Fall 2021 Programs: Volunteers Needed!

GiGi’s Playhouse Fort Wayne is 99% volunteer-run, which means more than 200 volunteers assist us with a variety of roles throughout the year. As we gear up for our Fall 2021 programs, we’re looking for a variety of volunteers to join our team! If you’re interested in any of the positions below, please email our Program Manager, Emily Pack (epack@gigisplayhouse.org), to share what position you’re interested in.

ADMINISTRATION

Social Media Intern or Volunteer

Are you knowledgeable on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram? Join our team as an intern or volunteer to assist us with content creation for our social media platforms. Responsibilities will include planning future posts, taking pictures and designing graphics for a variety of platforms!

Front Desk

Do you enjoy welcoming guests and chatting with our participants? We’re looking for a volunteer with a bubbly personality to greet our guests and Genesis customers. We’re in need of Front Desk assistance Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and will accept volunteers during any of these hours.

Cleaning

Our goal is to maintain a safe and clean environment at GiGi’s Playhouse Fort Wayne. We’re looking for volunteers to assist us with cleaning bathrooms, doing laundry, vacuuming/mopping, and cleaning surfaces to keep everyone safe and healthy! Hours are flexible throughout the week.

PROGRAMS

Math & Literacy Tutors

Interested in working one-on-one with our participants? This is a great program to volunteer your time to assist in language and mathematics development. Trained tutors work at the level of the child, continually challenging and encouraging him/her to reach their Best of All. Weekly lessons last 30-60 minutes for 15 weeks at a time. Tutors will be required to complete a 2-hour tutor training and behavioral management training prior to starting tutoring. Fall Tutoring will begin Sept. 13, 2021. Please complete the tutor interest form.

LMNOP

Language Music N’ Our Peeps (LMNOP) is an interactive and engaging program designed to guide parents and young children through learning basic sign language and other forms of communication while using music and language-based activities. Recommended for ages pre-natal to 36 months. We’re looking for a volunteer that’s interested in working with babies and toddlers as a Program Lead or Assistant, which would mean planning and leading the lessons each week, equaling about 2 hours per week.

GiGi U

GiGi U is a comprehensive and progressive learning program tailored specifically for adults with Down syndrome that is compromised of a 15-week instructional program. GiGi U is designed to motivate adults with Down syndrome to achieve their highest potential in the real world while developing their abilities in the areas of wellness, communication and career skills with emphasis on job interviewing, communication skills, money management, public speaking, customer service, computer skills, team building and wellness. At the end of this career development course, students graduate and then work in our health bar or other places in the Fort Wayne community! This program is set to be 2-3 days a week for 3-4 hours each session. Students learn about work skills, safety, cleanliness, money skills, and communication skills.

Cooking Club

Cooking Club is designed to emphasize the importance of health and wellness through nutrition education, kitchen safety, food preparation, social activities and a shared meal/snack. Under the guidance of program leaders, participants learn about and progress through skills including measurements, food handling, knife skills, ingredient identification, palette expansion, and nutrition. The program builds participants’ self-esteem and confidence through nutrition and wellness! Cooking club is every Friday from 5-6 p.m. We make gluten free and healthy meals with participants (and yes, you can eat it too!).

Health Bar

Work with our GiGi U graduates/ Health Bar Ambassadors and help enrich our participants’ career development experiences while making wraps, salads, smoothies and quesadillas. Each Friday through the end of September, we host local food trucks in our parking lot to extend career training opportunities While the food trucks are here, we could use your help making food and working with our Ambassadors. We are also partnered with All-American gas stations and provide wraps and sandwiches weekly to their Fort Wayne stations and could use your assistance in the preparation process.

Interested in working alongside our participants? Fill out the volunteer application (if you haven’t already done so), and email our Program Manager, Emily Pack (epack@gigisplayhouse.org), with the specific role you’re interested in. We can’t wait to have you in the Playhouse!