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About Hour Children

Location:

36-11 12th St, Basement Level, Long Island City, NY 11106, US

Mission Statement

Hour Children's mission is to help incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women and their children successfully rejoin the community, reunify with their families, and build healthy, independent, and secure lives. To accomplish this, Hour Children provides compassionate and comprehensive services and encourages all to live and interact with dignity and respect.

Description

Hour Children is looking to utilize unique, motivated, and committed volunteers for the following programs:

1) Hour After School Program -

Hour Children provides children (ages 5-12) with many one-to-one tutoring and cultural enrichment activities. This special time allows you, the volunteer, to focus on the child’s best interests to help guide them in the art of learning and knowledge. Volunteers may provide homework help, read to young children, and assist with special activities. Program runs Monday - Friday, 3:00PM - 6:00PM.

2) Hour Early Learning Program (HELP) -

HELP is a licensed daycare center opened Monday through Friday from 7:30AM - 6:00PM. HELP is committed to helping children become happy, healthy, socially competent individuals who will enter school ready to learn. We do this by providing a comprehensive and developmentally appropriate learning environment that stresses experiential learning opportunities to ensure sure that children grow to their maximum potential. Volunteers will have the opportunity to ensure HELP's goal by working closely with the children, or assist with office/administrative tasks.

3) Hour Children Thrift Stores -

Hour Children has two thrift stores that receive donations from all over the five boroughs. Hour Children staff and volunteers sort and clean these goods. The thrift stores are an invaluable resource for the surrounding neighborhoods and help us build and maintain good relationships with our community members.
- Hour Children's Shop. 25-22 34 Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11106. OPEN - Monday - Saturday 10:00AM to 7:00PM and Sunday 11:00AM to 7:00PM.
- Fancy Thrift. 12-10 36 Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11106. OPEN - Monday - Sunday 11:00AM to 6:00PM.

4) Food Pantry -

Hour Children Community Outreach provides a client choice supermarket style food pantry organized to match the color coding of the USDA food pyramid’s food groups. Our mission is to provide healthy and nutritious food in the most non-judgmental and respectful way possible. We also want to build a sense of community and help empower neighborhood residents to identify and advocate for edible resources. Volunteers will provide support by distrubting food, stocking, and interacting with clients. OPEN - Monday 2:00PM - 6:00PM, Thursday 4:00PM - 7:00PM

5) Hour Working Women Program (HWWP) -

HWWP is a comprehensive employment training program focusing in areas like Basic Office Skills & Computer Training, Financial Literacy, and a range of Professional Development. Women participate in classes and seminars with additional on-the-job training that provides them with a small stipend so they have the opportunity to learn how to budget. We are looking for volunteers who have an understanding of computer skills, financial literacy, and professional development. Upon review, volunteers may have an opportunity to lead appropriate curriculum-based workshops. Program runs Monday - Thursday 8:00AM to 5:00PM.

6) Mentoring Program -

- Hour Friends in Deed. Hour Friends in Deed provides mentors to children who have a parent in prison. Children are at the heart of our work at Hour Children, and mentors provide a much needed friend, and a positive role model to a child when they need it most. Mentors inspire children (ages 4-18), help them develop strong social skills, and establish valuable goals through learning and sharing. Mentors and children choose what type of activities to do - playing sports, hiking, cooking, homework going on a picnic, or seeing a movie.
- Hour Women to Women Mentoring Program. The goal of the Adult Mentoring Program is to match adults who are being released from the Taconic Correctional Facility and Bayview Correctional Facility with Mentors who will work with them pre and post release. Mentors will work with mentees as key catalyst for keeping mentees inspired and away from behaviors that get them into trouble. Mentors will provide positive role modeling and encourage the mentee to be responsible for their own decisions. The mentor will offer practical assistance with daily living, parenting, budgeting, apartment or job searching. Although the mentor plays a supportive role to the case management of the Mentoring Program staff, the mentor will also help the mentee by her knowledge of and referrals for additional support service for special needs. Mentors are recruited through outreach, speaking engagements and advertisements.

7) Administrative -

Upon matched special skills and background, there may be available opportunities to provide Hour Children with various administrative support. Times and dates are flexible due to personal and office schedules.

* All volunteer opportunities may provide school credit or meet community service hours.