volunteer with a group
Day of volunteering
what to expect
A typical volunteer event lasts 2 hours and will include the following:
- Welcome & Sign-in
- A Youth-Led Tour of our Space and Operations
- Icebreaker Activity
- Working alongside youth on our online, warehouse and retail teams
- Group Checkout
team building opportunities
make it a team event
Looking to make your volunteer time even more memorable? Turn it into a team-building event! Ask our volunteer coordinator about details where we can coordinate a meeting room, bring in lunch and offer a special shopping experience in our store.
increase your support
combine with a drive
Looking to support us with more than just on-site activites? Groups often run donation drives as part of their volunteering opportunity, with a drive leading up to the event where they bring the items they collected to the site where they will see their donations in action.
volunteer on your own
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Book Lovers
Work alongside youth on their Business Job shifts in online operations or our bookstore and help move our business forward. Book Lovers "get their hands dirty," create and model professional relationships with youth, and help move our business goals foward!
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1:1 Academic Tutor
Work with youth 1:1 either virtually or in-person tutoring them on subjects ranging from physics to psychology. This volunteer will support youth taking classes in high school, for HiSet, or college courses. This is a role that is always keeping young adults focused on their educational goals and moving forward!
the committment
Book Lovers - Slots are based on our operational needs, with a weekly committment of at least 6 months.
1:1 Academic tutors - Primarily serving our Boston site and often a virtual role. These are as-needed and can sometimes ask for a 3-month weekly commitment. Tutors with strengths in math (Algebra, Geometry, Calculus) and science (Chemistry, Physics) are especially encouraged to apply.
the application process
- Fill out an interest form
- Attend an upcoming virtual information and application session to learn details and current waitlist
- Complete the volunteer application and submit required documents
- Interview and background and reference checks completed
- Volunteer orientation scheduled
Individuals - How long does the application take?
The application process begins by attending a virtual Information and Application session, afterwards the Volunteer Coordinator will reach out to participants with the official application. Because we are a youth-serving organization, the approval process includes a background check and completion of 2-3 reference checks. After approval, the Volunteer Coordinator will work with you to confirm a slot and schedule an orientation session before you officially join the team. As this is a robust process, the it will usually take 2-3 months from when you reach out to us to when you are ready to start.
Individuals - What is expected of me?
We ask our volunteers to model consistency and professionalism for youth. We ask for a long-term (at least 6 months) and weekly committment. We understand that there will be occassional conflicts and just ask that volunteers communicate with us if they cannot attend. Just like all in our community, volunteers are expected to follow our visitor guidlines, listen to and respect youth leadership, avoid making judgements or generalizations, and be respectful of boundaries around our youth.
How old do I have to be to volunteer?
For Individuals: As we are a youth serving organization, our individual volunteers are at least 18 years old.
For Groups: MTW cannot host groups from K-12 schools but teens 15 and over may join an all adult group with a caregiver present.
Alternatives for younger folks: a great way to volunteer your time and effort is through a donation drive! Find out more Here
Individuals - Can I be a one-on-one mentor for a youth?
Not here. More Than Words is not a mentorship program and we do not pair volunteers up with youth for one-on-one relationships. That said, everyone at More Than Words serves as an adult role model for our youth. As a Book Lover, you will engage youth in conversation and empower them to teach you business skills. As a 1:1 Academic Tutor, you will encourage and assist youth to achieve academic goals.
What is the dress code?
Our dress code is casual but professional: pants (not shorts), work-appropirate dresses and skirts, no tank tops, no hats (but head coverings are OK). Jeans and t-shirts with youth appropriate content are also OK. We will also provide you with a special volunteer t-shirt that you can wear if you choose! Close toed shoes are also required for Book Lovers due to the nature of the work.
start the process
Interested in Volunteering?