Local Mission Opportunities

Note: Those organizations with which FUMC has an established relationship are designated with an asterisk (*).

Collection Ministries

(Collecting items for various organizations – please contact Ann Teich, annteich@austin.rr.com or 836-1054, if collection will be done through a churchwide drive)

The ARC of the Capital Area (www.arcofthecapitalarea.org ; 476-7044)

• Underwear and socks for adults and children

*Capital Area Food Bank (www.austinfoodbank.org ; 282-2111)

For more information, go to http://austinfoodbank.wordpress.com/2009/02/25/working-together-during-this-lenten-season/

• Nonperishable food
• Most needed items:
  • baby food and cereal (in date)
  • canned fruits
  • canned meats
  • canned soups
  • canned stews
  • canned tuna
  • canned vegetables
  • diapers
  • jelly
  • instant milk
  • pasta sauces
  • peanut butter
  • personal care products
  • rice and beans
  • single serving pop-top canned foods
  • Recycle ink cartridges from printers (282-2111,ext.206 for information)

*Caritas (www.caritasofaustin.org; 479-4610)

• Nonperishable food
• Gently used household items
• Gently used clothing for adults and children
• Gently used furniture

*Mobile Loaves and Fishes (www.mobileloavesandfishes.org; 328-7299)

• Travel-sized toiletries (shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors)

Special Mission Opportunities

Community Advocate
Caritas of Austin’s Community Advocate Program recruits, trains and supports volunteers as they provide a significant presence in a person’s life during their transition from a crisis-driven life to a stable self-sufficient life. If you are interested in becoming a Community Advocate for a person or family experiencing poverty, contact Nancy Ellis at 479-4610 x165. nellis@caritasofaustin.org

Citizen Schools-Volunteers Needed
Citizen Schools (www.citizenschools.org) is a non-profit organization that provides after-school education programs focused on middle school students. These programs are designed to advance learning and leadership, helping young people succeed in high school, college, the workforce, and civic life. Volunteers from businesses, civic institutions, and communities are needed to become Citizen Teachers. Citizen Schools train volunteers to teach their own professional or life experiences to middle school students in 90-minute sessions, 2 times a week for 11 weeks. If you are interested in becoming a Citizen Teacher in Austin, please contact Stacy Newcomer, CS state director, at 673-7130 or stacynewcomer@citizenschools.org.

American Gateways (www.americangateways.org)
American Gateways, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to the delivery of quality services for the immigrant community in Central Texas, has the following volunteer opportunities:

• Clerical Assistant – 1-4 hrs/wk
• Document Translator – 1-4 hrs/wk
• Outreach Assistant – 5-10 hours/month
• Human Rights Documenter – 1-4 hrs/wk or as needed
• DERP Intake Specialist – 2-4 hrs/wk
• DERP Research Assistant – 2-4 hrs/wk
• DERP Legal Research Assistant – 2-4 hrs wk
• Fundraising Assistant – Seasonal
• Attorney – As needed

Note:  All volunteers must be over 18 years of age, will be subject to a criminal background check, and must complete 8 hours of general office duties at American Gateways before beginning a specific volunteer position.

Service Ministries

*iACT (Interfaith Action Council of Texas, www.aaimaustin.org; 386-9145)

• Artist
• Business Outreach
• Catering for special events
• Community Outreach
• Office Work: office management; filing; answering phone; copying;
• word processing; data entry; database management;
• desk top publishing; editing; electronic newsletter
• ESL (English as a Second Language): tutoring, translating
• Events: help on day of event, event planning
• Flyer canvassing
• Fundraising
• Grant writing
• House repairs: skilled and unskilled labor
• Interreligious education
• Marketing AAIM
• Mentoring child in juvenile justice system
• Photography
• Research trends
• Speech writing
• Telemarketing (no sales)
• Volunteer management

*Ministry of Challenge (Contact Kelley Jacob, kjchristwalk@yahoo.com; 476-0498)

Non-denominational organization devoted to helping people who suffer with substance abuse.

• Needs volunteers who can help with:
  • Life skill education classes
  • G.E.D. classes
  • Resume writing
  • Job-seeking skills (how to interview, etc.)

