Volunteers can help equip new mothers and struggling families with essentials for their babies by assembling Basics for Babies Kits.

Kits may include:

- Baby Powder
- Baby Shampoo
- Baby Wipes
- Bib
- Blanket & Lovey
- Diaper Bag
- Diapers
- Pacifiers
- Petroleum Jelly
- Wash Cloth
- Note of Encouragement

Volunteers can help children in need feel loved on their birthdays by assembling Birthday Kits filled with items to help them celebrate their special day.

Kits may include:

- Balloons
- Birthday Bag
- Birthday Banner
- Birthday Candles
- Cake Mix
- Disposable Cake Pan
- Frosting
- Noise Maker
- Party Hats
- Party Stickers
- Sprinkles
- Note of Encouragement

Volunteers can assemble basic supplies that individuals can use in the event of an emergency or disaster (e.g., first aid, survival kit). United Ways have worked with the American Red Cross, FEMA, Offices of Emergency Management, and countless other organizations to learn about what’s needed most and then assist volunteers in helping rebuild communities that have faced a manmade or natural disaster.

Kits may include:

- Batteries
- Blanket
- Emergency Radio
- First Aid Kit
- Flashlight
- Hand Warmers
- Note of Encouragement

Volunteers can help supply families with 72 hours worth of meals in case of disaster by assembling Emergency Food Kits. Kits should include high calorie, no-prep required foods.

Kits may include:

- Applesauce
- Animal Crackers
- Beef Jerky
- Chip Bag
- Fig Bars
- Fruit Snacks
- Granola Bar
- Oatmeal Bar
- Peanut Butter
- Raisins
- Trail Mix
- Tuna & Crackers
- Reusable Tote
- Note of Encouragement

Volunteers can help provide women experiencing homelessness with essential feminine hygiene products by assembling Feminine Hygiene Kits.

Kits may include:

- Disposable wipes
- Pads
- Tampons
- Underwear
- Note of Encouragement

Volunteers can help encourage exercise and healthy habits by assembling Gym Kits for students. Kit items may be useful to a student during recess, physical education classes, or at home.

Kits may include:

- Comb
- Deodorant
- Drawstring Bag
- Jump Rope
- Shampoo
- Soap Bar w/ Case
- Towel
- Wash Cloth
- Water Bottle
- Note of Encouragement

Volunteers can help provide necessities to individuals experiencing homelessness or struggling to make ends meet by assembling Health and Hygiene Kits.

Kits may include:

- Chapstick
- Comb
- Deodorant
- Drawstring Bag
- Floss
- Lotion
- Shampoo
- Soap Bar w/ Case
- Socks
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Washcloth
- Note of Encouragement

Volunteers can help spread holiday cheer to children with a stocking full of items for the winter season.

Kits may include:

- Card Games
- Hat
- Stocking
- Scarf
- Small Toys
- Warm Socks
- Note of Encouragement

Volunteers can create kits to help new clinic patients feel more at home and educate them on better health.

Kits may include:

- 24-Hour Pharmacy Info
- Antibiotic Ointment
- Anti-Itch Spray
- Band-Aids
- Emergency Card
- Hand Sanitizer
- Health Screening Info
- Pill Organizer
- Prescription Medicine Card
- Tissues
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Note of Encouragement

Volunteers can help provide children facing difficult circumstances with comfort and entertainment items by assembling Playtime to Go. Kits will allow children to have items of their own to take from shelter to shelter or to home and will provide a way for the child to learn how to decompress and be self-expressive in a positive way.

Kits may include:

- Backpack
- Blanket
- Card Game
- Coloring Book
- Crayons
- Fidget Toys
- Markers
- Notebook
- Puzzle
- Small Toys
- Stuffed Animal
- Note of Encouragement

Volunteers can help promote oral health in children by assembling Smile Kits.

Kits may include:

- Book
- Drawstring Bag
- Sand Timer
- Stress Ball
- Tooth Box
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Note of Encouragement

Volunteers can help ensure that students have nutritious snacks at home and on the weekend by assembling Snack Packs for low income students who typically receive free breakfast or lunch from school during the school week.

Kits may include:

- Applesauce
- Cereal
- Crackers
- Fruit Snacks
- Granola Bars
- Oatmeal
- Paper Lunch Bag
- Note of Encouragement

Volunteers can help provide tools for children and adolescents to destress in a positive way by assembling Social Emotional Learning Kits.

