Volunteer Opportunities at Transitions
Between Miryam's House, Women's Hearth, Transitional Living Center and EduCare, Transitions can offer you many different rich and rewarding volunteer opportunites and experiences.
Because some opportunities vary with the season and others may fluctuate depending on program changes or number of current residents, your best bet is to check with the individual site you are interested in for the most current opportunity available. Some typical volunteer activities and suggestions are listed below under each site heading. The contact telephone number for you to call that site is also listed.
If you have a large group of volunteers or are not sure where your time and talent would be best spent, please email Liz Hogan at lhogan@help4women.org or call 509-328-6702 to discuss.
Women's Hearth
"The Women's Hearth is a place of amazing acceptance--everyone here goes out of their way to create a sense of community. I came here to fulfill a service requirement and ended up staying on for nearly a year now. The women here are awesome." --Mary Elder, Sophomore volunteer from Gonzaga
Group or Project Facilitators: Each week the Women’s Hearth offers a full slate of programs that provide women with opportunities to learn, grow and of course, have fun. Volunteers offer their time and talent to teach or facilitate a wide variety of groups and classes. If you have a talent, skill or area of expertise that you would like to share with us, please call our volunteer coordinator. We are always looking for new and exciting groups or classes to offer.
Technology Center Assistant: Our computer lab is open daily and we rely on a team of volunteers to assist women in using the computers. Volunteers serve in a variety of ways from registering new users, performing and recording routine maintenance procedures to teaching classes and providing one-on-one instruction.
Floor Presence: Our kitchen and living room areas are always buzzing with conversation and activity. Our floor volunteers are vital to creating the warm, friendly and welcoming atmosphere for the women who visit us each day. Volunteers in this position interact with women in an open and accepting manner through small group, one-on-one conversation or large group activities. Volunteers are available to play games, work puzzles and assist staff serving snacks and helping with general clean-up activities.
Handy Person Needed: Periodically we need someone who knows their way around a tool box to help with minor repairs or small building projects. If you have some skills and would like to help out please contact us.
Learn more about Women's Hearth!
To read about one volunteer's enriching experience at the Hearth, click here.
If you're interested in volunteering at the Hearth, please call our Volunteer Coordinator at 455-4249
Miryam's House
Cooking and Meal Planning: Cooking and sharing meals together is an important part of life for the women of Miryam's House. Cooking and eating to boost nutrition and control weight are integral to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. If you're interested in teaching a healthy cooking style using fresh seasonal ingredients, this may be an opportunity for you.
Computer Classes: Our residents often need help becoming more comfortable on the computer. If you can teach basic computer skills including navigating the internet, emailing and word-processing, we'd love to hear from you.
Gardening: Miryam's House has a large and beautiful lawn and gardens. In the spring, summer and early fall, we almost always need help keeping up with the grounds. Weather you have an accomplished green thumb or just like to play in the dirt, we can use your help.
Exercise Classes: Being fit is an important goal for many of our residents and beginning an exercise program is often a daunting task. If you can teach or guide an exercise class or physical activity that can help our residents realize their desire to become more fit and active, please share it with us.
Alumnae Activities: We need help organizing and hosting the on-going activities for the residents who have graduated from our program and come to MH for bingo, reading groups, parties, etc.
Departure Group: Miryam’s House hosts departure parties for our residents as they get ready to move on to permanent housing. We try to support and equip them in every way possible – strong self-esteem, good relationship skills, responsible renter’s information and of course, normal household items like pots and pans and sheets. If you're interested in helping us gather these types of items plus furniture, please give us a call.
Painting: Do you like to paint? Miryam's is a large older home. It houses up to ten women and fourteen full and part-time staff. Like most large older homes, there is usually one or another area in need of sprucing up. If you interest is painting or perhaps providing tender loving care to some other part of the house, please consider this volunteer activity.
To learn more about Miryam's House, click here
To speak to a staff member about the most current volunteer opportunities at Miryam's House, call 747-9222.
Transitional Living Center & EduCare
Community Classes: Our community room serves as a common area for all the residents and staff. Here we hold all our group meetings, and of course fun and educational activities too! Volunteers and staff have held classes on a variety of topics including stress management, healthy nutrition, and creative classes such as blanket making. We are always looking for new and exciting groups or classes to offer, and if you have a talent, skill or area of expertise you can share with us, we would love to talk with you.
Building & Grounds Maintenance: TLC and EduCare sit on a beautiful and historic plot of land that is more than four acres in size. The building itself is nearly 100 years old and houses up to 16 families in separate one, two and three bedroom apartments. If you know your way around a tool box, like to paint and/or redecorate, or enjoy working in the garden, TLC/EduCare can provide a great volunteer experience for you. We can often accommodate large groups looking for a service project.
Technology Center Assistant: Our computer lab is open daily and used by residents for schoolwork, applying for jobs, and communication with family and friends. Volunteers serve in a variety of ways from registering new users, performing and recording routine maintenance procedures, to teaching classes and providing one-on-one instruction. If you are savvy on a computer and interested in sharing you skills, this would be a great volunteer opportunity.
EduCare: All the families that call Transitional Living Center home have children ages 12 and younger. One of the components of living here is enrollment in our EduCare program, which provides licensed daycare, and programs for infant, toddler, preschooler, and school age children. EduCare utilizes volunteers for a variety of tasks that will involve everything from helping to serve one of our 2 USDA approved meals a day, to playing outside on our beautiful playgrounds. If you enjoy being around children, and are at least 18 years of age, this would be a great match for you!
To learn more about the Transitional Living Center, click here
To speak to a staff member about current volunteer opportunities at TLC, call 325-2959
For more about EduCare, click here
To speak to staff about current opportunites at EduCare, please call 325-8632
