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To become a STARRY volunteer, please email our Volunteer Coordinator or call (512) 246-4259 with your  interests, availability and group size.

 

 

STARRY Map

Volunteer Application

 

 

Ten ways to volunteer:

1. Build relationships with the children. It is important for the children in STARRY’s care to receive community support, which is why we have a variety of opportunities for volunteers to spend one-on-one time with them. A background check, in addition to our Volunteer Application, is required for the opportunities listed below.

  • Be a tutor for our foster care and Emergency Shelter kids
  • Help with childcare at trainings/meetings
  • Babysit for a foster care family
  • Bring crafts to make with children in Emergency Shelter


2. Deep clean cottages. Cottage staff members do their best to keep the cottages clean on a daily basis, but it's wonderful to come back to a freshly restored home. During deep cleans, volunteers may wash windows, clean bathrooms, scrub tile floors, wash vans, reorganize cabinets, power wash outside brick, etc.

3. Spruce up the cottage yards. Work outdoors with mulch, soil, plants and low-maintenance flowers to help brighten up the cottage yards.

4. Make a scrapbook. Help foster children and their foster families connect with a Lifebooks scrapbook. These volunteer-created scrapbooks are photo journals for children during their time with their foster families. They are also a wonderful way for children to share their stories with others.

5. Donate items for welcome bags. Many children come to STARRY with just a few items in their possession and our goal is to provide each child with a welcome bag for their stay in foster care and/or the Emergency Shelter. This is a great project for large groups who have the means to donate the necessary items.

6. Sponsor a needs drive. If your group isn’t able to volunteer on campus, but would still like to help, we are in constant need of the items listed below. Feel free to host a drive at your place of work, school, or amongst your friends.

  • “Baby Love” Drive – collect diapers (newborn up to size 6), teething toys, learning toys, bath items, crib linens, blankets, clothes.
  • “Keeping it Clean” Drive – collect donations of vacuums, mops, brooms, cleaners (409, Windex, Lysol, etc.) laundry detergent, paper towels, rags, sponges
  • “Teen Scream” – collect Teen items (iPod Shuffle, PG-13 and under movies, CDs, handheld games, etc.), T-shirts, sweat pants, sweat shirts for the Teens that come in to our Emergency Shelter.  
  • “Feed the STARRY Children” – collect peanut butter & jelly, canned food items, cereal and other non-perishable items for our Emergency Shelter.  
  • “Creative Learning” – collect scrapbook supplies, craft kits, art supplies for the kids in our Emergency Shelter so they can explore their creative talents.   


7. Plan or donate toward a cottage night out. Cottage staff members enjoy being able to take the children and youth to community activities on the weekends. Tickets to the movies, putt-putt golf, Austin Park & Pizza, museums, the theatre, Round Rock Express games, and other local opportunities are greatly appreciated. If you would like to plan an event, we are always open for ice cream socials, cook-outs, game nights and holiday parties.

8. Made a family dinner. Enjoy cooking or baking? Be a cottage chef for the evening and cook a dinner for 20 people. This can be anything from a simple casserole, birthday cake, or even Thanksgiving meal!

9. Join us for special events and projects. Throughout the year, STARRY hosts a variety of events and is always in need of volunteers. Major projects also come up and we look for volunteers with specific skill sets such as painting, hair cutting, decorating, nursing, wood floor rebuffing, and landscaping.

10. Assist the administration. Provide assistance with general clerical duties. With the assistance of volunteers, special events and the enhancement of programs are made possible. 


We generally ask that volunteer groups stay at or below 20 individuals so we are able to meet your volunteer interests as a group, and due to our limited resources we ask volunteer groups to bring any needed supplies for their project of interest.  The Volunteer Coordinator will provide an updated needs list for your group prior to your arrival.