Sunshine Creating Community

Volunteer Opportunities:

We have opportunities in Lucas and Fulton counties. Among our most popular choices:

• Therapeutic riding volunteer
  Assist people with developmental disabilities who ride one of Sunshine’s four horses – Daisy, Taz, Katie or Harley – as a horse leader or sidewalker during therapeutic riding lessons at our Maumee campus. Horse leaders must have horse experience, but side-walking and other tasks don’t require experience.  Other responsibilities include helping the instructor with activities or keeping the arena clean. For the sustainability of this volunteer-driven program, we ask that volunteers commit to assisting once-weekly for 6-8 weeks while sessions are in progress, though weeks need not be consecutive.  Volunteer Tuesdays from 5-8pm and Saturdays 10-12.

• Barn Volunteer
  Prepare animals and clean up barn, including stalls and pastures. Mon-Fri 9-2

• Social activities
  Share your passion or hobby with a new friend today.  The opportunities at Sunshine seem endless – Do you like gardening, reading, swimming, animals, crafts or meeting new people? So do we! Accompany somebody to a spiritual or maybe board or video games are your speed. Puzzles? Scrapbooking? Baking? Comic books? Getting your nails done? Relationships are built on common interests.  You’ll change lives, including your own.

• Swimming Volunteer
  longer volunteer commitment- interact with individuals who have disabilities in the pool- help to balance while in the pool or totally support individual

• Facilities/office support
  Help Sunshine behind-the-scenes in its daily operations.  In the office, Sunshine seeks volunteers for filing, archiving, updating databases and other crucial office tasks. We are also looking for people who have a talent in photography or graphic design. We have many departments who would be grateful for your support.  Or perhaps you’re more comfortable with a mop, hammer or paintbrush. With a 25-acre main campus and 15 care homes, Sunshine facilities crews can always use an extra hand or two.

• Horticulture Volunteer 
  Planting seeds, transplants, general clean up, arts and crafts- Mon-fri-9-2
  Also needed maintenance or grounds help:  Painting/Staining of fences, gazebo, and picnic tables.  Hours- whenever available

• Day of Service Groups
  Sunshine welcomes help from faith groups, schools, businesses and other organizations.  We work with each organization to find the “right fit.” Maybe that’s facility support, such as painting a fence or landscaping. Or maybe you can help with a community outing or assist with social activities at Sunshine. Carve out your own project or join an existing activity. 

• Special Events
  Our biggest events each year are possible only through Sunshine’s army of volunteers. Join us at our annual Walk, Run & Roll (the first Saturday after Labor Day each year). Or be a part of our Haunted Hallways, holiday parties and dances. We love having a good time!  Inquire early. Spots are limited for our most popular activities, and the annual Walk, Run & Roll requires special paperwork.  Check out Walk2016VolunteerFlyer for more information on this year’s event.  

Mission Statement:

The volunteer program offers opportunities for everyone at Sunshine. Opportunities for friendships, for new experiences and for more choices. All of these are priceless gifts that impact everyone’s quality of life. The volunteer program also offers us the opportunity to impact the way society views people who have disabilities. As an organization we are able to mentor volunteers and in turn these volunteers mentor other members of society about the amazing things that happen when you look beyond a person’s disability and focus on their abilities. 

Anyone with a loved one with developmental disabilities will tell you: There’s something amazing about them. We’ve seen volunteers experience that same feeling and end their days with a smile that just won’t go away.  Whether it’s painting fingernails or fences, sharing a book or sharing a laugh, your time enriches the lives of the Sunshine community spiritually, physically, intellectually and socially. But it can be life-changing for you as well.  Those with developmental disabilities have amazing gifts to share if you simply take the time. That’s what we call mutuality here at Sunshine – the idea that such relationships offer surprising benefits for every person involved. So get involved. Make a difference. This kind of joy changes lives – everyone’s.

Contact:

7223 Maumee Western Road

Maumee, Ohio 43537