Where can I volunteer for kids in Cambridge, MA?

July 10, 2010 9:53 AM

I live in Cambridge, MA, USA. I want to volunteer for an organization that benefits children.

I'm a female mid-twenties full-time PhD student/researcher. Where should I volunteer in or near Cambridge, MA on behalf of children? I'm aware that there are many options, but if any of you wonderful mefites have experiences, advice or anecdotes that could help me narrow it down, I'd love to hear.

Obviously one can't be too picky about where one volunteers, but in case it's helpful to know, I'm particularly concerned with child abuse, neglect and children living with serious medical conditions.

Information that may or may not be useful: I have a degree in bioengineering, now I'm studying neuroscience, I play the violin, I'm decent with computers, I know how to cook (but I'm vegetarian) and draw, I love reading, I'm an enthusiastic but not-so-talented athlete, I'm rather outdoorsy, I used to speak fluent Spanish but it's gotten a bit rusty, I sign (ASL), I'm not hip or fashionable (the average teenager would probably find me a bit pathetic), I'm not interested in volunteering for explicitly religious organizations, I don't have much money, and I don't have a car (but I do have a bike). If there's any other info that you need to know in order to answer, just ask.

Thank you!!

posted by Cygnet to Society & Culture (6 answers total)

I've been a mentor for a couple of years through Cambridge Family and Children's Service. The coordinator's phone number is on that page, and I bet she'd be happy to talk with you about what you'd like to do, whether or not it's a match for the mentor program in particular, and help you start doing it. I know that she just recently started someone up doing more academic work than what the mentor program describes. Another person who specifically wanted to work with kids who have family members with mental health problems approached her, and they ended up starting a whole program together to serve that population. (If you do become a mentor, let me know -- I'd love to meet you at a mentor's meeting!)
posted by daisyace at 10:03 AM on July 10, 2010

Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown is a great organization. I haven't worked with them personally but I see them out in the community with the clients all the time, and it strikes me as very well-run.
posted by tetralix at 10:22 AM on July 10, 2010

While the summer 2010 program is filled consider applying for fall 2010 to volunteer at Children's Hospital Boston.
posted by ericb at 11:07 AM on July 10, 2010

If you're interested in helping kids get into STEM fields, MeMail me -- I can help you out there.
posted by olinerd at 11:24 AM on July 10, 2010

Best answer: Become a CASA! It's a fantastic organization that could use all the good, reliable volunteers it can get to advocate for children.
posted by epj at 11:34 AM on July 10, 2010

Response by poster: Thank you epj! I didn't know it was possible for somebody like me to do CASA work - but it sounds really awesome. I've sent in my inquiry!
posted by Cygnet at 11:17 AM on July 11, 2010