VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES WITH
BROWARD’S FOSTER
CARE AGENCIES
Compiled by the Heart Gallery of Broward County 954-918-3008
Thank you for your interest in helping Broward County’s foster children. The needs of
foster children and the agencies that provide for them are great. Whatever your
interest, there is an agency or program in Broward that would love to have your help.
The following pages contain descriptions of the major foster care providers in Broward
County and the volunteer opportunities that they provide.
Common areas of need include:
- Mentoring/tutoring
- Helping at a shelter
- Providing care to a foster child or family (e.g., babysitting, shopping, cooking)
- Event planning
- Volunteering at events
- Helping in the office
- Repair and maintenance of homes and shelters
In addition, if you have a skill or service that you would like to offer, give any of these
agencies a call. They would love to hear from you.
To work directly with the children, volunteers undergo fingerprinting and background
checks. Most agencies require volunteers to be at least 15 years old. Some volunteer
programs require training.
Contact information is given for each agency. If you have general questions, please
feel free to contact the Heart Gallery at 954-918-3008.
Contact Ken Crooks
954-918-3008
ken@heartgalleryofbroward.org
www.heartgalleryofbroward.org
The Heart Gallery of Broward County is a 501 (c )(3) organization founded in 2007. It is one of over
100 independent heart galleries in the United States. The mission of the Broward Heart Gallery is to
improve the lives of foster children by providing innovative programs aimed at solving our
community’s foster care crisis. Our signature traveling Photo Gallery is on display at various locations
throughout Broward County on a monthly basis and on our website.
VOLUNTEER NEEDS
Event Planning -We hold various events throughout the year and depend on volunteers to help
coordinate and run these events. Secure donations (gift certificates, auction items, sports
paraphernalia, artwork, etc.). PR and Marketing - Assist with promotion of events, invitations, flyers,
Facebook promotion, calendar posts. Event day – Assist with registration and coordination of the
events.
 Hours – Vary depending on task and event.
 Age restriction – Adults 18 and over
 Location – Many tasks can be done from the volunteers’ home.
Wish Gallery -This is a birthday gift program for foster children that usually travels with the photo
gallery. A table is set up with a display and we ask people to purchase or donate towards a birthday
gift for a child. We are looking for volunteers to man this table when the opportunity arises.
 Hours – Vary depending on venue. Mostly weekends and 2-4 hour shifts during daytime
hours.
 Age Restriction – Children 18 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
 Location – Coincides with the photo gallery which moves to a new location each month.
 Contact – Gina Castillo 954-816-3937ginacastillo1@att.net.
SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGE
3681 NW 59TH Place
Coconut Creek, FL 33073
www.sosflorida.com
954-420-5030
SOS Children’s Villages provides a home, family and support to foster children who have no imminent
plan for adoption or reunification with their birth families. The children live in a community of 12
single-family homes that are together on a cul-de-sac. The SOS Village provides a full spectrum of
support services for the children’s special needs.
VOLUNTEER CONTACTS
Groups who wish to host an activity with our children contact Genevieve Areson 954-420-5030 or
gareson@sosflorida.com
Mentors, Auxiliary Volunteers, or Groups who wish to help with a facilities project contact Vickie
Walter 954-420-5030 or vwalter@sosflorida.com
VOLUNTEER NEEDS
Mentors- Spend one or two hours per week to encourage and share new experiences with a child of
any age. It is a wonderful opportunity to create a lifelong bond with a child in need.
SOS Auxiliary- The core SOS volunteer program, our Auxiliary helps with both community events and
family activities at the Village depending upon the season and activity calendar. Auxiliary volunteers
receive exclusive invitations to volunteer projects ranging from helping with our gala or working a
community booth to serving pancakes at a family breakfast or helping with the kids at a movie night or
family game at the Village.
Group Projects- Religious, civic and corporate groups are invited to help at the Village by hosting an
activity for the children or assisting the facilities manager with maintenance and repair projects.
KIDS IN DISTRESS
819 NE 26th Street
Wilton Manors, FL 33305
www.kidinc.org
Alicia Stacy 954-390-7654 ext 1046
aliciastacy@kidinc.org
Kids in Distress provides services for the prevention and treatment of child abuse in Broward and
Palm Beach counties. Their extensive prevention program includes counseling, support services and
mentoring. They operate two emergency shelters for abused children from birth to age 12, as well as
a therapeutic preschool. KID supervises over 400 children in foster homes each year.
