We have seen the tremendous benefit the children receive from their involvement with caring mentors. We encourage anyone who might like to explore volunteering at Cape May Cares to please fill out the form below and we will contact you shortly. No experience necessary, just a good heart!!
Just fill out this form and someone from Cape May Cares will get in touch to see how you can bring your time and talents to our organization.
Throughout the academic year, our homework help program is in operation three days a week. Tuesday through Thursday afternoons, the Housing Authority office is busy with students and tutors gathering after school for extra homework help, educational games and snacks. Although many of our tutors are retired teachers, a background in education is not necessary for this volunteer position. Most of our students need basic help completing homework, preparing for spelling tests and practicing reading skills. The children range in age from kindergarten through high school, and we work to match tutor and student skill levels and personalities. Over the course of the year, tutors work one on one with the students, developing a sense of trust and shared goals with the students and their families. In addition, we work to maintain develop good communication with the local schools and teachers in order to best help the students improve their academic performance. Tutoring is a one hour commitment per week and a rewarding way to be a part of the Cape May Cares team.
Becoming a mentor at Cape May Cares can encompass many different roles and levels of involvement. This volunteer opportunity is as varied as the mentor’s interests happen to be. In general, becoming mentor is a way to share a particular career/business experience, talent, hobby or interest in a way which will instruct and encourage the children’s individual development and promote their overall well-being. Typical mentorship might involve helping the children to develop skills outside the classroom such as in music, arts and sports. The goal of this program is to expand extra-curricular experiences and help open new possibilities for children, teens, parents and even seniors who look to better their lives. Mentorship is also a great way for local business members and residents to build greater community spirit by offering a helping hand to neighbors in need, right here in Cape May. Be it a one-time event or an ongoing commitment, we welcome all ideas and participation that can contribute positively to the lives of the children, families and seniors at Cape May Cares.
Just like most kids and teens today who spend too much time indoors playing video games, the children we work with at Cape May Cares need encouragement to participate in healthy, outdoor activities or creative outlets. We welcome volunteers who have time after school or a free weekend afternoon to help organize or participate in any kind of fun activity that will add to the wellbeing of the kids and teens. Past activities include volleyball games on the beach, basketball drills at the school playground and story hour with arts and crafts. For those individuals who prefer starting out their volunteering experience with a one time commitment, our kids and teens program is a perfect opportunity to share your own hobby or sport of choice — it’s just possible you could help spark a new interest or discover a special talent in a child or teen!
The Christmas season is our most favorite time of year at Cape May Cares. It’s also the the busiest time by far, offering many different opportunities to volunteer. As our outreach to lower income children grows beyond the Housing Authority families, we are always looking for sponsors and shoppers for our Christmas Gift Delivery Program. For our mid-December Secret Santa event at the Housing Authority, we welcome donations of small items to give the children a chance to “shop” and wrap gifts for their parents, grandparents, siblings and teachers. Local businesses might find this a perfect time to donate inexpensive items from last season’s merchandise. Volunteers are also needed to help the children wrap their gifts, make cards, and serve hot chocolate and cookies. A few days later, Cape May Cares holds a Christmas party for our senior residents where they too can “shop” for their families (and themselves too!) while enjoying refreshments. It’s a great volunteer opportunity for those who would enjoy making a senior’s day by engaging in a great conversation over a cup of coffee and Christmas cookie or two.
A few of our Spanish-speaking students and parents need help to improve their English language skills in speaking, reading and writing. ESL Volunteering at Cape May Cares would involve helping these individuals develop a better command of the English language in order to do better at school and further open up a wider range of educational and employment opportunities.
With household chores and little children to take care of, every mom knows her special day can often look like any other day on the calendar. This is particularly true for the great majority of the some thirty young mothers living at the Housing Authority who are single parents. Starting sometime in 2025, the goal of this dinner program is to treat each mom to a “night off” on her birthday by providing her with a homemade or favorite take-out dinner, along with a simple meal for her children. Volunteers could add their own touch — maybe a birthday cake, token gift or encouraging card — to help make the day just a little more meaningful for a mother trying her best for the family. This program is a great way to get a group of friends involved in volunteering and “sharing” in this opportunity to make sure a mom is treated to a special day on her birthday.
