While giving clothes and financial gifts
are important, the giving of someone’s time and talents are sometimes more
important. Volunteering at one of our stores, shelters or Food Barn is an
opportunity for those who cannot give financially. Giving of your time is a
great way to see the ministry up close and personal. It is a blessing for those
who volunteer to be able to know the many clients we serve. Relationship
building is a part of our volunteer program.
Volunteering as
a chapel or class instructor is a way to bring encouragement and hope to our
clients. They spend much of their waking hours with staff and only occasionally
see people from outside the Mission coming to help. Your presence as a
volunteer helps them to see and know that the greater community cares and is
personally interested in their recovery to wholeness.
Volunteers at
our Food Barn benefit from meeting those in our community that struggle each
week to feed themselves and/or their families. We are still in a rough economic
climate that is keeping many unemployed and others under-employed. Being able
to pay for gas to get to part time jobs and still put food on the table is a
great challenge for many families in our community.
Volunteers come
from all walks of life and reflect every age group. We have children and
students who volunteer at our stores and Food Barn. They are able to see the
value of giving as a character trait they can develop further as they mature.
Senior citizens are able to meet new friends and find fellowship as they share
their time with other like-minded people. Some of our tutors and chapel
speakers give of their evening hours to teach and encourage clients working
their way through our New Life Programs. Teachers, pastors, mechanics,
craftsmen, students, business men, bankers, and others from different vocations
represent the talent God provides to our operations. Together these people can
impact our clients and make a difference, no matter the age, no matter their
life backgrounds.
