Volunteer: JIT Champions

You may already know the success stories of our former foster youth who, despite the obstacles, are determined to create a better life.

Without families of their own to rely on, JIT’s extended “family” of volunteers fills the gap to help foster youth establish a stable home base, finish their educations, get jobs, be financially literate, and establish savings accounts to build assets, all necessary components to achieve a self-sufficient life.

We believe the powerful opportunity to connect with caring adults is the key to success for the youth we serve. That’s what the JIT Champions Initiative is all about. Become one of our 200+ volunteers who offer assistance in specific ways based on interest and expertise, the same way a mother, uncle or older sibling might. This includes My First Home Guides, Asset Advisors, JIT Faculty, Life Skill Coaches, and Career Mentors.

Once you join the JIT family of Champions, you’ll discover just how satisfying and meaningful the volunteer experience can be!

JIT offers various opportunities to help: from advising youth on their first major purchases to helping them overcome personal obstacles; from donating gently used furniture and then helping to set up youths' first homes to planning and participating at our special events; from guiding youth on their career paths to assisting with administrative tasks in our office. In whatever way you would like to help, we'd love you to become a Just in Time volunteer.

JIT Asset Advisors work with youth on practical matters, such as negotiating a major car purchase or car insurance, understanding what medical care options are available, and evaluating rental contracts.

JIT Career Mentors come from a variety of vocations, providing the professional know-how to turn career dreams into reality. There are many needs associated with planning for a career that would be difficult for our youth to manage without the timely support of a caring adult.

JIT Faculty members tutor college students who need additional academic support and instruction in specific subjects. They also provide counsel regarding the most appropriate college track and courses while offering perspective about the challenges of academic life.

JIT Life Skill Coaches provide guidance with the essential quality of life choices that define a truly successful life, such as stable relationships, effective decision-making, coping skills, and healthy lifestyles.

JIT My First Home Guides support all of the activities related to establishing one's first home. MFH provides essential furnishings for a youth's first home, while the JIT Guides pick up and deliver donated furnishings and assist with the set-up and decorating. High-quality gently-used items from the community are supplemented by new, youth-appropriate furnishings. JIT's MFH Guides keep detailed records of expenses and teach the youth recipients about care of a home, shopping for bargains, and getting the most value. This is the first and most challenging step to launching an independent life. Without the support of JIT's in-kind donations and MFH Guides, many of these youth would continue couch-surfing until they end up homeless or in prison.

JIT Project Recruits lend a critical assist for special events, grassroots campaigns, and other activities where extra hands are needed to get the job done. This includes administrative help (filing, mailing), computer help, web help, etc.

JIT Program Alumni are called upon to give back and lend their support to the newly emancipated youth. Our JIT mantra is "Always Connected" and most JIT Alumni are willing and, in fact, thrilled to share their experiences, knowledge, and successes with the youth who are following in their footsteps.

KIT Volunteers Keep in touch with JIT youth by email, text, phone, or in person.

Volunteers Offer Short-term Workshops In 2009, Nancy White Offered a Feast of Food, Fun, and Cooking Fundamentals to JIT Youth.

Annette White
I've had the support of a loving family my whole life and cannot imagine what it must be like to be 18 and thrust into "adult" life with no support system. I have nothing but the strongest respect and admiration for these young people and consider it an honor to assist them. After all, young people are the only real hope this country has now aren't they? I am the one who is grateful for the opportunity to help! Thanks so much!

Lara Greiert
I love how JIT focuses on making a relationship with the youth, so the volunteers and JIT can actually feel like they are making a difference in someone's life… It amazes me how much JIT was able to give them!!!!! That's a dream come true for them and us. WOW, great work!!! Thank you for being welcoming and helpful with anything I needed since I was new! I hope to work with you again, and wish you the best of luck in the future!

Kris McMillan
I sure had a wonderful time at the College Bound event on Saturday, learning about your organization and working directly with “my” JIT youth. What a fabulous day. I had tears in my eyes for most of it, those “wow I need to be more thankful every day” kinds of tears. I have been in touch back and forth with my college bound youth by e-mail, and I know we will continue to be in touch. I enjoyed it tremendously, and I will guess that all the JIT youth and volunteers benefitted in many ways.