Volunteer faqs

Volunteers help PTM achieve its mission. Simply through relationships, volunteers can expose students to new dreams and provide extra support and encouragement to them. PTM believes that relationships lead to transformation... Volunteers help foster transformation!

A mentor is a type of PTM volunteer who commits to meeting weekly with a student to provide consistent encouragement, guidance and support. Mentors join us at PTM through one of our four weekly mentoring programs:  

• Breakfast & Bible Study 
• Lunch Buddies 
• R.I.S.E. 
• Dinner & Devotion 

Click HERE to learn more about these programs.  

Volunteers who join for after-school programming are invaluable because they can offer extra assistance with programming and give students extra attention. These volunteers might assist with the following tasks: 

• Homework 
• Group games/ activities 
• Buddy reading with students 
• Serving food 

PTM serves K-12th grade students, and most of them come from nearby MNPS schools. Depending on the site a volunteer is at, they will be working with either elementary (K-5th), middle school (6th-8th) or high school (9th-12th) students. 

Program and site sizes range from 15 to 60 students, although after-school volunteers are typically assigned to small groups of students. Mentors are assigned to one student and meet weekly with that one student.

Program days and times are as follows:  

•  ALL after-school programs:  

• Days: Monday-Friday 
• Times: between 2:30 pm and 5:30 pm
• High School programming ends at 7:45pm twice a week. 

•  Breakfast & Bible Study (1:1 mentoring):  

• Days: Thursday 
• Times: 6:45 am- 7:45 am 

•  Lunch Buddies (1:1 mentoring): 

• Days: Monday-Friday 
• Times: ranging from 10:00 pm to 1:00 pm 

•  R.I.S.E. (1:1 mentoring): 

• Days: Monday-Friday 
• Times: ranging from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm

•  Dinner & Devo (1:1 mentoring): 

• Days: Monday 
• Times: 6:00 pm-7:00 pm 

Yes! Here are some other opportunities to support PTM: 

• Join us at one of our special events (Contact the Volunteer Services Manager to learn more about these opportunities) 
• Make a donation 

           •  Monetary 

           •  Program supplies 

           •  Food 

All after-school volunteers and mentors will need to complete the following steps before interacting with students:  

1. Fill out a volunteer application 
2. Attend a volunteer training with the Volunteer Services Manager or another staff member 
3. Complete a background check (if you are 18 or older) 

Volunteers who plan to come with a large group must contact the Volunteer Services Manager for separate procedures. 

While there is not a strict volunteer schedule for after-school volunteers, PTM encourages volunteers to come regularly enough to build rapport with students and staff. Afterschool programming runs Monday-Friday, and volunteers are always appreciated. 

Mentors must commit to meeting their mentees weekly at their selected mentoring program- about one hour each week.  

Yes please! PTM uses Sign-Up Genius to track all volunteers. Once a volunteer selects the program they wish to volunteer at, the Volunteer Services Manager will share the appropriate Sign-Up Genius with them.  

All after-school volunteers must be at least 14 years old. 

All 1:1 mentors must be at least 18 years old. 

Volunteers under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. 

Volunteers under 18 must have a “Permission to Volunteer” form signed by a parent or guardian. 

PTM has 8 locations, all in Nashville’s 37208 and 37209 zip codes. Volunteers will have the chance to give their preferred location, and once they choose, the Volunteer Services Manager will share specific addresses and instructions for parking and arrival. 

While PTM is very casual (jeans and athletic wear are allowed), we require volunteers to dress appropriately. No short shorts, crop tops, inappropriate clothing graphics, etc.  

The Volunteer Services Manager is happy to answer any additional questions. Contact her at alyssa@prestontaylorministries.org or by phone at (615)963-3996.