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Volunteer Today! Help us serve our underserved community Tutoring/Mentoring Garden Arts and Crafts Social Media Volunteer Equine Support Driver Gain new perspectives Share a hobby or skill Community networking Professional development Volunteer Positions Include: Benefits : The Village Project, Inc. Scan to sign up! Contact volunteer@villageprojectinc.org 1069 Broadway Ave Seaside, CA 93955 831-392-1500 We are proud to announce that one of our volunteers will be honored during the United Way Monterey County's LIVE UNITED Awards ceremony. Karen Brown is to be recognized for her exemplary work in the Education and Youth Services category! She has recently returned to volunteering with us following the COVID-19 pandemic and we are thrilled to see her being honored during this event. As a retired librarian, Karen has been a driv- ing force to innovate the way students of our Mae C. Johnson Education & Cultural Enrichment Academy interact with books. Her knowledge, expertise, and vision have helped to shape and create a space for students to learn and gain an interest in reading. In our library, she ensures there TVPI IS UNITED is a multitude of books that are both fiction and non-fiction, featuring BIPOC characters. Karen strives to create a library space where students can find books that relate to their cultural identi- ties and celebrate their histories. She believes students should be able to see themselves in the books they read and that historically, the selection of books provided to stu- dents in schools has been Euro-centric and lack the diversity to encompass all readers. Each month, she organizes the library with themes to highlight different books and call at- tention to certain historical figures or topics. Karen's achievements and continued commitment have created a positive impact on our young readers. Her attention to detail and genuine care for our community has led to students gaining an interest in reading as they can easily access books. Karen is currently working on creating an online database for all our library books and hopes to create a digital check-out system as well. The Village Project, Inc. would like to say thank you to all of our vol- unteers! Our amazing volunteers help to fill in the gaps to ensure our pro- grams are running smooth- ly. From office assistants, equine therapy drivers, af- ter-school tutors, and even librarians, our volunteers bring their diverse skill sets and passions to help us create lasting change. Though coming from a variety of backgrounds, our volunteers share a common goal of wanting to make a positive impact in the community and the dedication to take action. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for all you do. -Provided photo -Provided Photo By Ivy English -Provided photo When is the right time for kids to start volunteering? Aristotle once said the essence of life is "to serve others and do good." It's well documented that volunteerism offers many benefits to those who are recipients of the charita- ble work as well as the volunteers. According to The Cor- poration for National & Community Service, one in four Americans vol- unteers. Volunteers come from all walks of life and various age groups. Nearly one-quarter of all volunteers are people under the age of 24. Parents and guardians who want to introduce their children to volun- teerism may not know when is the right age to do so. Many experts agree that there isn't a definitive age for children to get in- volved in volunteering. In fact, no child is too young to volunteer. Joseph F. Hagan Jr., M.D., a clinical professor of pediatrics at Larner College of Medi- cine at the University of Vermont, says helping out during the toddler and pre- school years helps shape a child's sense of morality. Rather than wondering if a child is too young to volunteer, adults should focus on finding the right activity to match the child's age. For example, a three- or four-year-old child can fill bags or box- es with donated food or help gather blankets and towels to donate to an animal rescue. However, a toddler or preschool- er may not have the stamina to complete a 5K walk. Volunteerism doesn't even have to be in the traditional sense of working with an estab- lished charity. A young- ster can pick flowers from a field and deliver them to an elderly neigh- bor. Or a preschooler can invite a child playing alone to come play together. A toddler who loves sorting items can help sort recycling items at home and watch a parent deliver them to the recycling center. Another way to engage kids in volunteer work is to match their interests with the tasks. Many kids can't get enough of animals, so they may want to help out an an- imal organization or be involved with a conser- vation group. A child can collect change to "adopt" an endangered species. Kids also can visit a children's hospital and deliver gifts to youngsters battling illnesses. In such situations, kids may be more engaged if they can help kids their own ages. Children are never too young to volunteer. Find- ing the right fit can inspire a lifetime of giving back that benefits youngsters throughout their lives.

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