Kits may include:

- Balloons
- Bubbles
- Coloring Book
- Crayons
- Drawstring Bag
- Emotion Cards
- Fidget Toys
- Notebook
- Pen
- Pencil Box
- Pipe Cleaners
- Shaping Dough
- Stress Ball
- Tissues
- Note of Encouragement

Volunteers can help provide wellness necessities to individuals experiencing homelessness or struggling to make ends meet by assembling Wellness Water Bottles

Kits may include:

- Chapstick
- Comb
- Dental Floss
- Deodorant
- Face mask
- Hand sanitizer
- Mints
- Socks
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Wide mouth water bottle

Volunteers can help provide winter necessities to individuals experiencing homelessness or struggling to make ends meet by assembling Winter Care Kits

Kits may include:

- Blanket
- Chapstick
- First Aid Kit
- Gloves
- Hat
- Lotion
- Scarf
- Socks
- Tissues
- Note of Encouragement

Volunteers can help set up a temporary Activity Trail that features a series of fun exercises and nutritious snacks. Planning an activity trail in a park or shopping mall is an excellent project for groups of volunteers and a great way to teach children about the importance of daily exercise and healthy eating.

Volunteers can help promote active lifestyles by assembling children’s bikes for boys and girls in their communities. Each bike will include a helmet, lock, and a note of encouragement.

Volunteers can make blankets using fleece fabric for community members in need of warmth and comfort. A variety of organizations accept blankets for their clients, including homeless shelters, hospitals, and emergency relief services. They are a fun and easy project that can be done anywhere!

Volunteers can help support children and families in need by making donations of new or gently used blankets and coats. United Ways can coordinate with local nonprofit partners to distribute donations.

Volunteers can help ensure a healthy start for newborns by participating in a Community Baby Shower hosted by your organization. Community and/or corporate volunteers can make a difference by donating, sorting, and assembling essential items for families in need.

Volunteers can help build healthy communities by participating in a Community Garden Project hosted by your organization. Community gardens help encourage healthy eating and healthy living by improving food security for low-income people and by providing opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to be active. Creating community gardens can be a good team building experience for volunteers. They are able to enjoy the benefit of creating something with their own hands that will make a difference in the life of the community.

Volunteers can help promote health in communities and address issues associated with inadequate dental care, by participating in a Dental Fair hosted by your organization A dental fair brings together dentists and other dental professionals, volunteers, and others in the community to help people see a dentist for cleaning, fillings, extraction and x-rays, and learn more about the importance of regular visits and good oral hygiene.

Volunteers can help advance health and economic stability for struggling families with babies through participating in a Diaper Drive hosted by your organization.

As unemployment and increasing costs of basic needs further strain the finances of low-income families, one in three families struggle to provide diapers for their babies. An adequate supply of diapers (approximately 200 diapers each month) can cost in excess of $100 a month or more if they are bought in small packages at corner stores. Diapers cannot be bought with food stamps or WIC vouchers, and there is no direct government assistance that provides diapers to families in need. Furthermore, many nonprofits are unable to maintain an adequate supply of diapers due to increasing demand, and most coin-operated laundromats do not allow customers to wash cloth diapers for health and sanitary reasons. As a result, babies are left in wet diapers for many hours causing illness and discomfort, and preventing playing, learning, and growing. Without enough diapers, parents often cannot leave their children with a child care provider, and thus cannot attend work or school.

Your organization can engage volunteers in helping achieve our goal to increase the number of healthy youth and adults and also can add value to corporate and community relationships by providing an outlet for company or individual volunteers to utilize their love of cooking, become more involved in their children’s school communities, or simply have fun while helping families learn about healthy living. Whether setting up cooking stations and activities, teaching children and their parents about nutrition, or packing grocery bags for participants to take home after class, volunteers at family teaching kitchens play an important and rewarding role in providing valuable resources for a healthier community.

Volunteers can help address food insecurity through participating in a Meal Packing Event hosted by United Way. Meal packing events are a great opportunity to provide families and groups an activity that leaves volunteers of all ages feeling satisfied and more aware about hunger and food insecurity in their communities.

Volunteers can send a boost of positivity to those going through a difficult time by assembling Positivity Jars filled with affirmations and notes of encouragement.

