“Volunteering makes the heart grow stronger,” David Eisner

Celebrate Community. Preserve History. Inspire the Future.

Chestnut Square would not exist without volunteers.

When it comes to volunteering, passion is at the heart of our volunteers. Since 1973, when a group of women decided to create the foundation of what is now Chestnut Square Historic Village, volunteerism has been the cornerstone of who we are. The most valuable skills you can bring to any volunteer effort are compassion, dedication, a willingness to learn new skills, and a positive attitude. If you have a specific skill that you would like to share with us, please let us know.

Here at Chestnut Square we foster a neighborly atmosphere which is only enhanced by the many volunteers who give so graciously of their time and talents. Our mission: celebrate community; preserve history; inspire the future is reflected every day in the volunteer work at Chestnut Square.

Volunteer Spotlight

Chestnut Square Historic Village was honored to nominate the following individuals and organizations for the Spirit of McKinney Volunteer Awards 2015:

  • Kim Hoffman Volunteer of the Year: Pat Rodgers
  • Pete & Nancy Huff Community Service: James West
  • The Heart: Jim and LaDonna Doyle
  • Volunteer Group: Pate Rehabilitation
  • Youth Volunteer: Patricia Wingate
  • “Spirit of McKinney” Business: Ricks Chophouse
  • Inspired to Serve: National Charity League

Opportunities

You can help make a difference in your community!

Adopt A Building

As a volunteer you are assigned to one of our historic buildings to clean, make minor repairs, store and organize supplies and create exhibits! Projects range from assisting or decorating buildings for special events to researching the history of a building and the artifacts within it. This is a great way to help preserve our history!

Requirements
  • Age: 18 & Older
  • Categories:
    • Maintenance
    • Organizing
    • Cleaning
  • Duration: Ongoing

Adopt a Spot!

Do you like to garden? Would you like to join us weekly or monthly to keep our landscapes and gardens that surround our historic buildings beautiful and appealing? Come join us, bring a friend, adopt your own special section to garden. Help us keep our plants healthy and lovely all year round for all visitors to enjoy. Form teams, start a committee, find sponsors, create tours, post a sign indicating who cares for that area,  or educate visitors on our native plants and their historical significance.

Requirements
  • Age: Everyone
  • Categories:
    • Landscaping/Gardening
    • Group work
    • Youth Appropriate
  • Duration: Ongoing

Build it!

This is a great volunteer opportunity for those that have craftsman skills, need a Scout project and for those that are retired skilled craftsmen. At various times throughout the year our historic village is in need of repair or needs something rebuilt, such as porches, benches, chairs, sheds, etc. Sometimes our historic furniture needs a bit of work.  There are many opportunities for Scouts such as fencing projects, painting and more. If this is the type of opportunity you are looking for please contact us.

Requirements
  • Age: 16 & older
  • Categories:
    • Construction
  • Duration: Ongoing

Cataloging Artifacts

We are looking for dedicated volunteers to accession antiques throughout our historic village which dates from 1854 to 1918. If you love exploring and discovering items from the past, accessioning is for you! Curation volunteers assign numbers to artifacts, photograph items to be used for research, and determine the origin of  items. Many volunteers are able to research items from home, allowing greater flexibility for those that are not able to volunteer on site.  For those who are either proficient in data entry or are interested in learning more about how to use our software designed to manage the inventory of our artifacts, a designated laptop is available for volunteers to use.

Requirements
  • Age: 18 & Older
  • Categories:
    • Clerical/Administrative
    • Organizing
    • Cleaning
  • Duration: Ongoing

Docents-Tour Guides

Do you love history? Do you wish to keep it alive? Do you like storytelling? Come join us and tell about the oldest house in McKinney, share the history of Collin County and McKinney through our weekly and scheduled guided tours. Take the trolley through our historic downtown McKinney district and share the stories of old. Perhaps you like to reenact and would like to dress in one of our many period reproduction costumes to represent how people lived in Collin County from 1850-1920. We offer training in all these areas and would be proud to have you on our team.

