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An Afternoon At

A Heart for Kids

Every child attends two times per week!  Our desire is to love, serve and connect with kids and support them beyond just academics.

Volunteer
01
Worship & Bible Time
During each session, the children come together for singing, dancing, and reading their kid-friendly Bibles with each other.
02
Snack Time
Each child receives a healthy snack that includes sandwiches, fruit, and milk.
03
Tutor Time
Each child is paired with a tutor/mentor. Together, they work on reading, comprehension, spelling, vocabulary, and any other academic needs.
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18
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Volunteer Opportunities

We couldn’t do what we do without our volunteers! They are the ones who make A Heart for Kids a success. We are always looking for more volunteers -individuals who love to work with children and want to share God’s love with them through our free, after-school tutoring/mentoring program.

After School Mentor Anderson, IN
A Heart for Kids Tutoring Program
After School Tutor Anderson, IN
Student Mentor at A Heart for Kids
Student Mentorship at A Heart for Kids
Tutor Mentor A Heart for Kids Valley Grove Elementary School Anderson Indiana

Tutors/Mentors

Tutor/Mentors work one-on-one with a student for the semester to help with reading and other specific academic needs.

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After School Snack at A Heart for Kids
Serving Snack at A Heart for Kids
A Heart for Kids Snack Time
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15

SNACK PREP/SERVE/CLEAN-UP

Our snack volunteers serve on a rotating team to provide healthy snacks and drinks for the children. They prepare, serve and clean up.

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A Special Opportunity for

College Students

A Heart for Kids recruits, mentors, and trains college students as paid tutor/mentors! We love our college students! They work alongside our volunteers to serve all the kids who walk through our doors. 

Weekly Hours: College students serve during the 3:30-5:30 meeting time, with the option to work 5-10 hrs/week. Hours of work can be flexible according to class schedules.

Skills & Experience Required: Good communication skills and commitment to being reliable and consistent is essential!

Time Commitment: 1 or 2 semesters

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Safety for Children

All volunteers and paid staff over the age of 18 are required to have a background check to ensure safety for the children who attend A Heart for Kids.

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About Val Petry

Founder & Executive Director of A Heart for Kids

I grew up and raised a family in Madison County. I have been married to my husband Jeff for 36 years. We have three grown sons, two daughter-in-law’s and three granddaughters. I graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University in 1987 with a BS in Nursing and completed a Master of Arts Degree specializing in Children, Youth and Family Ministry in 2018. Previously I worked as a stay-at-home mom and as a nurse for about 10 years until I felt God’s leading to spend my time and energy serving children and families in the Anderson community.

​Before serving at A Heart for Kids, I served in a children’s ministry role for more than 19 years at a local church. I had an amazing opportunity to walk alongside children who came from many different backgrounds and gained valuable insight through that experience. My life was changed for the better during those years of ministry. In April of 2017, I stepped away from serving in that role but continued to have a deep desire to serve children and families in the community.