Volunteer FAQs
Photo courtesy of Nazareth Bonifacino Law's Crafting & Networking Event for Kits to Heart.
Thank you for your interest in volunteering for Kits to Heart. Your support will help to bring smiles and solidarity to those affected by cancer. Items contributed are included in our cancer care kits distributed to patients nationwide and are eligible for community service hours.
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about our service projects:
Q: What is the volunteer process?
A: We make it as easy and accessible as possible for anyone of any age to volunteer for us through this step-by-step volunteer process. In sum:
- Please review and adhere to our project guidelines before starting any project.
- Select one or more remote volunteer projects to work on.
- Start working any time at your convenience from anywhere!
- Once completed, please fill out your contact information so we can reach you.
- Please package your items to mail in OR drop them off directly at the address specified.
- Please wait at least 2 weeks for us to receive, process, and email you to confirm receipt. If you are requesting service verification (signed form, letter, etc.), then we will include the verification in this email.
Q: Are materials provided?
A: While we are unable to provide materials, please refer to each project's page for suggested materials, or email us at volunteer@kitstoheart.org to check if your materials will work. We are a small, volunteer-run charity and appreciate your support!
Q: Do I need to contact you to express interest in/register for any opportunities?
A: No, simply send your items in with our submission form filled out and included with your package when completed, and we will confirm via email within two (2) weeks of receiving them! Please check your spam folder.
Q: Are there any age restrictions for the activities?
A: We welcome volunteers of all ages!
Q: My group would like to host a community day of service. How can we help?
A: We encourage groups of any size to complete our service opportunities remotely from any location, such as an office space, office/school cafeteria, and/or community center. Please ensure that you follow these guidelines for all work being made. Once items are completed, please follow these steps to submit your items. At this time, the only in-person opportunities we can only accommodate a maximum of 6 people on certain weekends in Clarksville, MD. We do NOT accept fully assembled care packages; the volunteer projects above are opportunities to contribute to the kits that we assemble ourselves.
Q: Is it possible to suggest a new activity for service hours?
A: Yes! Please share any new project ideas by emailing volunteer@kitstoheart.org.
Q: What are your greatest needs?
A: In addition to any of the open opportunities, we need your help to raise awareness about our cause and fundraise! Help host a birthday/holiday fundraiser for Kits to Heart, and share about our work through social media. You may also consider hosting a school/neighborhood collection drive.
Q: I am a student. Do I need to send you a service form to receive service hours?
A: We have copies of service forms for students at Montgomery County Public Schools, Howard County Public Schools, Frederick County Public Schools, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, and Bishop McNamara High School. If you attend those schools, please do not include your form—just our submission form, because we will email a signed copy for you to complete after receiving the items. Students from all other schools requesting hours—or volunteers requesting court-ordered service confirmation—should share the appropriate form or verification method using the submission form.
Q: How do I submit the completed service form to my school?
A: After you receive an email acknowledgement from us, please follow the instructions from your school/county for submitting the service form. If you attend MCPS, you generally can email the completed form directly to your school’s SSL coordinator. Learn more about MCPS Student Service Learning (SSL).
Q: Am I still able to submit items after an opportunity is closed?
A: Only if you started working on them before it closed. Unless you need the hours immediately, then we recommend holding on to your items for a few more months and checking back here to see when the activity opens up again to submit. Unless otherwise noted, you are still welcome to submit them now, if needed. Opportunities will always open again and are only closed to give us some time to distribute them to patients before receiving more.
Q: I submitted my items. Where is my service form?
A: Thank you! Please wait for at least two (2) weeks before asking us for your form. Check your spam folder and add volunteer@kitstoheart.org as a contact to ensure you receive our confirmation. Your patience is greatly appreciated!
Q: How do I start a Kits to Heart club at my school?
A: If you are interested in leading service projects to help the community while gaining résumé experience, please fill out this school interest form. For tips on how to run your club, please review this Kits to Heart club guide. Kits to Heart clubs have been established at the following schools (clubs may not all remain active for each school year):
MARYLAND
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- Covenant Life School
- Hallie Wells Middle School
- Parkland Middle School
- Paint Branch High School
- Poolesville High School
- Wheaton High School
- Montgomery Blair High School
- Richard Montgomery High School
- Walter Johnson High School
- Seneca Valley High School
- Archbishop Spalding High School
- Bethesda Chevy Chase High School
- Winston Churchill High School
- Quince Orchard High School
- Walt Whitman High School
- Clarksburg High School
- Northwest High School
- Thomas S. Wootton High School
- Albert Einstein High School
- Col. Zadok Magruder High School
- Damascus High School
- Arundel High School
- Crofton High School
- Pikesville High School
- Oakland Mills High School
- Watkins Mill High School
- Meade High School
DC: Maret School
MASSACHUSETTS: Marblehead High School, Belmont Public High School
NEW YORK: Frank Sinatra School of the Arts
CONNECTICUT: The Hotchkiss School
MICHIGAN: Okemos High School
CALIFORNIA: Rancho Bernardo High School
CANADA: Lillian Osborne High School (Edmonton, AB)
Q: I submitted the maximum number of items previously. May I make and submit more?
A: Yes, as long as at least one month has passed since your previous submission and if the opportunity remains open. The limits are in place to prevent huge submissions, as we work diligently to distribute the items we receive, given our limited storage space! If there are no limits stated for an activity, then there are no limits.
Q: Are you a Certifying Organization for the President's Volunteer Service Award (PVSA)?
A: UPDATE: PVSAs are on pause until further notice. Please see the full announcement. Yes! This means that depending on your age (from ages 5 and up, including adults and seniors!) and the number of hours you complete for us within 12 months, you may be eligible to receive this recognition. The award package includes a letter and certificate signed by the president, as well as an option to receive a special medallion, coin, or pin. To see if you’re eligible or for PVSA-related inquiries, please email volunteer@kitstoheart.org. NOTE: You MUST have at least 50% of the minimum hours completed for Kits to Heart within the past 12 months before you can ask us to apply for the PVSA on your behalf, at which point we will ask for more information. We highly encourage you to simply start volunteering for us without asking about the PVSA, so please see above for steps on how to get started volunteering.
Q: How do I learn more about your organization?
A: Sign up for our mailing list at the bottom of our homepage to check out your impact! You can also follow and tag us on social media @kitstoheart.
Q: What if I have more questions or would like to share photos of the items before submitting them?
A: Please email us at volunteer@kitstoheart.org.
We look forward to receiving and sharing your work with our recipients! Check out our spotlights featuring our amazing volunteers!