VOLUNTEER WITH US
Students involved with YR know service and leadership are at the heart of all we do. But none of it would be possible without caring adults who give of their time and talents. Please take a moment to explore the volunteer opportunities below.
Programs
Teen Advisory Council Adult Advisor
Early risers, this one’s for you! Every other Friday during the school year, more than 150 Teen Advisory Council (TAC) members meet before school (5:55a.m.!) at Ivy Tech to plan events and service projects, listen to motivational and informative speakers and get to know students from other schools. Adult advisors guide TAC members as they work in nine student-led committees and are asked to meet with their committee co-chairs outside of TAC once a month. Training is provided. Contact our Teen Advisory Council Program Coordinator for more information.
Vanderburgh Co. Teen Court Attorney Volunteer
Teen Court provides a second chance for first-time middle school and high school offenders, enabling them to avoid having a conviction on their juvenile record. 8th-12th grade students serve as prosecutors, defense attorneys, bailiff, jury members and the judge’s assistant in a Vanderburgh County courtroom. Adult attorneys are needed to serve as judge and to assist the prosecution and defense teams. Teen Court meets each Monday from 5-6pm. Adult volunteers are not required to be at every hearing, but attending at least once a month is suggested. Training is provided. Contact our Teen Court Program Coordinator for more information.
Vanderburgh Co. Teen Court Adult Bailiff
No legal experience is required to volunteer as an adult bailiff at a Vanderburgh County Teen Court hearing. Help youth bailiff volunteers facilitate the hearing process (using a script!), and support our student volunteers, juvenile offender, and their family in moving forward through the program. Teen Court meets each Monday from 5-6pm. Adult volunteers are not required to be at every hearing, but attending at least once a month is suggested. Training is provided. Contact our Teen Court Program Coordinator for more information.
TEENPOWER Adult Staff Volunteer
In order to welcome 400+ students to TEENPOWER each summer, YR relies on dozens of committed adult volunteers. These volunteers attend the majority, if not all, of TEENPOWER (either high school, middle school or both) and stay overnight. YR staff, alumni and parents fill many of these roles, but because of the time intensive nature of this volunteer commitment, we are always looking for new faces! Training is provided and a background check is required. Contact our TEENPOWER Program Coordinator for more information.
Apply to be an Adult Program Volunteer
Office
Office Cleaning/Organizing
Whether they’re planning the next TEENPOWER, training new Teen Court volunteers or making hundreds of bags of puppy chow for the Fall Festival, students meet and work in the YR office year-round. While we love to host, extra hands to make our space as inviting and functional as possible are always welcome! Volunteer duties could include: wiping down tables and chairs, vacuuming, filing, sorting and organizing supplies and other light office work. Contact our Executive Director for more information.
Office Recycling
Between boxes, paper and snacks for our students, the YR recycling bins fill up FAST! Keep the office green by picking up and dropping off the YR recycling. We’ll work with you to set up a schedule, or just pitch in when you can. Contact our Executive Director for more information.
Mailings
Communicating with the people who support us – and those who might in the future – is crucial. Several times a year we send bulk mailings. The more hands we have assembling and sorting envelopes, the faster we can get this important information to the people who need it. Mailings take place at the office and often provide an opportunity to work alongside student volunteers. Contact Laura Ferguson for more information.
Donate Supplies
We understand that extra time can be tough to come by. If you’re not able to serve in the office or at an event but still want to help, we are always in need of supplies. The list varies throughout the year, but we are always grateful for donations of snacks to power our students, office supplies like colored paper, post it notes and postage stamps and gift cards to Wal-Mart and Office Depot. Contact our Executive Director for more information about what is needed.
Donor Recognition
YR would not exist without the generosity of people and companies in our community. If you’re passionate about the positive impact YR makes on young people, consider recognizing those donors for their contributions by making thank you calls or writing thank you notes. This work could be done in the YR office or at your home. Contact our Executive Director for more information.
Special Events
Sponsorships
Know someone interested in helping young people develop into stronger leaders? A small business looking for a way to give back? Or, maybe you have ties to a larger company open to expanding its philanthropy. YR is always excited to strengthen relationships with current supporters and create new partnerships. This could be through an in kind contribution, event sponsorship, matching donation or other gift. Contact our Executive Director for more information.
Event Set Up/Clean Up
YR hosts several large events throughout the year. Lend a hand for an hour or two by volunteering to set up or clean up for the Scooter Scramble, Trivia Night, the Hall of Fame Celebration or Big Man on Campus! Contact our Executive Director for more information.
Scooter Scramble Committee
The Scooter Scramble was created in 2013 to honor the memory of dedicated YR volunteer Scooter Tiemann. Volunteers are needed for various roles around the course and clubhouse on the day of the event (the Monday after Labor Day), as well as to secure event sponsorships and foursomes. This committee meets regularly leading up to the event. Contact our Executive Director for more information.
Scooter Scramble Auction Committee
To make the Scooter Scramble Auction as successful as possible, we need volunteers to reach out to friends, neighbors and local businesses for auction items and experiences. Committee members will work directly with YR staff to coordinate auction item requests and pick ups. Contact our Executive Director for more information.
Fall Festival Volunteer
The Big Orange Booth is a lot more fun when it’s full of YR volunteers during the Fall Festival! It takes hundreds of people to prepare, sell and serve our delicious pretzel bites, meat wads, puppy chow and cider. Gather a group of friends and sign up for a shift (or two)! Or, help keep the booth stocked all week long by volunteering to make puppy chow – no culinary experience required! Contact our Executive Director for more information.
YR Day Ambassador
Love YR so much that you find yourself telling friends, relatives and even strangers about it? Enjoy using social media? Help us showcase YR’s impact on young people by sharing your passion for what we do as a YR Day Ambassador. Set up an online fundraiser and tell the world about all the ways YR changes lives during this once-a-year 24-hour celebration! Learn more about YR Day and how you can be part of it.
Night with the Otters
Each summer YR spends an evening at the ballpark watching the Evansville Otters at Bosse Field! Grill masters are needed to prepare hot dogs and burgers for a pre-game cookout at Garvin Park. Food donations (hot dogs, burgers, buns, chips, cookies, ice, etc.) are also needed. The annual Night with the Otters is typically in July. Contact our Executive Director for more information.
Drive-In Night
If you’re over 25, have a driver’s license and love movies, consider joining the caravan for our annual summer trip to the Holiday Drive-In in Reo. Many of the students who attend are not yet able to drive. We provide a safe way for them to attend by meeting at the Newburgh Schnuck’s and carpooling. Look for information about YR’s Drive-In Night on social media. Contact our Executive Director for more information.