Volunteer Flyer

Let’s Eat!

Who will you be helping?

· Children from single-parent households who live in Anacostia, DC

What challenges do they face?

· They live in neighborhoods where child abuse, violent crime, teenage pregnancy, single-parenthood, and persistent poverty are prevalent

· Many of them never have an opportunity to see what a stable, two-parent home is like, much less experience it on a daily basis

· As a result, they are in danger of perpetuating the cycle of single-parenthood and its attendant disadvantages

What can you do to help?

· What: Host a child for dinner once a week, in your home

· When: On the same night every week, for an hour, between 6:30-8:30 pm

Why should you volunteer?

· This is a great opportunity for the whole family to spend time together while learning to serve in a meaningful way

· Regular family dinner makes it easy to serve without crowding busy schedules

· The family will learn how to interact with someone from a different culture and background in a safe, limited environment

How will you be making a difference?

· By providing a child with a role model of a stable two-parent home, you greatly increase the chances of that child establishing such a home in the future

· Normal dinner table conversations will help both parties develop better communication and social skills

How can you find out more about the program?

· Email Valerie Barker at valwoo@gmail.com

· Read the FAQs on the flip side of this page or read the full program proposal here

Volunteer FAQs

1) How will the children get to and from my house?

· The child will be shuttled to your doorstep and picked up from your house after about an hour.

2) Besides hosting the child for dinner once a week, what else do I have to do?

· Pass background checks and attend volunteer orientation and training.

· Host an additional member of the child’s family once a month (this will reduce any potentially divisive effect of the program and help foster the practice of family dinners in the child’s own home).

· Fill out a brief electronic feedback form after each interaction with the child, and attend a feedback session every 6 months.

3) How will these meals be paid for?

· Families will be responsible for paying for the meals (exceptions may be made under special circumstances). However, families also build credit each time they provide electronic feedback. Accumulated credit can be exchanged for gift cards (grocery store gift cards, movie passes etc).

4) How are children matched with families?

· Matching will take into account mutual preferences, age, and other relevant factors.

· However, it is important to remember that differences will remain and that a central goal of the program is exposure to and learning from these differences.

5) How old are these children?

· The age range goes from 8-18, but most children are between 10 and 13.

6) What happens if the child accidentally breaks or damages something?

· Limited compensation will be available. However, effort will be made to reduce such incidents to a minimum, through proper training and precautionary measures.

7) What kind of support can I expect?

· During training, families will briefed on their responsibilities and procedures for dealing with emergencies, cultural differences, behavioral issues, unexpected events etc will be set forth. Families are also welcome to contact the program administrator at any time.

8) What happens if it really isn’t working for my family?

· Both parties are likely to experience some adjustment issues, and these experiences will provide opportunities for growth. Additional support and training will also be provided if needed. However, we recognize that the needs of your family ultimately come first.