Are you looking for ways to volunteer that engage your passions for community engagement?
Check out the suggestions below for ways that people in the West Virginia Conference Area are building bridges by offering their gifts and talents to promote justice in their communities.
Engage in one of these important ministries or let it inspire you to find what works in your context.
So that we may celebrate with you the ways Christ calls us to serve, please follow this link to let us know about the project you and/or your faith community is going to engage in.
Abundant Life Recovery Housing. A short or long term service opportunity. Morgantown area new ministry being led by Rev. Matt Johnson always looking for partners, mentors, supplies ect. Contact Matt at abundantliferecoveryhousing@gmail.com Homepage: www.abundantlifehousing.org
Court Appointed Special Advocate. A long term service opportunity. When a child finds themselves in the court system (not because of something they did) they need a person to advocate just for them. How is the child doing in school, foster care, medical care. What concerns does the child have about there future. Free Training provided. Homepage https://www.wvcasa.org/
Treatment Courts. A long term service opportunity. There are several types of problem-solving courts in West Virginia, including adult drug courts, juvenile drug courts, and family treatment courts. All of these courts need mentors from the local community. Not all counties have all of these courts, sometimes a nudge from faith communities can move “mountains.” If you know local court personnel, start there looking for opportunities, if you don’t know your local court personnel start here: www.courtswv.gov/lower-courts/treatment-courts.html
Communities in Schools A long term service opportunity. Whether it’s hunger, homelessness, emotional trauma, or a lack of access to basic medical care, students shouldn’t have to face these challenges alone. Communities in Schools amplify the power of each student’s potential through an evidence-based model rooted in caring relationships. Plug into Communities in Schools if your system has it. If you school system does not have it…maybe its time to get it! https://wvde.us/cis/
Foster Closets A short or long term service opportunity. Foster Closets are free resources for caregivers of children in foster care. To support the foster care community, churches and organizations throughout West Virginia provide basic supplies and clothing for children when they are placed in care. Items often include car seats, diapers, clothes and shoes, hygiene items and clothing in various sizes. Ask a foster parent…when the call comes and a child arrives, they may need anything from diapers or teenage size blue jeans. A Foster Closet is a true blessing. Help supply a closet or start one if your community does not have one. https://www.missionwv.org/foster-care-closets-in-wv
School Hygiene Pantries A short or long term service opportunity. Many children in our communities do not have caregivers who can supply them basic hygiene supplies. Many schools already have hygiene pantries that need to be re-supplied regularly. Many schools do not have hygiene pantries, yet…what a great service opportunity. Call your local principal to find out what they need. If you need ideas follow this link.
Prayer Walk- gather together, walk by local food pantries, after school programs, homeless shelters, recovery centers or other places specific to your community and pray for the servers and the served, those who receive and those who give.
C is for Cookies and Caring- call on all cooks in your congregation to bake cookies. Prepare boxes or bag individual servings and deliver to First Responders, Health Care Workers, Homeless Shelters, Children’s clubs/centers or wherever a little love or appreciation is needed. Include notes from kids and adults with messages of love, support and encouragement. Also consider a bake and freeze option to support Kairos Ministries. Learn more about Kairos here If You’re short on cooks, make it a “two for” and buy Girl Scout Cookies and deliver.
Kids Care Too- Involve kids (and adults) in making beautiful art on 9”x12” construction paper to be used as placemats. Begin by drawing, making a collage, or water color. Add favorite scripture or other messages of love and hope. Deliver to local senior living homes, homeless shelters, recovery centers or Kairos group.
Share the Love- decorate a box and provide notecards, envelopes, pens, and stickers for people to jot down messages of encouragement, hope, and caring for people who are struggling. Designate a recovery center, homeless shelter, hospital, jail, AA or other group to receive the notes. Sometimes, just knowing someone cares can make all the difference.
Senior Centers- call your local center and ask what their needs are, then plan a way to meet some of those needs. Include giving kid made crafts, prayer shawls, and notes with messages of love and caring for a personal connection.
Recovery Homes- contact a center on this list, find out what they need, make a plan to meet some of those needs. Include kid made crafts, prayer shawls, and notes with messages of love, hope and support for a personal connection when appropriate.
Flood Recovery Buckets- gather the items needed to complete one or more Flood Recovery Buckets, click link for directions . Make plans to deliver them to New Vision Depot.
Food Insecurity- contact your local food pantry and find out when fresh produce or other fresh items should be available for families to pick up, then make a plan to provide a specific perishable item at the right time. Recruit the gardeners in your congregation for home grown goodness.
Re-entry program assistance- most programs for battered women and children, addiction recovery, and ex-offenders have material needs. Contact a local program for how to help. Include giving kid made crafts, prayer shawls, and notes with messages of love, hope and support for a personal connection.
Learn More about Mission and Service Opportunities sponsored in our Annual Conference by using the Mission Passports or by visiting the Change the World section of our conference website.
Contact these faith in action leaders in the West Virginia Conference for more ideas:
Justice and Advocacy (Martha Hill)
West Virginia Council of Churches (Jeff Allen)
Committee on Native American Ministries (Elle High/Ken Krimmel)
Ethnic Local Church Concerns (Angela Jones)
Older Adult Ministries - handicap ramp construction - Janet Harman