As Rainbows’ Volunteer Coordinator, I am simply amazed at the generosity and commitment I have witnessed over the last several months from individuals and groups wanting to volunteer for Rainbows in any way possible.
When we realized we needed masks to help keep our staff and children safe, people from all over the community volunteered and made over 300 masks. When our 48th Birthday celebration pivoted to a virtual celebration, a 4H group volunteered to make decorations and hung them for everyone to see at the entrance to Kids’ Point. When our Pre-K students were ready to graduate, two photographers volunteered and captured photos of the ceremony. When we needed hand sanitizer for our direct service providers, employees from Stearman Grill and Sunflower Bank stepped up to fill almost 400 small bottles from the bulk donation by Boothill Distillery in Dodge City.
Volunteers from LifePoint Church Youth Group embraced the challenge of sharing a fun activity with Rainbows’ children without face-to-face interaction. These 9-11 year olds wore masks and socially distanced while creating a sidewalk liquid chalk art project in the basement of their church. The project was delivered to our Early Education and Child Care children who spent an entire morning painting masterpieces in the backyard.
And when this year’s Peter Hampel’s Luau was canceled due to the unprecedented circumstances, the Hampel family and Hampel Oil organization began to look for other ways to give back to Rainbows.
Four generations of Hampels spent a hot August morning at Rainbows’ Kids’ Point helping to beautify the campus. They moved a mountain of mulch, pulled weeds, removed dead trees and brought smiles to little faces watching from classroom windows. In this short video, they talked about their commitment to Rainbows and why they volunteered.
While we are not yet ready to welcome volunteers back into the classrooms, there are many opportunities for you and your group to volunteer and support our children with special needs and their families in our community:
• Organize a supply drive for children’s books, craft supplies or children and infant toothbrushes.
• Sew cot sheets or blankets.
• Make thank you cards or other craft projects.
• Stain fencing and benches.
• Landscaping.
• Support Rainbows with a financial gift.
• Check out Rainbows’ Wish List at https://rainbowsunited.org/wishlist.
For more information, please contact Melani Kliewer at mkliewer@rui.org.
