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.

An impactful experience for corporate teams, or any other group

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:

What you get:

What time are the slots?

Shifts at the LifeTown Shoppes:

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?

See our FAQs

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.