Volunteer to Help

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We have many meaningful volunteer opportunities including:

  • Child care provider
  • Homework helper
  • Office assistant
  • Tech center tutor
  • Dinner volunteer
  • Client mentor
  • Financial Literacy Instructor
  • and more

View volunteer statistics (pdf).

DCM Volunteer preparing dinner

Expanding Horizons Technology Center

Located onsite with the Hagar’s House shelter and the DCM offices, the Expanding Horizons Tech Center provides computer and internet access for families living at Hagar’s House or people participating in any one of DCM’s housing or homelessness prevention programs. The center is used by parents to search and apply for employment, locate affordable housing options, and keep in touch with family and friends, while children primarily use the center to do homework and play games.

DCM Technology Center
Children's Tech Center Program
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday  7:00–8:00 pm
Supervise computer use and interact with children.
Adults’ Tech Center Program
Thursday, 7:00–8:00 pm and Saturday,  9:30–11:30 am
Supervise computer use and serve as a resource as parents create resumes, search for employment, increase computer skills, and seek housing.

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Hagar’s House

Hagar’s House, DCM’s emergency shelter for women with children, offers a variety of evening and weekend positions for those looking for a meaningful way to get involved. In addition to the ongoing volunteer opportunities listed below, there are also opportunities for individuals and groups to participate in special one-day projects.

DCM Technology Center
Child Care — Weekdays
 Monday through Thursday, 5:00–6:30 pm and 7:00–9:00 pm
Provide child care while the mothers participate in programs and daily activities.
Child Care — Saturdays
Mornings, 9:30–11:30 am
Provide child care while the mothers are in the tech center.
Homework Help
Monday through Thursday, 5:00–6:30 pm during the school year.
Help school-age children with homework or, if needed, with other shelter tasks.
Dinner
Every evening, 6:00–8:00 pm, year-round.
Purchase, prepare, serve, and clean up the dinner meal. Volunteers may schedule a single evening or multiple evenings throughout the year.
Lead Volunteer
Every evening, 5:45–8:00 pm, year-round. 
Greet and assist the dinner volunteers; hand out supplies as needed to residents; help direct new volunteers; enter nightly guest information and notes in log book; assist Shelter Manager with other shelter tasks, as needed.

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Family Transitional Housing

Often called “Family House” for short, the Family Transitional Housing program periodically brings together residents with the Family House Program Manager and a support team to discuss goals, challenges, and accomplishments. Opportunities to participate in special one-day projects are available into addition to the on-going positions listed below.

Family House Support Team
Help to interview prospective families and work with the Program Manager to monitor progress toward goals and provide on-going encouragement for current Family House residents. Specific activities include participating in interviews with residents (held quarterly) as well as providing emotional support, assisting with job networking, celebrating achievements, and helping the Program Manager with special projects and tasks, as needed.

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Project Take Charge

Project Take Charge is a homelessness prevention program that provides financial assistance and education to keep people stably housed. It provides financial assistance with rent, mortgage, and utilities as well as supplemental food through a food pantry and a food cooperative. Occasional one-day volunteer projects are available in addition to these on-going opportunities:

Financial Literacy Instructor
Office Assistant
Monday through Wednesday, 9:30 am–12:30 pm or 1:30–4:30 pm; Thursday, 9:30 am–12:30 pm
Help retrieve voicemail messages, return calls to prospective clients, help in the food pantry, and/or assist with computer data entry.
Financial Management Facilitator
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday commitment, 7:00—9:00 pm; approximately quarterly
Teach a financial management course for people receiving assistance in our programs. Classes are roundtable in format, and facilitators must be comfortable both presenting basic financial material as well as encouraging and managing class discussion.
 Extensive training is provided.

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Office Administration/Donations

Dedicated volunteers are needed to help in administrative and support functions. Office volunteers become familiar with all aspects of DCM operations and programs.

Office
Monday through Friday, 9:00 am–1:00 pm or 1:00–5:00 pm
Volunteers help answer the phone; greet visitors; may assist with database entry; receive and sort in-kind donations.
Drivers
Monday through Friday, 9:00 am–5:00 pm, on an as-needed basis, 
Volunteers with trucks are occasionally needed to pick up donations and/or haul away items no longer needed. The ability to lift heavy objects is required.

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Minimum Eligibility Requirements

Volunteers must:

  • Be 18 years or older. (There are exceptions for service project groups.)
  • Submit a Volunteer Information Form.
  • Submit a signed Background Check Release Form. (Background checks are run every 2 years on long-term volunteers).
  • Attend a DCM101 Volunteer Orientation prior to volunteering.
  • Have no violent misdemeanor or felony convictions.

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How to Apply

Please use our on-line volunteer application.

Contact Sue E. Holec, Volunteer and Donations Coordinator, at 404.377.5365, extension 6, or e-mail Sue at sue at decaturcooperativeministry.org.