Requirements
  • Age: 18 & Older
  • Categories:
    • Education
  • Duration: Ongoing

Farmers Market

Do you like to meet new people? Work in sales? Share information? Come get involved with your favorite McKinney Farmers Market. Join us on Saturday mornings from 8am to 12noon and Thursday afternoons from 3pm to 6pm. Tell people about Chestnut Square Historic Village and upcoming events, sell drinks and merchandise, and/or help set up and break down for our markets. We are looking for personable volunteers who are responsible and reliable and able to run our information booths.

Requirements
  • Age: 18 & Older
  • Categories:
    • Outdoor
    • Client Interaction
    • Marketing
  • Duration: Ongoing

General Maintenance

Regular maintenance of our grounds include removing branches,  weeding, raking and sweeping. General cleaning of the interior of the buildings usually involves dusting, mopping and sweeping sidewalks. Other maintenance includes repairing doors and taking out trash. There is plenty to do for individuals or groups who are looking to volunteer on a weekly, monthly or yearly basis.  No experience necessary.

Requirements
  • Age: 10 & Older
  • Categories:
    • Maintenance
    • Organizing
    • Cleaning
  • Duration: Ongoing

General Cleaning

Light cleaning such as emptying trash cans, polishing silver and restocking supplies can be done on a weekly basis.  These opportunities exist within our historic homes, The Bevel House and The Visitor’s Center. This is an opportunity that can work anytime between 9am to 3pm during the week Tuesday through Friday or Saturdays 11am to 1pm.

Requirements
  • Age: 16 & Older
  • Categories:
    • Maintenance
    • Organizing
    • Cleaning
  • Duration: Ongoing

Office Assistant

Do you file, type letters, make copies, greet visitors, answer telephones, process mailings, take surveys, work with data entry and more? Perhaps you would like to learn some basic office skills for school or for future job employment. Come volunteer at our friendly Visitors Center and be a part of our friendly environment.

Requirements
  • Age: 16 & Older
  • Categories:
    • Clerical/Admin
    • Organizing
    • Indoor
  • Duration: Ongoing

Photographers

We are looking for photographers who will take digital pictures of many of our special events; including volunteers, guests, special interests and more. Pictures help promote our living history programs, local farmers market, yearly special events and tours, to name a few.   It will also serve as a medium to what is happening at Chestnut Square Historic Village currently. Come capture part of the beauty and the history of your local community.

Requirements
  • Age: 16 & Older
  • Categories:
    • Individual Work
    • Seasonal
    • Special Events
  • Duration: Ongoing

Servers

Do you like to set up and serve for parties? We have guests that come for teas and tours at Chestnut Square where we serve lunches in one of our historic homes. The teas are held using china and glassware. If you like to serve, work with people, keep food and drinks going and have a personable attitude, come join us. We are looking for volunteers that can be on their feet for a couple of hours, set up, prepare plates, serve food and clean dishes. Some dress code required.

Requirements
  • Age: 18 & Older
  • Categories:
    • Indoor
    • Organizing
    • Cleaning
  • Duration: Ongoing

Signs/Posters

We are looking for capable volunteers to help set up signs around our village and sometimes around town for our weekly, monthly and yearly events. At times these signs will require a car for transportation. Are you someone who can create, design or repair signs?  Your expertise and knowledge is welcomed! Marketing with signage is a very important way to engage the public in what goes on at Chestnut Square regularly.

Requirements
  • Age: 18 & Older
  • Categories:
    • Individual Work
    • Painting
    • Construction
  • Duration: Ongoing

Special Events

We host a number of special events for the community throughout the year. You can learn more about them from our Events page.

Major Events
  • Yesterday and Today Vintage Fashion Show, February
  • Killis Melton Ice Cream Crank-Off, June
  • Prairie Adventure Camps, June-July
  • Legends of McKinney Ghost Walk, October
  • Pumpkin Patch, October
  • Holiday Tour Homes, December

Ready to volunteer at Chestnut Square?

Hours

Tues, Thurs & Friday 9am - 3pm
Village Tours: Thursday and Saturday at 11am

Contact Us

315 S. Chestnut Street McKinney, TX 75069

972-562-8790

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