Volunteer Programs
Volunteerism is an integral part of the Cole Center, and as the Center continues to grow and add programs, it relies more on its outstanding volunteers. The Cole Center supervises a volunteer program that includes consumer-run businesses and a teen mentor/education project that operate on the grounds of McLean Hospital. Some volunteers are incorporated into the McLean Hospital Volunteer Services and work within the McLean Hospital system. There are a number of volunteer opportunities available through the Cole Center. Volunteering at the Cole Resource Center offers consumers an opportunity to interact with peers on a professional level and helps build daily office and personal skills that can be useful in other job situations.
Consumer Run Businesses
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"Twice Is Nice" Gift Cart
Located on the grounds of McLean Hospital in the de Marneffe Cafeteria. The gift cart is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Entirely run by volunteers, the gift cart offers many items at a low cost. Many items such as jewelry, dishes, stuffed animals (all in good or new condition), pocketbooks, books, etc… are donations from McLean staff and the outside community. Through the sales experience, volunteers develop employment skills in the next step of recovery. All proceeds of the gift cart support consumer activities.
Book Sales
Also located on the grounds of McLean Hospital in the de Marneffe Cafeteria, the book sales are offered on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. There are many books offered on members of the Cole Center members are happy to process special orders, if requested. All proceeds of the book sales support consumer activities.
Monthly Raffle
Donated items are offered on a monthly basis as raffle items. Raffle tickets are sold by volunteers in the de Marneffe Cafeteria, McLean Hospital on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Pass by the raffle table-you may get lucky!
Cole Center Library and Resources
The Cole Center offers a library in the deMarneffe Building, McLean Hospital with current articles and resources on an array of mental health topics. The library includes an adolescent section, created in memory of Jason Chesley that is a collection of reference books geared toward the unique concerns of adolescents who struggle with psychiatric illnesses.
The Cole to Teen Education Project
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The Mentor Monitor Newsletter Fall 2003 |
The Cole to Teen Education Project is designed to introduce adolescents to the services and educational programs provided by The Cole Mental Health Resource Center. The project aims to help high functioning adolescents with mental illness to build relationships during and after their psychiatric inpatient experience. According to individual needs, adolescents are mentored in basic everyday life skills such as: overall personal care, eating, dressing, hygiene, medication organization, feeling good about your day, homework assignments, making friends, keeping friends and boundaries, journaling, etc. The adolescents can participate in group activities or if desired, they can be assigned as an individual volunteer peer educator (member of the Resource Center or Volunteer Department) that provides information about the following services:
Halloween Party A note of appreciation from teen "Thank you Mentors for everything. You guys are something else. I value you guys very much. I really hope you guys never forget us. We look forward to having lunch every Thursday." Mature |
- Introduction to the Jonathan O. Cole Mental Health Resource Center
- Education in regard to medications and introduction to the Computer Kiosk.
- Introduction and accompaniment to the Depression Bipolar Support Alliance meetings (held on the McLean Hospital campus) in the de Marneffe Cafeteria each Wednesday evening (if age appropriate).
- Introduction and accompaniment to the AA and NA (on the McLean campus) meetings (if age appropriate).
- Introduction to the "Lunchtime Chit Chat Club" that takes place in the de Marneffe Cafeteria from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM Tuesday - Thursday
- Introduction to the Clothing Bank.
- Introduction to the Cole Center Teen clubs (Journal & Writers Club, Arts & Crafts Club, etc.).
- Information is provided on eligibility for the Volunteer Scholarship presented each year to the "Outstanding Volunteer of the Year."
- Opportunity to volunteer at the gift cart to gain work experience, dealing with the public, handling money, etc.
- Individual Peer Educators are available for help with job applications, college application,conversation, relationships and friendships after their McLean experience, etc.
Adolescent Specialists in conjunction with this project will present a series of lectures. All lectures are free and open to the public. All peer educators are under the supervision of Jonathan O. Cole, M.D. and Consulting Psychologist, William S. Pollack, Ph.D. This program is supported by unrestricted educational grants-in-aid.
Through the generosity of many, the Cole-to-Teen Mentor Program established by the Cole Mental Health Consumer Resource Center in an effort to provide positive adult interaction with the teens and adolescents of McLean Hospital’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Program is thriving after five years.
"The past five years have been an amazing and enlightening experience," says Carol Brown, who coordinates the program. The generosity of people, whether it is through giving their time or donating tangible items, has been wonderful. "This program would certainly not be as successful as it is without volunteers and donors."
In addition to weekly lunches, arts and crafts clubs and journal clubs, each month, the mentors host a "special event night" for the teens. In the past five years Brown estimates that the mentors have collectively spent close to 2,000 volunteer hours with the teens.
Among the special events recently enjoyed by the mentors was a Halloween Party, Thanksgiving Dinner, Christmas/Holiday Party and a pancake breakfast. There is always an activity to attend which brings the mentors and teens much enjoyment.
Cole to Teen Program Wish List
Clubs
Art and craft supplies, gift certificates to Craft Stores
Birthday Gifts
Gift certificates to clothing, jewelry, video stores, event tickets, and/or restaurants
Events
- Tickets to Bruins, Red Sox, Celtics, and Patriots games
- Theatre Tickets: Blue Man Group, Boston Ballet, etc.
- Stars on Ice (Worcester), Barnum and Bailey Circus
- Movie tickets
- Ski tickets: Nashoba Valley, Wachusett Mountain (donations of free ski rentals)
- Amusement Park Tickets: Canobie Lake Park/Six Flags
Parties
Skating Party (donation of free skate rentals), Bowling Party, Pool Party
Passes
Athletic Clubs: Waltham Racquet Club, etc
Hygiene
Gift certificate to hair salons, barber shops and nail salons
We would like to provide each adolescent with a birthday gift certificate to a mall or specific clothing store and a birthday cake.
We thank you in advance for your continued support of the Cole Resource Center.