Students who spend their free hours planted firmly on the couch, engaged in endless rounds of "Halo" might want to reconsider how their time is spent. Anyone interested in swapping videogame hours for community service hours should check out the Cumberland Presbyterian Children's Home, which is offering volunteer opportunities to people interested in giving back to the community.

"A lot of people want to help, but they just can't find the time," Kyla McMillan, El Paso freshman, said, citing laziness as a main reason that people don't volunteer. "Or, they don't want to find the time."

The Cumberland Presbyterian Children's Home has been in existence for 101 years, according to Kristi Lounsbury, chaplain and volunteer coordinator. The home originated in Kentucky and moved to Denton in the 1930s.

"We're a residential program," Lounsbury said. "We have up to 32 kids in four cottages, plus a single parent program with up to 10 families."

The home places kids from three to 17 years old, who are taken care of by house parents, couples that stay in the cottages. The children's medical and dental needs are provided, and the children attend public school.

And as is the case with many nonprofit organizations, there are many volunteer opportunities.

According to Lounsbury, anyone interested in volunteering at the home must be at least 18 and has to fill out an information form first. Anyone who wishes to work directly with the children must have a background check conducted, which takes approximately two weeks to process.

After being referred to the appropriate supervisor, would-be volunteers are contacted for an interview to help determine what kind of work they will be doing.

"You could teach a class [to the kids], like needlepoint," Lounsbury said. "Last year, we had six kids go to prom, and a lady came in to fix their hair and nails."

Lounsbury said many volunteers wish to work directly with the children, for which there is a broad range of opportunities, including mentoring, academic tutoring, putting together a party or teaching a class on a special skill. Lounsbury said the home welcomes interesting new ideas for volunteer-based activity. "We're really open-minded," she said. "Twenty-four [of our kids] are teenagers. Think about your own issues growing up, and multiply that by 24. You learn to be pretty laid-back."

At the moment, however, there is a greater necessity for help that does not involve working directly with the children. The Cumberland Presbyterian Children's Home is also in need of people willing to work in the office, do maintenance, clean, manage donations and mow lawns.

Lounsbury said just having someone mow the yards at the Children's Home saves around $600.

According to Lounsbury, many NT students inquire about volunteer work at the beginning of the year. Last month alone, she received 17 calls from NT students.

"I just like helping people out," said Flower Mound freshman Michelle Gallegos, who volunteers through organizations that she is in. "It's good to give back to the community."

For more information on the Cumberland Presbyterian Children's Home, check out the Web site at http://www.cpch.org. Those interested in volunteering can make necessary contacts by calling 940-382-5112.

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