Volunteer

Turn Compassion into Action at the ELC

Here at the Early Learning Coalition of Sarasota County, we believe in the power of high-quality early education. We are always looking for enthusiastic volunteers who are committed to helping young children thrive by the age of five.

Whether you have a passion for boosting early literacy skills, possess artistic talents, enjoy lending a helping hand at special events, or simply adore children, there’s a place for you here.

*Bright Futures hours given to students for service

Current list of projects:

Literacy Buddy: Join an incredible family of 300+ volunteers who commit to purchasing a total of three new books for a 3-year-old or 4-year-old child throughout the school year through the exchange of drawings and letters. Help build home libraries for some of our area’s most vulnerable children. A popular option is to shop online and ship books directly to preschool- making it easy to participate from anywhere! Designed for individuals, retirees, corporate teams or student groups. Ongoing enrollment, join anytime.

Preschool Makeovers: Help reinvigorate and rejuvenate a childcare building, classroom or playground. Projects can include painting, cleaning, sorting, organizing, gardening, assembling furniture or equipment, spreading mulch, and beyond. Designed for corporate teams, student groups, community service clubs, etc. Year-round makeovers, inquire today!

Supply Drive: Get books, school supplies, STEM toys, art supplies, musical sets or playground materials into the hands of our littlest learners. We work closely with childcare centers and family childcare homes to assess material needs. Help us provide essential items to enhance the learning experiences of infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

Administrative Help: Office tasks await! Help the ELC team sort books, place custom sticker labels on books, stuff folders, prepare mass mailings, etc. Completion of these tedious and time-consuming tasks plays a crucial role in helping us advance our mission.

Special Events: Assist us with set-up, tear down and everything in between. Events are hosted across Sarasota County and include large-scale community book giveaways, preschool teacher conferences, business breakfasts and more.

Click here to see photos of volunteers in action!

Interested? Contact Ana McClendon: amcclendon@elcsarasota.org