You can be anything in LifeTown.
Today, I chose to be a Dentist manicurist bank manager cashier crossing guard
Become a barista, a doctor, a florist, and more — as you help children with special needs discover the magic of everyday life experiences at the LifeTown Shoppes, a true-to-life simulated city.
It’s just magical.
Linda S., volunteer
The time flies by!
Linda S., volunteer
Our whole team loved it!
Linda S., Company Name
We’re definitely coming back.
Linda S., Company Name
About
11,000 sq. ft. of education
Help children practice real-life skills in an immersive educational experience.
In this safe and controlled, real-world environment, neurodiverse children and teens can practice core skills, run daily errands and discover real-life work opportunities as part of their educational curriculum.
Our immersive Shoppes create the setting.
Our dedicated volunteers create the magic.
Give children the opportunity to practice core life skills.
Discover LifeTown Shoppes, our gorgeous 11,000 square foot simulated city where each shop is staffed by a volunteer like you — someone who’s passionate about making a difference
2-hour slots
Short training provided
No experience necessary
Fun and meaningful
Perfect for work teams
Low effort.
Immense satisfaction.
What you give:
- 2 hours of your time on any date you choose
What you get:
- Joyous smiles all around
- The opportunity to impact a child’s future
- A magical trip to the land of make-believe
- A low-effort, enjoyable volunteering experience
- A strong sense of fulfillment and meaning
What time are the slots?
Shifts at the LifeTown Shoppes:
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Monday - Friday
Other evening or weekend volunteer opportunities available.
Learn more here.
You can volunteer for a one-off shift or sign up for a weekly slot.
Whatever you choose, we’d love to have you.
(And so would the kids.)
Have another question?
Corporate vounteering
Build your team while
building their world.
Bring your team to LifeTown Shoppes and foster genuine team bonding with our group volunteering opportunities. The 2-hour slots offer immediate and satisfying impact and your employees will leave feeling enriched and energized.
Proud LifeTown volunteers
Visiting LifeTown helps our department become more in touch with the community, and helps the students feel more at ease with the officers.
Officer Joy Klapal
Livingston Police Department
How it works
Ready to volunteer?
Here’s how it works.
Sign Up
Get on our volunteer list! Click here to submit a volunteer form.
Choose a Date
We’ll email you all the available dates for the coming month — choose the slots that work for you. We’ll remind you before your allotted time.
Get the Tour
You’ll receive an email to choose a date for your orientation. We’ll show you around LifeTown and explain how it all works.
Have Fun
Show up and enjoy a fun, easy experience packed with meaning and fulfillment!
How it works
Ready to volunteer?
Here’s how it works.
Sign Up
Get on our volunteer list! Click here to submit a volunteer form.
Choose a Date
We’ll email you all the available dates for the coming month — choose the slots that work for you. We’ll remind you before your allotted time.
Get the Tour
You’ll receive an email to choose a date for your orientation. We’ll show you around LifeTown and explain how it all works.
Have Fun
Show up and enjoy a fun, easy experience packed with meaning and fulfillment!
FAQs
Here to answer your questions
Volunteers act as a shopkeeper in the 15 stores in the LifeTown Shoppes. This may entail helping with a craft or planting a seed, ringing up a purchase and accepting payment, explaining the workings of a dentist’s or doctor’s office, or painting a student’s nails. Each Shoppe is different, and the responsibilities will vary depending on the store you are in.
Volunteers in the Shoppes must be at least 16 years old.
No. Schedules are sent out to all registered volunteers at the end of each month. Please respond with the dates that you are available, and you will be added to that day’s volunteer list. If a conflict arises on a day that you chose, please notify us ASAP.
Shops are assigned on a first come, first served basis. When you arrive at LifeTown on the day you are volunteering, there will be a sign-in sheet where you can pick the store you would like to work in. Once a store is full, we ask that you make another choice to fill in the open spaces.
LifeTown Shoppe volunteers are asked to commit to 2 hours on their volunteer day. The Shoppes run in the morning from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM or 10:30 AM -12:30 PM.
We understand that life happens. We just ask that you contact us as soon as you know that you are unable to volunteer.
Yes, please share this opportunity with your friends and family.
Yes, we do have opportunities to volunteer with your dog, as long as the dog is a certified therapy dog. Please contact us to discuss details and to schedule your visit.
Yes. Students in 11th grade and up can volunteer in the Shoppes; we can accommodate up to 20 students at a time.
Yes! We are always excited to have a corporation/group volunteer with us. Volunteering with your colleagues or members of your organization is a great team building experience. Schedule a group of up to 20 coworkers/members for a meaningful way to give back to the community. The group organizer should reach out to shoppes@lifetown.com to arrange a date to volunteer.
Don’t see your question here?
Join the most enriching volunteer program you’ll ever encounter.
Timing doesn’t work?
Discover other ways to volunteer at LifeTown.
Coach
in one of our sports programs.
Assist
at an evening social event for young adults.
Provide
individual support to a young person as a shadow.
Reach out
to share how you’d like to support our mission.