Needs From: Volunteer Center of Cedar Valley

House of Hope is looking for a friendly individual to answer phones and greet guests as they come into the office. Responsibilities will include

The shifts can be split among volunteers.

Purpose: 

The volunteer's main purpose is to care for and be attentive to the children in your care. Quality care helps children build positive coping skills and feel safe and cared for. Childcare not only provides a valuable connection point for children, but it also gives the mothers at House of Hope the chance to attend a variety of programs that our organization offers for our participants.

Responsibilities: 

Provide support and positive play interactions for infants through school-age children at the House of Hope. Volunteers are encouraged to engage in active and creative play including but not limited to floor play, crafts, board games, outdoor, and imaginative play. 

Training Provided:

Staff will always be available for on site support. We provide a Trauma Responsive Approach training.

Impact of Assignment:

Childcare volunteers allow mothers to attend Life Skills class. House of Hope can't do this on our own. Your participation will help the future generation break the cycle of homelessness and poverty.

Benefits to volunteer: 

You will gain experience in working with children. Volunteers will have the opportunity to create positive play interactions and practice a redirecting method.

Qualifications: 

Volunteers will need to complete a background check.

Safety Protocols:

Sanitizer and thermometer available.

Providing rides for moms to work, appointments, and/or basic errands. Giving rides is an opportunity to practice positive boundaries, healthy relationships, and confidentiality. Moms may ask to make stops when you are transporting them. Feel free to let them pick up what is needed if you have the time. Moms may not call/not show at times. In these cases, let the volunteer coordinator know. 

The purpose of Partners for Hope is to match a woman and women in the community for their mutual betterment. The more positive and supportive people a person has in their life, the more opportunities they have to become a better version of themselves. Partners for Hope are meant to lift one another up through healthy relationships. Building these relationships based on mutual kindness, listening, healthy boundaries, and positive regard can help both parties become more resilient and have a stronger sense of well-being. 

Minimum Requirements:

●     Be at least 21 years of age

●     Complete an application including a criminal record check every two years, child abuse registry check, and interview.

●     Show proof of valid driver’s license and auto insurance. 

●     Willingness to commit to at least one year in a supportive relationship with a House of Hope Resident and her family.

●     Willingness to attend initial training, as well as periodic meetings with the Volunteer Coordinator.

●     Ability to maintain appropriate boundaries with House of Hope residents and their families.

Specific Duties:

●     Be a reliable, consistent, positive role model to the women and families at House of Hope. 

●     Be flexible and provide appropriate and necessary support to help the Resident Partner succeed.

●     Communicate regularly with Volunteer Coordinator and/or Partners for Hope Coordinator.

●     Follow all House of Hope Partner policies as outlined during the training interview and orientation.

●     Make a minimum of a one year commitment to support the Resident Partner, including at least one monthly face to face contact and weekly phone calls/text messages.

●     Maintain strict confidentiality, in accordance with House of Hope policy.

●     Maintain appropriate boundaries, including limiting gifts to items valued under $20.

●     Follow House of Hope onsite drug-free/alcohol-free policy.

●     Contact House of Hope staff of all incidents and areas of concern. If the incident involves injury, child abuse report or police report, the incident should be reported immediately. All other incidents may be reported on the next business day.

●     Maintain a valid driver’s license and auto insurance if transporting residents, including using an appropriate car seat for all children under the age of six years.

Have fun!

At House of Hope, we have seen women excel once they take control of their finances with the tool of our financial mentoring scholarship. Each participant will build their own spending plan, check their credit, make two or more financial goals for themselves, and show their accountability partner how they have followed their spending plan. This is an opportunity to be a women's accountability partner in reaching their financial goals. 

Apartment Cleaning and Staging is a great activity to do with friends and is super helpful for new incoming residents. At House of Hope, we want new residents to come in and feel a sense of home and comfort, as well as making them feel welcomed. It is also beneficial that the cleaning and staging is completed all at one time. 

Providing snacks for individuals during Coffee Chats one morning a week. (muffins, baked goods, breakfast items, etc.) Please drop off to House of Hope by 2:30pm on Tuesday afternoons and/or 8:30am on Thursday mornings. There may be additional needs for snacks on occasional No-School days and Post-partum/recovery periods. 

House of Hope accepts all different types of donations. There is a garage next to the site building where donations are stored. It is beneficial for the women to have access to unlimited supplies and resources while they are living at House of Hope. We are in need of help sorting and organizing these donations. 

At House of Hope, the goal is to help women thrive in every aspect of life so they can become independent and own their own home. When they have achieved this, we will provide help to get them moved into their new home and they are able to take any of the furniture with them once they exit. There are times when a truck and/or trailer is needed to move certain items, so any help in providing a truck/trailer is greatly beneficial. Volunteers will receive a text message when a need arises and reply if they are available.

Donation receivers would ideally choose one day to a week to consistently come to House of Hope and fulfill the position! This volunteer position allows for other volunteers to have consistent and comfortable assistance in working in the garage, sort donations more efficiently for our families and/or partner organizations to utilize them and allow easier distribution of the donations with more hands-on deck! The donation receiver would also work to distribute needs to clients in communication with staff.

No experience or education required. Must be 16 or older or accompanied by an adult.

Key Responsibilities:

- Writing receipts for donations

- Work independently sorting and accepting donations

- Delivering donation requests with staff (onsite)

- Stocking our "store", donation table, and donation closet

- Organizing donations in our garage

- Help other garage volunteers as they work

Support House of Hope by Helping to organize and sort donations as they come in to support a smooth system for getting moms the things they need.

Some helpful options are:

No Experience Necessary. Hours are flexible between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday.

Help provide a clean and cozy space for a new House of Hope mom and her child(ren). Duties include cleaning the apartment and selecting donated items from the storage unit such as bed sheets, pillows, towels, and kitchen supplies. This volunteer position is as needed. Lindsey Hoogland will contact volunteers when this need arises. To be added to this contact list, please email Lindsey at lindseyw@houseofhopeccd.org 

Volunteers are needed to regularly clean the building. Help keep the House of Hope a safe and clean environment for moms and their children.

Purpose: 

Organize and host a fundraiser or drive to raise money for House of Hope to achieve its mission.

Responsibilities: 

Create and execute a fundraiser event of their choosing (ex. 5k run). Use your skills and passions. The possibilities are endless.

Training Provided:

Fill out form on website to inform House of Hope what the fundraiser/drive would consist of.

Impact of Assignment:

All of our funding comes from the community and individual contributions that generate unrestricted revenue to support House of Hope in its mission to end the cycle of homelessness and poverty in our community.

Benefits to volunteer: 

Being part of our mission to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty in our community

Qualifications: 

Under 18 parental consent is required, no background check