Volunteer Projects for Adults with Disabilities
June 11, 2018 6:13 PM   Subscribe

I’m part of a student organization that’s trying to help create volunteer projects for adults at an adult day care. These adults have limited transportation - there is a superstore nearby that they could possibly set up a booth at for a donation drive. I’m also trying to connect with a hospice that might take donations of crafts and cards. I want to create projects that encourage self efficacy and integrate them into the community. Any ideas for projects that could be done largely home based?
posted by Sotha Sil to Society & Culture (7 answers total)
 
Making mittens from scraps of fleece, or old sweaters, or donated yarn. I'm in Maine, and when my kid was little and I was really broke, mittens were always lost. Always make mittens in sets of 3 because they get lost easily.
posted by theora55 at 6:58 PM on June 11, 2018 [1 favorite]


Can you be more specific about these people's disabilities?
posted by meaty shoe puppet at 7:48 PM on June 11, 2018 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: @meaty shoe puppet
I’m not 100 percent sure yet, I’ve only been told “developmental, not physical.” So I’m guessing people on the autism spectrum and maybe some people with Downs but it might range- I believe the only requirements are being able to communicate and take care of ones own bodily functions.
posted by Sotha Sil at 8:23 PM on June 11, 2018


Best answer: I made no-sew fleece blankets with a similar group - you can donate to Project Linus or use them as gifts for community members (we used to give one to each new resident as part of a welcome gift, you could maybe use them for celebrations or birthdays at the center?) You can pre-cut or have clients cut the fabric, depending on skill and ability, and it's a project that can be done at home or at the center as a group.

Other community service projects we enjoyed: collecting socks and toiletries for the homeless from community members and then sorting/folding/bagging them into kits; creating care packages for troops overseas; making cards for children at a local school for their holiday parties.
posted by assenav at 9:32 PM on June 11, 2018 [3 favorites]


Best answer: Your options may be limited depending on number of students/participants and your budget. But anyway:

Care packages for people in shelters - Like get a bunch of bags, fill with socks, mouthwash, candy, deodorant, etc.

Put on a play/variety show for kids at a hospital or seniors at a senior center.

DO brainstorm with them and ask them what THEY would like to do. They may have fantastic ideas and most importantly they will be truly enthusiastic about it.
posted by shalom at 12:09 AM on June 12, 2018 [6 favorites]


Cleaning up a local park?
posted by watrlily at 3:46 AM on June 12, 2018


You might also reach out to nearby nonprofits to ask what they need done. A place I volunteer needs things like diapers being counted and bundled, bar soap and washcloths being wrapped together and put in bags, clothes mended, and even puzzles put together to make sure all the pieces are there. It's worth asking what kinds of things they might be willing to send with you, if you can bring it all back in the form they want.
posted by Margalo Epps at 8:45 PM on June 12, 2018 [1 favorite]


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