VOLUNTEER NEEDS
KID is looking for volunteers on campus in many different capacities:
Preschool Helper- KID is currently looking for volunteers in our preschool to assist the teachers with
the day to day activities. The preschool is open Monday-Friday and volunteers are needed for
morning and afternoon shifts.
Afterschool/Summer Camp program- KID offers an afterschool program that flows into our summer
camp program each year. KID is always in need of tutors during the school year from 2:30pm-5:30pm
Monday-Friday. The summer camp program also runs Monday-Friday and help is needed through the
course of the summer between 9am-5pm each day.
Administrative/ Clerical – Volunteers that prefer to help in the administrative side of non-profit can do
so at KID. KID is looking for clerical volunteers to help with filing, shredding, answering phones,
making thank you calls.
Special Events- KID has many signature events through the course of the year that require several
volunteers. Often times these events are held on the weekend, so for those volunteers that are
unable to volunteer during the week you have an opportunity to do so at these events.
CHILDRENS HOME SOCIETY of FLORIDA
401 NE 4th Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
www.chsfl.org
Contact: Siobhan Munnelly
954-453-6400
siobhan.munnelly@chsfl.org
About Children's Home Society of Florida
Created in 1902, Children's Home Society of Florida (CHS) is the oldest and largest statewide private
not-for-profit provider of services to children and families in Florida. The Intercoastal Division,
established in 1967, serves 5,000 children and families in the Broward County area each year
through a full spectrum of prevention and intervention programs. Services include foster care,
adoption, child development, emergency shelters, residential group homes, independent and
transitional living for teens, parent education, counseling, mentoring, treatment for developmentally
disabled children, and more. CHS, which served more than 126,000 children and families throughout
the state in 2009-2010, is headquartered in Winter Park, Fla., and offers services in more than 100
locations by more than 1,500 staff members dedicated to providing child-focused, family-centered
care.
VOLUNTEER NEEDS
 East Broward Auxiliary: a group of passionate volunteers determined to make a difference for
children in Broward County. From holiday parties to fundraising events to advocating for
change at the Capitol, the Auxiliary is a faithful supporter of Children's Home Society of
Florida's Intercoastal Division. More than volunteers, the Auxiliary is truly like family, and it
welcomes new members. If you'd like to change the lives of children in our community, we
invite you to learn more! The East Broward Auxiliary holds its monthly meetings at 6:30 p.m.
on the first Monday of each month, with exceptions of July and August when there are no
meetings.
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Marketing Intern

Special Events Volunteers
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Administrative/ Office Volunteers
JAFCO (Jewish Adoption and Foster Care Options)
4200 N. University Drive
Sunrise, FL 33351
Vickki Reinitz
954-749-7230 x144
vikki@jafco.org
JAFCO provides an entire continuum of programs and services for at-risk children and their families,
including family preservation services, foster care (group and private home placement), therapeutic
programs and a 24-hour emergency shelter for abused or neglected children.
VOLUNTEER NEEDS
Volunteers are encouraged to call and attend a volunteer tour of JAFCO’s large campus in Sunrise.
Areas of greatest need include:
“Forever Friends” Mentoring Program- Mentors meet at least twice a month with a child. The mentor
spends time talking and doing activities with the child, serving as an adult role model-a friend,
teacher, and guide. Adults over age 18 are welcome.
Emergency Shelter- Volunteers can help at the Marsh Children’s Center, either working directly with
children or helping with “household” tasks.
Auxilliary- JAFCO has a strong auxiliary organization, with 14 chapters throughout the three counties.
Volunteers assist in fund-raising activities and in community education about the issue of child abuse.
Professional Services- Professionals are needed who are willing to offer pro-bono medical, dental,
legal, tutoring, therapy or other services to JAFCO’s children.
Age Restrictions: All volunteers must be 18 years old and complete a background check to volunteer
with children.
4KIDS of SOUTH FLORIDA
827 S. State Road 7, Building 1
N. Lauderdale, FL 33068
www.4kidsofsfl.org
Contact- Jane Hall
954-556-4693
jhall@4kidsofsfl.org
4KIDS is a faith-based foster care agency operating in Broward and Palm Beach counties. They work
primarily through churches to train foster and adoptive parents, place children in Christian homes and
provide a support network. They own several homes that provide emergency shelter or longer-term
living for sibling groups, teens and children who have recently aged out of foster care. 4KIDS runs
SafePlace, which is the 24-hour shelter where every child is taken if they are removed from their
home in Broward County. 4KIDS staff provide help and encouragement until a permanent placement
is found.