Volunteers can help address childhood hunger through participating in a Summer Meals Block Party hosted by their organization. Summer Meals Block Parties offer a combination of food, fun activities, and information about local summer meals and other programs that improve the education, financial stability and health of people in need. Summer Meals Block Parties are an opportunity for community members to gather and for kids and parents to learn more about the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), a federally sponsored initiative to ensure low-income children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session.

Volunteers can decorate a pillowcase to be donated to children living in shelters. These decorated pillowcases can bring cheer and color to their rooms. Pillowcases can be coupled with a children's book as well as a note of encouragement.

Volunteers can promote environmental health by planting trees. They will gather either in-person or virtually to learn about and discuss the health benefits of planting trees, and then plant seedlings in locations of their choosing. Seedlings will either be mailed directly to volunteers' homes or distributed during an in-person event. Volunteers will share photos of where they planted their trees.

Volunteers can register to participate in a Virtual 5K to raise money for a good cause. Participants can complete the 5K by running, walking, or biking in their local community or using exercise equipment indoors, and are encouraged to share their progress via social media.

Volunteers can write uplifting notes to a variety of audiences, including older adults and medical personnel. Medical personnel have been facing increased challenges in responding to the needs of their communities and older adults face a growing need for support throughout the many months of quarantining. Writing a note is a simple gesture that can have a profound impact, particularly during this challenging time. Notes can be printed and delivered or exported onto a pre-designed poster, which is then sent electronically.

Volunteers can help provide treats and therapeutic activities to isolated seniors by assembling Care Packages for Older Adults.

Kits may include:

- Activity Books
- Eraser
- Fuzzy Socks
- Hard Candy
- Mug
- Pencil
- Pencil Sharpener
- Tea
- Note of Encouragement

Volunteers can play simple games that can be executed virtually such as BINGO and Trivia with older adults living in nursing homes.

The Kindness Calls volunteer project is targeted toward senior citizens who are facing isolation. Volunteers will each be assigned to call a senior based on an agreed upon schedule. The goal of these conversations is to supply a social interaction experience for senior citizens and provide an enriching community engagement opportunity for volunteers.

Volunteers can brighten a homebound senior's day and provide them with activities to do at home by assembling Sunshine Kits.

Kits may include:

- Chapstick
- Deck of cards
- Diabetic socks
- Hand Lotion
- Hand-Written Sunshine Card
- List of Senior Independent Living Resources
- Post-It-Notes
- Tea Bags

Volunteers can help foster creativity among students by assembling art kits. Kits can be distributed to local organizations that serve children, including schools, daycare centers, libraries, after-school programs, and health clinics.

Kits may include:

- Colored Pencils
- Construction Paper
- Crayons
- Glue Sticks
- Paint Brushes
- Pencil Box
- Scissors
- Shaping Dough
- Sketch Book
- Stickers
- Watercolor Palette
- Note of Encouragement

Volunteers can equip students with the resources they need to succeed throughout the school year by assembling back to school kits. Supplies can be distributed to partner schools and organizations that work with students living in low-income areas. Research shows that new school supplies gives students confidence and helps to motivate them.

Kits may include:

- Colored Pencils
- Composition Notebook
- Crayons
- Drawstring Bag
- Eraser
- Folders
- Glue Stick
- Highlighter
- Markers
- Pencil
- Pencil Box
- Pencil Sharpener
- Pen
- Scissors
- Note of Encouragement

Volunteers can help support the development of a child’s language and literacy skills, as well as their creative thinking by assembling Literacy Kits. Literacy kits are comprised of a popular, developmentally appropriate book and a collection of related objects, games, or other activities designed to make reading interactive and enjoyable for young children.

Kits may include:

- Book
- Drawstring Bag
- Interactive Activities
- Props
- Reading Tips for Parents
- Note of Encouragement

Volunteers can assemble Teacher Relaxation Kits to help teachers unwind and relax from stressful school days. This is a great project for teacher appreciation week.

Kits may include:

- Candles
- Coffee
- Lotion
- Mindfulness Coloring Book
- Mug
- Reflection Notebook
- Stress Ball
- Tea
- Tote Bag
- Water Bottle
- Note of Encouragement

Volunteers can help provide classroom supplies to teachers working in low-income schools by assembling Teacher Survival Kits. This project works well right before the new school year begins or mid-year when supplies often run low.

