Volunteer

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people helping

Volunteers Needed:

  • Handyman:  To assist with building maintenance and upkeep
  • Van Drivers:  To pick up and deliver furniture and other large donations on Saturday mornings once a month
  • Movers:  To assist mothers during their move from the shelter to their new homes
  • Laundry Assistants:  To sort, size, hang or fold clothes donated to clients. Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings; Tuesday and Thursday any time
  • Food Assistants:  To date food and stock shelves in the food pantry.  Any time Monday through Friday
  • Cooks:  Groups/individuals to prepare meals for shelter residents (See details below)
  • Administrative Personnel:  Individuals to assist with administrative/ clerical/ computer work in the office
  • Tutors:  To tutor shelter children
  • Group Leaders:  To lead Bible studies, life-skills classes, Sunday School type lessons for the moms or children in the Shelter
  • Babysitters:  To provide on-site babysitting so our moms can look for jobs, study, go to school, etc.
  • Flower planters:  To plant and tend to outdoor flowers and landscape around the building

Additional Volunteer Projects

helping
  • Plan a Special Event for the Moms in the Shelter
    Plan and do a special activity for our Moms. This could be an event in the shelter or an outing. Some possibilities: dinner out, manicures/pedicures, special cooking class, etc.
  • Plan a Special Event for the Children in the Shelter
    Plan and do a special activity for our children. This could be an event in the shelter or an outing. Some possibilities: movie night, craft project, Henson Robinson Zoo, Kicks, etc.
    • child with ballon
  • Organize Food or New Toy Drives
  • Provide Care Packages
    Special events are often missed by our clients. You can help us make sure that these special events are recognized.

Ideas for Care Packages

Shelter Entry Package for Mom

May include:

  • Shampoo
  • Conditioner
  • Soap
  • Toothpaste/Toothbrush
  • Lotion
  • Other personal items

Shelter Entry Package for Children

May include:

  • A coloring book and crayons
  • Reading books
  • Stuffed animals
  • Toothpaste/Toothbrush

(Our children range in age from infants through age 12 for boys and 17 for girls.)

birthday

Birthday Package

May include:

  • Cake Mix
  • Ready to use Frosting
  • Candles
  • Disposable camera
  • Cake plates/Napkins

 

 

New House Package

May include:

  • Cleaning supplies
  • Toilet paper
  • Restaurant coupons for the first night
  • Grocery store gift certificates

Special Day Package

(This could recognize a special achievement either for an adult or child. Special days could include finding a job, a good day in school, completing a GED, a good report card, etc.)

May include:

  • Gift certificates that would allow the person to do something special

Fun Package for Children

May include:

  • Card games
  • Small toys
  • Bubbles
  • Coloring books
  • DVDs
  • Games, etc.

Gift Certificates/Tickets for a variety of things are always welcome. These could include restaurants, stores, movie theaters, etc.

IF YOU OR YOUR GROUP IS INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING PLEASE CALL 217-753-3939

Shelter Meal Specifics girl eating hot dog

Current open days each month:

  • Two Sundays a month
  • One Monday
  • 3 Thursdays
  • Every Friday
  • Every Saturday

Contact Ministries Homeless Shelter houses up to 9 familes. The total number of people eating a meal each night is approximately 40-45. While residing in our shelter, these families are provided with a safe environment to live and all the necessities of life free of charge. We are grateful for the volunteers who provide a good, nutritious meal each night.

There are a number of ways you or your group can provide a meal:

  • Prepare a “one-dish” meal such as stews, chili, casseroles
  • Prepare a full meal including meat, vegetables, salad, and dessert
  • Prepare just the main course of the meal
  • Prepare sandwiches, chips and condiments
  • Purchase food from fast food, pizza, fried chicken, Mexican, etc.
  • Cook out for the families in the summer

Other Helpful Information:

  • We usually have a variety of children’s ages
  • Use disposable pans if possible
  • Supper is usually served around 5:30 p.m. You can drop off your meal close to that time or earlier in the day and the Shelter Staff can re-heat it.

IF YOU OR YOUR GROUP IS INTERESTED IN PROVIDING A MEAL FOR THE SHELTER, PLEASE CALL 217-753-3939