Volunteer
Gateway DSA simply could not provide the programs and services to the 2,300 individuals with Down syndrome in the area and their families, without the help of volunteers. GDSA offers several opportunities to volunteer throughout the year including special event support, as well as program help. Please feel free to browse the list of opportunities we have coming up. Follow the link for that event and choose an open slot that works for you.
Questions? Contact Volunteer Coordinator, Susannah Egley, at Susannah@gatewaydsa.org.
Thank you for your support!
Small Steps - Brentwood
Thursday September 3, October 1, November 5 from 5:15-7:15pm at Gateway DSA in Brentwood, MO
Volunteers help kiddos while they play and learn! Kids with Down syndrome ages 3-5 work on gross motor skills, socialization, and music therapy. A great opportunity for college students in the PT, OT, Nursing, Teaching, and other related fields! Limited volunteer slots available!
Big Steps - Brentwood
Thursday, September 17, October 15, and November 19 from 5:15-7:15pm at Gateway DSA
Volunteers help kiddos while they play and learn! Kids with Down syndrome ages 6-10 work on gross motor skills, socialization, and music therapy. A great opportunity for college students in the PT, OT, Nursing, Teaching, and other related fields. Limited volunteer slots available!
Small Steps - Illinois
Wednesday, September 9th, October 14th, and November 4th from 5:15-7:15pm at the Collinsville Activity Center – 10 Gateway Dr, Collinsville, IL 62234
Volunteers help kiddos while they play and learn! Kids with Down syndrome ages 3-10 work on gross motor skills, socialization, and music therapy. A great opportunity for college students in the PT, OT, Nursing, Teaching, and other related fields! Looking for 1 to 4 volunteers max.
Teen Social
Saturday, September 12th from 1-3:00pm at Gateway DSA in Brentwood, MO
Join us at GDSA for an afternoon of games, activities, and fun! Meet new friends with Down syndrome by volunteering as an event “buddy” and helping to ensure everyone at the event feels welcome and has a someone to hangout with. This is a great opportunity for high school and college students!
New Mom's Luncheon
Saturday, September 26th from 9:30am-2pm at Gateway DSA in Brentwood, MO
Help care for kiddos with Down syndrome while their moms enjoy a nice lunch and networking event down the hall! This event allows moms with kids that are around the same age to connect with one another, hear from guest speakers, and enjoy a lunch together. Volunteers help to provide care for their children so they can truly enjoy the event. Experience with feeding, diapering, and caring for young children is required.
Rock 21 Concert
Sunday, October 11th at Frankie Martin’s Garden in Cottleville, MO
Shift 1: 10:45am-2:30pm | Shift 2: 2:00pm-5:15pm
Rock 21 is our music program in which teens and adults with Down syndrome form rock bands, practice together for several weeks, and then perform on stage! We are looking for volunteers to assist with setting up before the event, staffing our merchandise table throughout the day by selling merchandise and interacting with attendees, and helping with cleanup after the event concludes.
Black Family Network Family Meetup
Saturday, November 7th from 12:45-2:45pm at the Gateway DSA Headquarters in Brentwood
Families from our Black Family Network are getting together to build community and talk about the upcoming year of events. We are looking for volunteers to help us with childcare during the meetup. Kids with Down syndrome and their siblings will be playing games, doing crafts, and enjoying other activites in our conference room while their parents meet down the hall. Comfortability with kids of different ages and abilities required.
50th Anniversary Gala
Saturday, November 14th at the Chase Park Plaza in St. Louis – Various Shifts Available
Help Gateway DSA celebrate a 50-year Legacy of Love and a Future Without Limits at our extra special gala, emceed by Tim Ezell and live performances by Rachel Lampa and our friends with Down syndrome. We are looking for volunteers to help with:
12pm-4pm : Set up the event space silent auction, gift bags, green room, registration tables, etc.
4pm-9pm : Event host volunteers will help with registration, getting performers ready and on stage, live auction, silent auction, raffle, and more.
Holiday Party
Saturday, December 5th from 9:30am-1:30pm at Gateway DSA in Brentwood
Our holiday party for families with loved ones with Down syndrome of all ages and abilities is a cherish tradition! Volunteer roles may include:
- serving treats such as sno cones, popcorn, pretzels, and cookies with milk
- helping manage the Santa line and take photos of families with Santa,
- leading rounds of bingo
- supervising holiday crafts
- dressing up as festive holiday characters
- direct parking
- reading stories or supervising families in the story room.
Holiday Decorating at GDSA
Tuesday, November 10th from 10am-1pm at Gateway DSA in Brentwood, MO
Volunteers will assist with hanging decorations, setting up and decorating Christmas trees, wrapping gift boxes for display, and helping community members create items for our Holiday Market. Come for all or part of the day!
Helping Hands Volunteer Club
Fourth Thursday of Each Month from 10:00am-1:00pm at the Gateway DSA Headquarters in Brentwood
The Helping Hands Volunteer Club is for volunteers of all abilities! Volunteers with Down syndrome and without will work together to complete projects like putting together packets and mailings, making cards and gifts for partners and donors, creating decorations for upcoming events, and much more! Feel free to come to one or many of these volunteer days as your schedule allows. A great opportunity for corporate groups looking for a service day!
Sign Up for Our Email List
Are these opportunities not quite right for your schedule? Join our email list and receive information about future opportunities! If you receive an email with an event or program that is a good fit, simply sign up and we’ll see you then!