Kits may include:

- Band-Aids
- Erasers
- Hand Sanitizer
- Pencils
- Pens
- Stickers
- Tissues
- Writing Pad
- Note of Encouragement

Each day, children are developing skills they will use throughout their lives like, how to cooperate in teams, how to take turns, and how to participate in friendly competition. Volunteer teams can build Buddy Benches to encourage children to be kind at school/on the playground and to promote positive social-emotional development. Children can sit on a Buddy Bench during recess when they feel lonely or bullied, signaling classmates to ask them to play.

Volunteers can foster a child's love of reading and promote child literacy to encourage life-long learning from the comfort of their own homes. Volunteers film themselves reading a popular children’s book so that children can read along at home. Be sure to connect with your local library or legal team for copyright permissions.

Organizations can foster a child’s love of reading by creating and supporting “Reading Buddy” programs. Reading Buddy programs can provide a wide range of volunteer engagement opportunities. Volunteers can sign up to read to classes either as one-time opportunities or on a scheduled basis, such as weekly or monthly. One-on-one reading sessions give volunteers the opportunity for a more long-term commitment with a student and can be scheduled as a weekly session for the entire school year.

Volunteers can encourage children to read by stuffing cuddly reading buddy. Reading aloud is a great technique to improve fluency and reading skills; however, not all children feel comfortable reading in front of other people. A stuffed animal reading buddy can help by allowing a child to practice reading without the added performance anxiety.

Organizations can engage volunteers to operate school supply drives for children and youth. A school supply drive – sometimes called Stuff the Bus, Write from the Start, Tools for School, Operation Backpack, and other clever names – can engage communities in helping students in need to get the tools to learn and succeed in school.

Volunteers can help reduce summer learning loss by assembling Summer Reading Backpacks to make books more widely available to low-income students. Volunteer events to create Summer Reading Backpacks can be easy points of entry for volunteers to join United Way's initiatives to improve early grade reading proficiency and to keep students on track for high school graduation.

Volunteers can record a brief video sharing information about a subject of interest or a skill they possess. Videos will be sent to students at youth serving organizations, shelters, financial empowerment centers and other organizations that could benefit.

Volunteers can empower individuals and families living in poverty obtain employment and improve their financial education and management skills by assembling Financial Empowerment Kits.

Kits may include:

- Binder Clips
- Budget Planner
- Coupon Organizer
- Finance Flashcards
- Folder
- Legal Pad
- Pencil
- Pen
- Recommended Literature List
- Reflection Notebook
- Messenger Bag
- Sticky Notes
- Note of Encouragement

Volunteers can help children and teens learn about smart ways to earn, save, and spend money by assembling Financial Literacy Kits.

Kits may include:

- Book
- Calculator
- Drawstring Bag
- Eraser
- Financial Lit Activities/Games
- Financial Lit Worksheets
- Information for Parents
- Pencils
- Piggy Bank
- Note of Encouragement

Volunteers can support families transitioning into a new home, either because of a disaster or not, by assembling Welcome Home Kits.

Kits may include:

- Blanket
- Bowl
- Can Opener
- Kitchen Towel
- Laundry Basket
- Oven Mitts
- Pasta Server
- Plate
- Sieve
- Spatula
- Toilet Scrubber
- Whisk
- Note of Encouragement

Volunteers can assemble Care Boxes filled with resources for those in need. Care Boxes can include non-perishable food, toiletries, transportation passes, community resource information, clothing, notes of encouragement, and more!

Volunteers can record videos of themselves or participate in a live webinar in which they join a panel where they share details on their education and career. This is a great way for volunteers to help students explore different career opportunities and provide personalized career advice. An orientation is recommended prior to either version of this project so volunteers feel prepared.

Organizations can host clothing drives to help improve the quality of life, enhance employability skills, and restore dignity of individuals and families as they work toward long-term financial stability.

Students in low income communities often face barriers to college and career success to limited resources and support. To help fill this gap in support, organizations can host College and Career Fairs to share resources for academic and professional success.

Volunteers can review and make edits to resumes from students, those in workforce development programs, and other individuals in search of work, to help them secure job placement and be competitive in the job market. Building a strong resume is key in finding a job and by participating in this project, volunteers can help job seekers imagine their career dreams and meet their financial goals