How We Serve

Dear Monthly Leader,

Thank you so much for leading the Columbia Chicks! We LOVE spending time with the House of Ruth and truly appreciate you for making it possible. Without monthly leaders bringing their joy and passion to House of Ruth, we truly believe this program would not be the wonderful blessing it is to so many!

Here are a few general guidelines for leading a Chicktime month at House of Ruth:

Your Workshop:

-We recommend you invite 1 girlfriend to help you lead your workshop. The workshop needs to be based on the passions and talents of the leaders…. YOU! For example, if you love to bake, prepare a program that will allow the kids to decorate cookies or cupcakes. If your girlfriend loves yoga, she will prepare a yoga class and teach the kids the basics… or your girlfriend may love basketball and she could teach a basketball clinic. For inspiration in planning and preparing your workshop, Pinterest offers tons of fun themes and ideas! You can also check out our Events for ideas from previous workshops. *We recommend that you incorporate either a snack station or a food item that would complement one of the programs because the kids love to eat!

-Once you decide what your workshop will be, contact your Chapter Host (which will be assigned to you when you sign up) and discuss your ideas with her. At that time, she will let you know if your activities are appropriate for House of Ruth. All materials you bring to House of Ruth must be approved so make sure you discuss those ahead of time.

– House of Ruth can house up to 20 mothers and their children. You must prepare for all 20 to attend, providing enough materials for all to participate, but please understand that on any given Saturday we cannot guarantee how many kids will be able to attend. Consider the Chicktime chicks that will be in attendance as well but you do not need to provide extras for us. We are there to help you and to serve the kids!

– House of Ruth is home children ages 1 to 10 and their mothers.

-You are responsible to fund all materials for your programs. If you need fundraising advice and support, please let us know ASAP!

Your Volunteers:

-You are responsible to bring ALL volunteers needed to facilitate your programs.

-Additional volunteers will join us on any given Saturday, but they are there to help you with your workshop and support the moms and kids during the activity. 

Invitations:

-Chicktime Baltimore will create an invitation for your event. It is important that you organize your programs as early as possible so that we get the invitation out to the public. Ideally, we would like that information 1 months prior to your event. Your Chapter Host will be in contact with you to get the specifics needed to create the invitation. Our invitations are sent out on the 1st of each month so please make sure you have given your Chapter Host  a general idea of what your workshop ideas are in time for the invitation to go public.

-Chicktime Baltimore will send out the invitation for you using our database to our regular volunteers. You are encouraged to send the invitation out to your circle of friends and family as well as print them off and distribute to your community if you desire. On that note, please encourage your friends to fill out our web form and sign up to join Chicktime Baltimore, simply click the subscribe button at the bottom of every page to open the web form. Make sure to select Baltimore from the drop-down menu. You are welcome to send a link the web form to your friends, post it on your Facebook page, and even include it as part of your email signature!

What to wear:

Other things to consider:

-Please respect the privacy of the moms/kids by not asking for last names (or give our last names). We are to be on a first name basis with the kids.

-Please leave large key chains, purses, pens, and other sharp objects in our cars or locked in the office while we are in the facility.

-Phones should be put away and on silent. It is imperative that we are spending every second of Chicktime with the kids and not on our phones!

-Please do not ask where the moms/kids are from or share where we live.

-Please do not use camera’s unless you are given permission.

-ALL volunteers must complete a background check and be at least 16 years of age.