to attend?

    If you are unable to attend in person but would still like to contribute some lunch packing supplies, we will have a bin drop off location in Elm Grove though 4/9. Please register with the ticket type “We will drop off lunch packing supplies!”. The drop off address is included in the confirmation e-mail. Use the Sign Up Genius link above and include “bin drop off” in the notes. Please note that anyone attending the project in person is welcome to bring their lunch packing supplies along that day. 

    Project Leader: Kayte Parkin

    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 and make arrangements to have any lunch packing supplies you signed up for covered. 

    A big thanks to our Project Leader Kayte 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! 


    Show details

  • COMING SOON - Gardening for Good at Green Power Garden (Mini Greenhouse Planting!)

    • 05/08/2026
    • 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
    • Green Power Garden: S53W24747 Glendale Rd, Waukesha, WI 53189

    Gardening for Good at Green Power Garden:

    Mini Greenhouse Planting

    Overview:

    We are excited for our first trip of the season to Green Power Garden on Friday, May 8th from 5:30-6:30 pm! We'll be making mini greenhouses to give the plants a good start before we plant them in the garden in June. 

    Green Power Garden is a volunteer led program that donates all of their veggies 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:

    Each family will be planting a "greenhouse" in plastic tub to take home for a few weeks to care for the baby cucumber and watermelon plants until they're ready to be planted in the garden in June. Kids had so much fun in past years caring for the plants and watching them grow each day! 

    Please note that if you attend, you will be committing to caring for the baby plants (Molly at Green Power Garden will give us all the instructions we need!) for approximately 6 weeks and then returning the "greenhouse" of plants in one of three ways:

    1.) Attend our next project at Green Power Garden on a TBD date in mid-June

    2.) Deliver to the garden directly sometime leading up to our project in mid-June

    3.) Drop off at our Project Leader's house in Pewaukee the week leading up to the project

    Capacity & Age Recommendations:

    All ages are welcome at this project, and we are able to bring up to 10 families to this project.

    What to bring:

    Volunteers should bring their own gardening gloves if they have some and water bottles.

    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: Amanda Barnhart

    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 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. 

    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! 


    Show details

  • COMING SOON - Let's Hear It for the Girls! Cheering Section for Girls on the Run 5K

    • 05/31/2026
    • 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM
    • American Family Field

    Cheering Section for Girls on the Run

    Overview:

    On the morning of Sunday, May 31st, the streets & parking lot surrounding American Family Field will be bursting with girls and young ladies running! We will be cheering on the runners of Girls on the Run of Greater Milwaukee at American Family Field, home of your Milwaukee Brewers. GOTR's mission is "we inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running."  We can help inspire the participants...and our own kids!

    Join us to make some noise and cheer on these girls who are working hard to be their best and celebrate this big accomplishment for them. We'll be on site from 8 am to 10:30 am running one of the cheer stations along the 5K course! Note: End time may be slightly earlier depending on where our cheering station is located on the course. 

    What to expect:

    We will meet as a group at 8 am (we'll send a specific meeting spot prior to the event) and walk to our cheering station together. Once the 5K begins, we'll channel all our energy into cheering for the runners and their running buddies as they pass by! 

    Capacity & age recommendations: 

    Any ages are welcome and we are happy to bring as many families along that would like to participate- including guests!

    What to bring: 

    There is no need to bring anything specific- your energy and cheering voice are what's most needed! However, if you're looking for ways to boost the fun for the girls running, pompoms, music, signs cheering them on, bubbles, noise makers, family-friendly costumes/inflatables, etc. are exciting additions to the cheer section as well. Whatever you can think of to help pump up the energy!

    What to wear: 

    Dress for the weather since the 5K does take place outside. Sunbeam Kids shirts are welcome! Expect to be outside for the whole length of the event. 

    Additional info:

    • GOTR knows we are bringing kids so they intend to give us one of the closer cheering spots. Feel free to bring a wagon or stroller though if you think that may be easier for little legs getting to SBK's cheering station. 
    • Check out the GOTR website HERE for more general 5K information. 
    • There are bathrooms available, but they may be a walk from the cheering station depending on where we are stationed. 

    Project Leader: Jeff Davidson

    REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. 

    This project is open to members* and guests who would like to try a Sunbeam Kids 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 our Board Member Jeff Davidson 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! 


    Show details

  • COMING SOON - Diaper Duty Calls! Sorting at Milwaukee Diaper Mission

    • 07/22/2026
    • 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
    • 4900 S Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 200, Cudahy WI 53110

    Diaper Duty Calls! Packing Orders at Milwaukee Diaper Mission & Diaper Collection

    Overview:

    Did you know... A third of families in Milwaukee struggle to afford enough diapers to keep their baby clean, dry, and healthy and 68% of families with children in Milwaukee qualify for low-income status, yet no state or federal government assistance programs (like SNAP and WIC) supplies these families with diapers. That is why Sunbeam Kids is thrilled to be partnering with Milwaukee Diaper Mission to spend time packing diaper and baby wipe orders in the warehouse on Wednesday, July 22 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm. 

    What to expect:

    Join other SBK families at the Milwaukee Diaper Mission warehouse in Cudahy to pack diaper orders, wrap diapers for future orders, and restock diapers on shelves.

    Capacity & Age Recommendations:

    All ages are welcome. We have space for approximately 4 families depending on the size of families that register - please use an accurate headcount in your registration for this reason. 

    What to wear & bring:

    No need to bring anything to this project, but kids are welcome to wear their SBK shirts/lanyards if they are willing. Closed toe shoes are required since this project takes place in a warehouse. 

    Project Leader: Rachl Sweet

    REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. 

    This onsite project is open to members* only at this time. We are happy to open any remaining spots to guests if space allows 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 Rachl 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!

    Show details

  • COMING SOON - Diaper Duty Calls! Sorting at Milwaukee Diaper Mission

    • 10/21/2026
    • 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
    • 4900 S Pennsylvania Ave, Suite 200, Cudahy WI 53110

    Diaper Duty Calls! Packing Orders at Milwaukee Diaper Mission & Diaper Collection

    Overview:

    Did you know... A third of families in Milwaukee struggle to afford enough diapers to keep their baby clean, dry, and healthy and 68% of families with children in Milwaukee qualify for low-income status, yet no state or federal government assistance programs (like SNAP and WIC) supplies these families with diapers. That is why Sunbeam Kids is thrilled to be partnering with Milwaukee Diaper Mission to spend time packing diaper and baby wipe orders in the warehouse on Wednesday, October 21 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm. 

    What to expect:

    Join other SBK families at the Milwaukee Diaper Mission warehouse in Cudahy to pack diaper orders, wrap diapers for future orders, and restock diapers on shelves.

    Capacity & Age Recommendations:

    All ages are welcome. We have space for approximately 4 families depending on the size of families that register - please use an accurate headcount in your registration for this reason. 

    What to wear & bring:

    No need to bring anything to this project, but kids are welcome to wear their SBK shirts/lanyards if they are willing. Closed toe shoes are required since this project takes place in a warehouse. 

    Project Leader: Rachl Sweet

    REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. 

    This onsite project is open to members* only at this time. We are happy to open any remaining spots to guests if space allows 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 Rachl 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!

    Show details

Address:
PO Box 1854
Brookfield, WI  53008

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