Night OWLS (Out With Loving Sitters)

Night OWLS is a respite program for children with identified special needs and their siblings. Parents enjoy a night out, while each child is paired up with his or her own volunteer

Download a Night OWLS Brochure (pdf)

Volunteer Opportunities: How You Can Help

Friday Nights (1st and 3rd of the month; 5:30-10:00 p.m.)

Paired With a Child
Before the families arrive, volunteers receive information about the night's activities. A cumulative file for each child is accessible for review with information from the parents about the child's abilities, challenges, likes and dislikes, along with any other special information that you will need to know.

During the night, the children choose from many different activities, including:

• Arts & crafts
• Music room
• Board & video games
• Sports court
• Face painting
• Movies

Special Entertainment
Night OWLS makes every Friday night memorable for the children by bringing in special entertainment, including activities such as magicians, dancers, petting zoos, community leaders, SPCA dogs, etc. If you have ideas for special entertaiment and/or are interested in helping schedule such activities for Night OWLS, please contact Karen Gilmore at 214.523.2276.

For more information about how to be a Night OWLS volunteer, please contact Melanie Lucido, Program Coordinator, at 214.523.2284, or Cheryl Vandiver, in Health Ministry, at 214.523.2209.

Watch a short video about Night Owls

Family Information: What You Need to Know

Night OWLS staff
A Program Director, an Activity Coordinator, and an RN are present on Friday nights. Additional volunteer RNs also attend to assist with any medical emergencies and with any children who may require tube feedings for nutrition, medications by injection, and medications by mouth. The nurses wear special white shirts so they are easily identified.

Cost to Families
The Night OWLS respite program is provided without cost to the families. The hard work and dedication of the volunteers is how HPUMC is able to provide this program without charging families. Additionally, designated financial gifts, memorials, and in-kind gifts allow Night OWLS to provide quality organization and programming on Friday nights.

Volunteer Training
Volunteers are required to fill out an application with a criminal background check and attend a training session.  Volunteers must be 18 years old to serve.  Night OWLS provides the volunteers with detailed information about different kinds of special needs, and the volunteers receive an initial orientation and annual recertification.

For more information about how your family can be a part of the Night OWLS program, please contact Melanie Lucido, Program Coordinator, at 214.523.2284. or Cheryl Vandiver, in Health Ministry, at 214.523.2209.

Alternate Options
If you are not comfortable being paired with a child or are short of time, Night OWLS has many other opportunities for you to help on Friday nights:

• Registration: Assisting in family registration
• Relief: Providing relief for volunteers to eat dinner or to leave early, if necessary
• Rooms: Coordinating creative activities in designated rooms, such as arts & crafts or imagination station

Dinner Host
Groups such as Sunday School classes, UMW Circles, friends, and families, generously provide meals for the volunteers, who take turns for dinner breaks on Friday nights. If you are interested in providing dinner for the Night OWLS volunteers, please contact Melanie Lucido at 214.523.2284.

 

Disclaimer:  By registering for any HPUMC event/group, the participant is giving permission for the participant's photo to be used in HPUMC publications, print, and online, unless HPUMC is given a written request to the contrary.