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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

    • 04/21/2024
    • 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
    • Hartland North School Forest: 232 Church Street, Hartland, WI 53029
    • 10
    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.

    Please join us from 1:30-3:30 pm on Sunday, April 21st to help with a woods clean up in honor of Earth Day that week. 

    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. Members will be able to register for the first week and then we'll open registration to guest families if space remains one week prior to the project date.

    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. 

    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. 

    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! 

    • 04/25/2024
    • 4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
    • 620 S. 76th St. Milwaukee (located BEHIND the office building)
    Register

    Sorting Clothes for Foster Children at Robyn's Nest

    Overview:

    Robyn's Nest is a program of Children's Hospital (CHW) that supplies new and gently used clothing, hygiene products, infant items, toys, books and other household goods free to the families within the foster care system as well as those identified to have unmet needs through CHW. 

    On Thursday, April 25th from 4:30 - 5:30 pm SBK families will be lending a little hand at Robyn's Nest to sort donations for foster families. 

    What to expect:

    There are two ways to get involved in this project:

    1) Option 1: We have room for several families to join us at Robyn's Nest to lend a hand by sorting items so kids & foster families can easily shop (at no cost!) for the supplies they need. (Members can select this option)

    2)  Option 2Drop off unopened packages of children's underwear (any sizes 2T and up) by April 24th at our Project Leaders's home in Brookfield. Address will be provided prior to for those that register for this option. (Everyone can select this option)

    Capacity & Age Recommendations:

    All ages are welcome at this project, but please note there are no restrooms readily available on site. We expect to have room for approximately 5 families at the on site project. Initial registration will be for members only, but we are happy to open registration to guests if we have additional space one week prior to the project date. 

    What to bring:

    The most needed item at Robyn's Nest right now is packages of new children's underwear- sizes 2T and up. You're welcome to bring these along if you wish, but no donations are expected/required for participation.

    What to wear:

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

    Additional information:

    A volunteer application is required to be completed for each individual attending. We will e-mail a copy to all registrants a few days prior to this project. Please bring the completed application with you to the project. 

    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 Board member Mary 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! 



    • 04/25/2024
    • 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
    • HAWS - 701 Northview Road, Waukesha, WI
    Register

    Lending Our Paws to HAWS

    Overview:

    Let's lend our paws for HAWS!   

    The Humane Animal Welfare Society's mission is to lead the community in animal welfare and assure sanctuary for animals in need. HAWS envisions a community where all animals are treated with compassion, dignity and respect!

    What to expect: 

    There are two fun ways to participate!

    1) HAWS Project Porch Drop Off: The first way to participate is to purchase items off HAWS online wishlist and drop them off at any of our SBK porch drop off locations in Brookfield, Elm Grove, Pewaukee, Waukesha, and Wauwatosa. Registration is required in order to get the drop off addresses. You are also welcome to drop off directly at HAWS if you prefer, but we'd still love to know you're participating so please sign up through the project link. Everyone can register for this option! All donations will need to be dropped off by noon on Tuesday, April 23rd. Select the "Drop off" option when registering.

    2) In person HAWS Tour: The second way to participate is to join other SBK families at HAWS for a tour of the HAWS facility on Thursday, April 25 from 5:00 to 6:00 pm. Registration required due to limited strict capacity of 30 people. We will be dropping off donations from our porch collection and encourage you to bring along items from the HAWS wishlist if your family is able to contribute. Select the "Tour" option when registering.

    Wishlist for both porch drop off or in person tour can be viewed HERE.  

    Extending the Wishlist Impact: Some people like to go through the wishlist and give their child a budget that works for your family so they can decide what they'd like to donate. For example, if the budget is $10, do they want to give one larger toy or 3 cans of food? This helps the kids connect to the animals (and staff at HAWS!) they are making happy. 

    Capacity & Age Recommendations:

    All ages are welcome and anyone (members or non-members) can register for the porch drop off component of this project. For the tour, members will be able to register for the first week and then we'll open registration to guest families if space remains one week prior to the project date.

    What to wear:

    Feel free to wear your Sunbeam Kids shirt if your child is willing and bring along your name tag lanyard if your child collects ribbons. 

    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. 

    Thanks to our Project Leader Melissa Bushman for leading, and to 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! 

    • 05/05/2024
    • 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
    • Green Power Garden: S53W24747 Glendale Rd, Waukesha, WI 53189
    • 10

    Gardening for Good at Green Power Garden

    Overview:

    We are excited to return to Green Power Garden on Sunday, May 5th from 1:00-2:30 pm to help get the garden ready for spring planting! 

    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:

    Volunteers will be preparing the garden for the season and planting a "greenhouse" in plastic tub to take home for a few weeks to care for the baby zucchini and cucumber plants until they're ready to be planted in the garden in early June. 

    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 3-4 weeks and then returning the "greenhouse" of plants in one of three ways:

    1.) Attend our next project at Green Power Garden on Saturday 6/1

    2.) Deliver to the garden directly sometime leading up to our project on 6/1

    3.) Drop off at our Project Leader's house in Pewaukee the week leading up to 6/1

    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. 

    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! 


    • 05/11/2024
    • 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
    • Forest Home Cemetery: 2405 W Forest Home Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53215

    Honoring heroes by Placing Flags


    Overview:

    In honor of Memorial Day, help us honor our heroes by placing flags at the graves of military veterans who have served from the War of 1812 to the present. We will meet at Forest Home Cemetery on Saturday, May 11th from 9:00-11:00 am to assist with locating veterans' graves and placing a flag at each gravesite. 