VOLUNTEER NEEDS
Child/Youth worker- Provide direct care to children at SafePlace or other 4KIDS programs. This can
include entertaining/playing with the children, preparing meals and assisting 4KIDS staff.
Mentor/tutor- Meet with a child once a week to provide guidance, friendship and possibly help with
homework.
Crisis Pregnancy Volunteer- His Caring Place is a licensed teen maternity program that offers love
and guidance to young women struggling with crisis pregnancies. Volunteers can be mentors/birth
coaches, teach life skills or bible study, tutor and provide respite care or transportation.
Events- Help with various events, including foster family and children’s parties, fundraisers, and
information tables at local churches.
Office support- help with daily office management.
Taylor’s Closet- A clothing boutique for teen girls in foster care, located in Pompano Beach. Teen
volunteers are needed to assist with sorting and displaying the clothes and with helping the girls who
shop there. Contact linda@taylorscloset.org
CHILDREN’S HARBOR
19425 SW 58th Manor
Pembroke Pines, FL 33332
www.childrensharbor.org
Brittany Holtz
954-252-3072 ext. 213
bholtz@childrensharbor.org
Children’s Harbor is a 501(c)(3) child welfare located in Pembroke Pines. They provide residential
services, in a family style environment to foster children and teens, as well as prevention services to
at risk families. The Residential Foster Care Program has five group homes—four that are dedicated
to siblings, enabling brothers and sisters to remain together while in foster and one that is dedicated
to pregnant or parenting foster teens and their babies.
Volunteer Needs:
 Homework Helper—
- Assist the children with their academic needs (i.e. homework, school projects, reading a
book, etc.)
- Under the guidance of CH’s Life Skills Coach
- Minimum 1 day a week commitment
- Monday- Thursday, 3-5pm and Saturday

Playtime Volunteer—
- Assist the House Parents with keeping the children occupied after homework time and
before dinner (i.e. outside play, video games, etc.)
- Under the guidance of the House Parents
- Minimum 1 day a week commitment
- Monday- Friday, 5-6:30pm
INSPIRE WITHIN PROGRAM:
Mentoring Youth in Transition
Big Brothers, Big Sisters are matching community mentors
with young adults who are transitioning from foster care into
independence.
All mentors make a commitment of 4 contacts per month (at
least 1 in person) for a minimum of one year and complete a
level 2 background screening.
If you would like to mentor a young adult between the ages of 13 to 17, please contact
Anne Gardner at (954) 584-9990 ext. 103 or e-mail anneg@bbbsbroward.org.
Guardian ad Litem
www.gal.fl.gov
The Guardian ad Litem program’s mission is to advocate in the community and in Dependency court
proceedings for the best interest of children who have been abused, abandoned or neglected. The
child is in great need of your voice.
A Guardian ad Litem is a court-appointed advocate for a child who has been removed from their
home. The GAL gets to know the child and makes recommendations to the court to help ensure a
safe, caring, stable and permanent environment. A Guardian ad Litem volunteer does not need to
have any legal knowledge, just an interest in helping a child in need. Training is required.
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Hours – Various. Average 10 hours per month
Age Restriction – Adults 21 and up
Location – Various places throughout Broward County
Contact – Dr. Sandy Finklin 954-831-6477 Sandy.McNeill@gal.fl.gov
The FLITE Center is a central resource for young people in Broward County’s dependency
system, offering a single, convenient point of access to the broad range of services and support
they need to become successful adults. We offer a safe, nurturing environment that promotes
personal growth at the same time that it develops practical skills. Moreover, by bringing multiple
services together into a single facility, we simplify and streamline the assistance process.
VOLUNTEER NEEDS:
The College Boost Program (CBP) was implemented to give TIL youths ages 17-23 who have
aged out of foster care in Broward County an opportunity to obtain their GED. Following this
success, these students are encouraged and supported in their efforts to pursue post-secondary
education.
TUTOR
-Provide academic support in Math, Reading and English
-Minimum one day per week commitment
-Mon-Thurs 9:30am-1:30pm and Mon-Thurs 2:00pm-6:00pm
VOLUNTEER TUTOR CONTACT:
Individual who wish to volunteer at FLITE Center, please contact Tricia Cepeda, TIL Educational
Coordinator at 954-530-4686 or 954-625-3369.
Email: tricia@flitecenter.org