Calling all hands! For those of you who feel inspired by Serenity Pointe’s work, there’s never been a better time to get involved. We need you now more than ever. We know your time is limited and valuable, so we’ve divided up the work into small bites. Some require little or no experience, while others are opportunities to share your special skills and talents with women who are eager to learn. There’s something on the list below for everyone, and everyone really, truly can make a difference.
If you are interested in helping out, give us a call at 423-949-7068 or write to mary (at) serenitypointe.org. And come to our Volunteer Fair on January 21 at the new thrift store, which will be located in the old Family Dollar building in downtown Dunlap.
Note: If you are a student in social work, occupational therapy, education, or a related field, and you would like to intern with Serenity Pointe, we will be happy to work with your school to make sure you earn credit for your service.
Family Liaison
While at the House at Serenity Pointe, residents are asked to focus on healing themselves. For that reason, they have limited contact with their families. Many of them have children who are in the care of relatives or foster families. Serenity Pointe keeps in touch with their loved ones on their behalf, providing a link but also a buffer, since too much news from home can be stressful or even a danger to recovery.
Family Liaisons help us maintain appropriate communication between residents and families by keeping in touch with residents’ families, children, and children’s guardians. They also help arrange for residents who are ready to have periodic visits with their children.
Volunteers best suited to this role are patient, have good judgment, and are comfortable around children.
Commitment: 5-10 hours a month. Varies depending on situation.
Court Liaison
From time to time, our residents will need to appear in court (often for child custody hearings). These hearings can range from uneventful to extremely emotional.
Court Liaisons transport residents to court, wait with them until the hearing is over, and offer friendly, nonjudgmental support through the process, and return them to the house. Court Liaisons may also interact with a resident’s attorney to confirm court dates, arrangements, and next steps. Court Liaisons do not testify or address the court or assume any responsibility for representing the resident in any legal sense.
Volunteers best suited to this role are patient, have good judgment, and have a calm presence.
Commitment: 1-4 hours a month. Court wait times can vary greatly.
Grocery Shopping Mentor
While at Serenity Pointe, residents learn how to plan meals and shop smart. Shopping is done locally at Walmart as well as in Chattanooga at the Food Bank.
Grocery Shopping Mentors accompany one or more residents to the store and help them make economical, healthy choices according to their planned menus.
Volunteers best suited to this role are patient, have good math skills, and love to bargain-hunt.
Commitment: 2-10 hours a month, depending on how often you wish to go and whether you are able to go on trips to the Chattanooga Food Bank.
Life Skills Mentors – No Experience Necessary
While at Serenity Pointe, residents follow a lesson plan to help them build the social, emotional, and psychological skills to succeed as independent adults in a tough world.
Life Skills Mentors lead specific courses. No teaching experience or expertise in the subject is necessary. Courses are lead from materials provided by Serenity Pointe provides the materials (e.g., workbooks). Mentors study each lesson in advance and then lead residents through a review and discussion. Currently, we need mentors to lead the following courses:
Volunteers best suited to this role are patient and willing to learn along with residents.
Commitment: At least 2 hours a week, including prep time. Each course typically involves one session a week.
Mentors – Skilled
Skilled mentors are also needed to teach cooking, nutrition, grooming, social skills, home management, etc. If you have a useful skill you’d like to share, let us know.
Commitment: Preferably one session (1-2 hours) every week or two weeks.
GED Tutor
Some residents come to us without a high school diploma. When they are ready, Serenity Pointe helps them study for their GED.
GED Tutors work with one or more residents on one or more subjects (math, grammar, writing, social studies, science), using materials provided by Serenity Pointe.
Volunteers best suited to this role are patient, have excellent math, grammar, and/or writing skills, enjoy teaching, and can maintain a positive attitude. Retired educators and experienced tutors are especially encouraged to consider this role.
Commitment: 1-2 hours/week minimum.
Transportation Volunteers
Residents often have off-site appointments with doctors, attorneys, career specialists, employers, etc.
Transportation volunteers pick up residents, take them to their appointments, stay with them for the appointment, and return them to the house.
Volunteers best suited to this role are outgoing nonsmokers with safe, reliable vehicles.
Commitment: Transportation volunteers are called on a rotating basis at least 48 hours in advance of an appointment until we find someone who is available. Appointment times, locations, and lengths vary.
Bible Study Leaders
The House at Serenity Pointe is a faith-based program. Residents make time each day to work on their relationship with God and study the teaching of the Bible.
Bible Study Leaders convene residents for short, focused lessons.
Volunteers best suited to this role have previous experience leading Bible studies. Groups are welcome.
Commitment: 1-10 hours a month, depending on your availability.
Activity Leaders
Occasional outings help lift residents’ spirits and provide inspiration, as well as giving them contact with the community.
Activity leaders organize and chaperone outings according to their interests. Outings can include walks and hikes, local festivals, special church services, community events, volunteer work, etc. Activity leaders should work in pairs or have another Serenity Pointe volunteer accompany them on outings for safety reasons.
Volunteers best suited to this role are those able lead a group, including keeping an eye on all participants and making sure instructions are followed properly.
Commitment: This can be a one-time, periodic, or regular commitment, depending on your interests and availability.
Administrative Support
Running Serenity Pointe involves a lot of “behind the scenes” work, including handling phone calls, managing records, completing paperwork, and organizing mailings. And it’s overwhelming our current volunteer staff!
Administrative volunteers provide in-office support to the executive director.
Volunteers best suited to this role have excellent computer skills, maintain strict attention to detail, and have a pleasant phone manner and experience dealing with agitated and urgent phone calls.
Commitment: Preferably at least one full day a week, from 9am to 5pm.
Other
If you have a special skill or interest that you would like to offer, but don’t see a matching opportunity in the list above, please contact us! We are always open to ideas from people who have a heart for our work.
***Volunteers will be asked to fill out an application and agree to abide by our volunteer policy. Volunteers must refrain from smoking while working with or around residents.
Posted by serenitypointe 