    What to expect:

    We'll meet at the cemetery's main office to get our list of assignments and flags, then we'll head out into the cemetery to locate the gravesites of the veterans on our list and place a flag at each. 

    Capacity & Age Recommendations:

    Open to all ages and we are able to include as many families as want to participate. Dogs are welcome as well as long as they are on a leash at all times and you clean up after them.

    What to bring:

    Please bring something to write with or a smartphone to check off names and enter data. 

    What to wear:

    Wear outdoor, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes for walking. Kids are always welcome to wear their Sunbeam Kids shirt if they would like. 

    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 but they are counting on our hands, so if you register and can no longer attend, please let us know ASAP so we can work to fill your spot. 

    Thank you to our SBK Board Member Mary Fenelon 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! 

    • 05/18/2024
    • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • New Berlin Public Library: 15105 W Library Ln, New Berlin, WI 53151

    Caring for Kids in Foster Care

    Project details coming soon! Registration typically opens 2 weeks prior to the project date. Please sign up for our email list to know when the project goes live. 

    • 05/25/2024
    • 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
    • 1615 S. 22nd Milwaukee, WI 53204
    • 4

    Filling Carts & Hearts at Friedens Community Food Center - Despensa De La Paz (Ages 7+)

    Overview:

    Friedens is Milwaukee's largest network of food centers and work 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:

    The needs during our shift may vary from helping with hospitality, inspiring creativity at the kids art table, stocking shelves, and shopping with community members through the pantry. 

    Capacity & Age Recommendations:

    Though there is no official minimum age requirement, this project is best suited for children age 7 and older based on the length of the project and amount of time on our feet. All kids should be directly supervised by an adult throughout our time there. We expect to have room for approximately 4 families to participate in this project.

    What to bring:

    It is required for every adult to not only sign up here with Sunbeam Kids, but also fill our a Friedens volunteer form out ahead of the project. We will email the form to all registrants prior to the project.

    No need to bring anything unless you'd like to donate food products or art supplies for kids waiting at the food pantry. 

    What to wear:

    Kids should wear their Sunbeam Kids shirts if they want. Wear comfortable shoes to be on your feet for the length of the project.

    Additional information:

    There is plenty of street parking. 

    REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. 

    This project is currently open to members*. Please only sign up if you know you can attend. We understand illness and emergencies do come up but they are counting on our hands, so if you register and can no longer attend, please let us know ASAP so we can work to fill your spot. 

    Thank you to our Project Leader Vanessa Eisenmann 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! 


    • 05/25/2024
    • 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
    • South Shore Park Pavilion: 2900 S. Shore Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53207.

    Milwaukee County Parks Beach Cleanup


    Overview:

    Now that the snow has melted and we can see the grass and beach again, we're faced with an unfortunate fact of life- litter happens and things can really pile up during the winter months. But that is where our Sunbeam Kids families can help! We will be heading down to South Shore Park on Saturday, May 25th (rain date Sunday May 26th) from 9:30-11:00 am to clean up trash and debris found around the beach.

    What to expect:

    We'll meet at the South Shore Pavilion beer garden at 9:30 am for introductions and housekeeping items. SBK families will then walk the Bay View beach, Oak Leaf trail, and/or surrounding park/playground to clean up trash. We'll then meet back at the beer garden at 11:00 am to adjourn. Trash pickup has been coordinated with Milwaukee County Parks.

    Feel free to stay for lunch or a beverage at the beer garden. The farmer’s market won’t be open for the season yet, but we will plan for another beach clean up in late summer/early fall where this will be available for you and your family and friends as well!

    Capacity & Age Recommendations:

    Open to all ages but must be able to walk for up to an hour on sand, grass, and pavement without limitations or restrictions.

    What to bring:

    Bring gardening gloves (if preferred over exam gloves that will be provided). 

    Each volunteer will need to fill out a Milwaukee County Parks Volunteer Agreement HERE. (This only takes <5min, type in Sunbeam Kids Inc. for the affiliated group). FYI - Sunbeam Kids Inc. does not retain these forms, they get submitted directly to Milwaukee County Parks.

    What to wear:

    Wear outdoor, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable shoes. 

    Additional information:

    • If there is light drizzling rain, we will still plan on doing the cleanup. If severe or downright nasty weather is forecasted, you will be sent a cancellation message no later than 7 am the morning of the event and the event will be rescheduled to Sunday 5/26/2024 (same date, timeframe, and location).
    • Latex-free gloves, buckets, grabbers, and trash bags will all be provided courtesy of Keeping Greater Milwaukee Beautiful.
    • Volunteers are not allowed to collect needles, sharps, or otherwise hazardous objects. If found, these items should be reported to staff. 

    REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. 

    This project is currently open to members*. Please only sign up if you know you can attend. We understand illness and emergencies do come up but they are counting on our hands, so if you register and can no longer attend, please let us know ASAP so we can work to fill your spot. 

    Thank you to our Project Leader Merissa Lauzon 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! 


    • 06/01/2024
    • 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
    • Green Power Garden: S53W24747 Glendale Rd, Waukesha, WI 53189

    Gardening for Good at Green Power Garden

    Overview:

    We're heading back to Green Power Garden on Saturday, June 1st from 1:00-2:30 pm to help prepare the garden and do some planting. 

    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:

    Volunteers will learn how to transplant the baby zucchini and cucumber plants that SBK families will be growing following our May 5th project. You do not need to have attended the May 5th project to join us on this date! We'll also help with any other garden preparation and planting that is ready to be done. 

    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!

    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. 

    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! 


Address:
PO Box 1854
Brookfield, WI  53008

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