Valley Mission

Volunteers

Volunteers are a key component of our work to help the homeless. From Board Members, to Reception and Kitchen Assistants, to Thrift Store Helpers, Valley Mission has an active and growing pool of volunteers. And as we have grown so have the possible volunteer assignments.

Most individual assignments are during weekday business hours. Projects for groups and individuals are often evenings and weekends. But we welcome ideas, and adjust these schedules whenever possible. If interested in helping please contact Wendy Shiflett, Public Relations Coordinator at wendyshiflett@valleymission.net

Some of the ways to help with our efforts include:

Thrift Store Helper - assists with cleaning, straightening, sorting donations, and moving large items if able. Commitment of two hours a week. Staunton Store: Mon.-Fri. 9a.m.-4:45p.m. or Saturday 9a.m.-1p.m. Waynesboro Store: Mon.-Sat. 9a.m. – 6p.m.

Reception/Administrative Assistance - answer agency phones, take messages, assist with mailings, assist office staff where needed. Commitment of at least two hours a week, Mon.-Fri. btw. 8a.m.-5p.m.

Kitchen Assistance - assist Cook with cleaning, organizing, sorting donations, serving meals, and other needed areas. Commitment of two hours a week, Mon.-Fri. between 9a.m.-6p.m. Meals are served to shelter clients as well as community members.

Donation Drives - organize donation drives for new and/or used items. Furniture especially needed for shelter clients moving into housing, who will be given the needed items at no cost. Please call (540) 886-4673 to get a list of current items most needed.

Cook and Serve a Meal - provide a prepared meal for shelter clients and low-income from the community. Provide Breakfast (7a.m.) or Lunch (12noon) or Dinner (5p.m.) during the week, or Brunch (10a.m.) or Dinner (4p.m.) on the weekend. Must schedule ahead to prevent overlap. Some cooking may be done on-site, but must be pre-arranged

"Adopt-A-Room" - we are now looking for groups and individuals who want to assist in a coordinated effort to complete the men’s dormitory, which is one large open room. We will need twin comforters, carpeting, curtains, painting and other decorating.

Newsletter Mailings - help is needed every other month for mailing. Groups and Individuals needed as this often takes several days to complete. Work will be done during business hours. Interested volunteers will be contacted with exact dates each time.

Special Projects - on-call volunteers to assist with various projects, such as planting a garden, painting, teaching skills based on volunteer’s abilities, etc. We are open to ideas on the ways you would like to help.

Monthly Birthday Party for Residents - volunteer groups needed to provide a monthly birthday party for residents (adults and children). Group would provide cake, ice cream, possibly drink, and new wrapped gifts, if possible. Party will be held weekday or weekend immediately following dinner. Some flexibility with days and times.

Mural Painting/Decorating - experienced volunteers needed to help decorate shelter hallways and common areas. Volunteers will provide all supplies needed and submit a drawing for approval before beginning work. Work can be done weekdays, evenings, or weekends with prior arrangements made.

Construction Projects - Volunteers with construction skills needed to assist with various shelter improvements as well as work at Thrift Stores (Staunton and Waynesboro). Supplies provided by shelter if needed, but any assistance with supplies would be much appreciated.

A.S.K Program - Professional volunteers to work one-on-one with residents providing education and information in specialized area (i.e. Health, Legal, Financial, Nutrition). Group programs will also be developed.

Job Readiness Program - Volunteers to work with residents utilizing program already developed. Will meet with small group of residents twice a week for one month, during weekday hours, and follow-up with Case Manager on progress of residents. This program is currently operating as a part of the Life Skills Program.

Video Creation - We are looking for someone with the equipment and the know-how to help us create a 5-8 minute video about the work being done at Valley Mission. We will need this put on multiple disks for viewing at the shelter, both Thrift Stores and for demonstrations/displays in the community, and our web site.

Information Displays - Volunteers who have an interest/skill and like to develop creative displays needed to work with Public Relations Coordinator to set up and manage displays at both Thrift Stores, shelter entrances, and display boards to be taken into community.

Life Skills Program - Assist Case Manager with various topics Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 2:30-4:30. May also assist for specific classes during 5-week program.

Coach’s Corner - This program is currently under development. Individual volunteers will meet with small groups of shelter residents on a weekly basis and discuss a general topic chosen by the Case Manager to support their efforts toward self-sufficiency.

Children’s Ministry - Assist the Chaplain in the implementation of a program that will focus on Bible Study for children of varying ages. This program will run while the Chaplain conducts Chapel Services for adults on Sundays at 5p.m. and Thursdays at 6p.m. Skills working with children preferred. Wide age range anticipated but will only be open to children in shelter. Background checks will be done on volunteers with this program.

Fundraising – Please contact our Executive Director, David Reed, at (540) 886-4673 or davidreed@valleymission.net for ideas and most pressing needs.