Volunteer Registration is Now Open!
Click here to volunteer for our 10th Anniversary Event!
Sunday, July 28, 2024
Our annual Back to School Shop event is only possible with the help of our amazing volunteers! We need your help to make the day special for the 400 children we are expecting to welcome to our event
Volunteers are the heart and soul of the Back to School Shop!
Each year over 200 community volunteers gather on the day of the Back to School Shop event to create a magical experience for disadvantaged elementary school students in Stamford. We love our volunteers and they love Back to School Shop!
“This is the most gratifying volunteer work I’ve done in years!”
“It’s great to be part of this wonderful program!”
“This is one of the most organized, heartwarming, and rewarding volunteer events I have ever attended!”
“The smiles on the faces of the children said it all!"
Volunteer Positions
There are a number of different positions, including:
Personal Shoppers to escort the children through the shop
Sneaker fitters to help the children find that perfect sneaker in the right size
Coat fitters to supervise the coat area
Child Check-in and Check-out
Dressing room attendants
In-shop attendants to maintain inventory throughout the shop
Parking attendants
Translators (mostly Spanish) to help the parents who do not speak English
Japha Family Resource Center attendants to help parents take advantage of the many community resources
Set up day before the event
and many more
Volunteer Requirements
Volunteers typically work one 5-hour shift. All volunteers are virtually trained for their position prior to the event. Volunteers must be at least 17 years old. Spanish speakers are always needed.
Check out what our volunteers have to say about Back to School Shop!
“Being the youngest of 6, I got a lot of hand me downs so it was always exciting to get something new. When I see these kids come through the shop and get so excited about the opportunity to pick out their own things and go back to school all decked out, it brings back all those great feelings! What a pleasure to be a small part of giving that to other children.”
– Ellen Clarke
“I have been lucky enough to witness the joy that the annual event brings to children when they pick out backpacks, school supplies, clothing, and sneakers for the new school year. Nothing beats seeing the smiles on the faces of hundreds of children!”
– Kimberly Greene
“There are so many people in Stamford who struggle to afford a home, and put food on the table, much less to buy their kids new clothes for school. What I love about BTSS is that it gives some of those families a chance to make their kids' lives better. Being able to experience it real-time with the kids who benefit, is a great joy.”
– Steve Zales
“It is wonderful that Back to School Shop helps so many children, including new arrivals to the country, and it is especially inspiring that the children get to have the experience of shopping for themselves and picking out their own items. The families are so happy when the children come out of the shop and show their parents what they chose!”
– Pilar Pelaez
“It is an honor to be part of this team. It fills my heart with hope knowing that there are people who really want to help the communities that need help.”
– Paula Ressa
Videos from our volunteers
Will you join us as a volunteer?
Our annual Back to School Shop event is only possible with the help of our amazing volunteers. If you would like to be on our list of volunteers for next year, please send your contact information to volunteers.backtoschoolshop@gmail.com