*Austin Habitat for Humanity (www.austinhabitat.org; 472-8788)

• Freebies for volunteers (restaurant coupons, tickets to area attractions, events)

Hospice Austin (www.HospiceAustin.org; 342-4700)

Private, non-profit agency whose purpose is the care of terminally ill people and their families

• Needs volunteers for:
  • Patient and family support
  • Office work
  • Development

  (special need for those who can work during day and are bilingual)

* Trinity Center(472-1196)

Outreach mission for the homeless located at St. David’s Episcopal Church

• Needs volunteers for:
  • Sunday afternoon meal and worship service – 2:00-4:00 p.m.
  • Preparation of nonperishable meals once a month
  • ESL program
  • Literacy program
• Also needs donations of women’s underwear (large-size panties and bras)

Samaritan Center for Counseling and Pastoral Care (www.samaritan-center.org; 451-7337)

• Need volunteer to serve as innkeeper-responsibilties listed below:
  • Keep FUMC advised of needs, opportunities for service and activities of the Samaritan Center through newsletter articles, personal contacts and announcements
  • Keep the Samaritan Center advised of needs, opportunities for service and activities within FUMC community through personal, telephone, or e-mail contacts with appropriate SCCPC staff
  • Recruit replacement when can no longer serve

Interfaith Care Alliance (www.interfaithcarealliance.org; 459-5883)

• Experienced event planners for fundraising
• Volunteer in ICA Office

Family Eldercare, INC. (www.familyeldercare.org; 450-0844)

• Volunteer Guardian Associate
• Bill Payer Volunteer
• Pro Bono Attorney
• Administrative Volunteer
• Estate Sales
• Packing and Moving Services
• Landscape Project
• Summer Fan Drive
• Holiday Gift Drive
• Two laser printers
• Letter-sized 4-drawer filing cabinet
• Scanner
• Deep freezer

Volunteer Health Clinic (www.volunteerclinic.org; volclinic@sbcglobal.net; 459-6002, ext. 202)

• Clinic Volunteers needed – physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, pharmacists, pharmacy techs, phlebotomists, medical techs, Spanish interpreters, registrars
• Office Volunteers needed – help with record filing, copying, mailings, facility maintenance
• Friend of the Clinic volunteers needed – help with fundraising and public relations and with speaking to civic groups; assist with special projects

Wish Lists

*Foundation for the Homeless(www.foundationforthehomeless.org; 453-6570)

This is the organization that supports IHN

• Volunteers to teach Life Skills for both kids and adults
• Volunters for Sunday afternoons at the Day Resource Center
• Target or Wal-Mart gift cards in varied increments
• Movei/event passes for weekend family activities
• Children’s DVDs (rated G or PG) for the Day Resource Center
• General donations for direct service assistance for clients in need of various items (e.g. money for medications, emergency clothing necessities, utility/rental debts, etc.)

* Austin Habitat for Humanity – Wish List for 2011 (www.austinhabitat.org; 472-8788)

• Land:
  • Lots zoned for multi-family use
  • Lots inside Austin city limits
  • Lots in Travis County
  • Pro-bono real estate legal services
• Office:
  • Gently used “L” shaped desks
  • Sofa, love seat and chairs for the office
  • Battery operated portable PA system
  • Regular office volunteers from 8AM-Noon on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday beginning in January
• Volunteer Services:
  • Freebies for volunteers (restaurant coupons, tickets to area attractions, events)
  • Laptop computer
  • Gently used sofa/loveseat, dishes, pots/pans for AmeriCorps housing
• Re-Store:
  • ReStore box-truck
  • Your gently used building materials
• Facilities:
  • 100,000 sq/ft building to consolidate AHFH ReStore and operations
  • Land on which to build new AHFH facility
• DeConstruction: 1-ton, quad-cab pickup with towing
• Other:
  • Used cars and/or trucks
  • Cash contributions
  • Large capacity color printer
  • House Sponsorships
  • Pro-bono CPA and Auditing Services

Interfaith Care Alliance (www.interfaithcarealliance.org; 459-5883)

• Laptop Computer
• Office Supplies (paper, pens, etc.)

Ten Thousand Villages

Ten Thousand Villages (1317 S. Congress Ave. , 440-0440; www.villagesofaustin.org)

Items available from 30 Third World countries in Africa , Asia , and Latin America including jewelry, toys, musical instruments, holiday decorations.