Shelter Volunteers Needed

The Green Hills Women’s Shelter is looking for a few good volunteers.
With the shelter moving to a new 8,500-square-foot building late next month, additional help will be needed to assist in providing various services to victims of domestic and sexual abuse who will be using the facility. Volunteer Coordinator Sarah Sager said there are many jobs with which individuals can assist, ranging from answering the telephone (including the shelter’s 24-hour hotline) and answering mail to sharing interests and skills such as financial literacy and cooking. Sorting donations, writing thank you notes and providing in-kind services such as car repairs, plumbing, lawn care, snow removal, etc. are also other areas in which individuals can assist.
“This will be a big building we have to maintain and we will have plenty of jobs for volunteers to do,” Ms. Sager said.
The new facility will offer space to house up to 21 adults and children, doubling the capacity size of the current building. There will also be both residential and educational wings, providing living space as well as rooms for classes, recreation and private counseling. An outside area will provide space for a garden as well as a kennel to house pets of shelter residents.
“We really need people who will be able to be in various parts of the building and grounds throughout the day, helping with whatever happens to be going on,” Ms. Sager said.
Ms. Sager went on to say that volunteers can choose the amount of time they wish to spend at the shelter, adding that help is needed any time throughout the day.
“You can come in daily, once a week, once a month, whatever works for that individual,” Ms. Sager noted. “We appreciate any time someone can come in and help.”
To become a volunteer, individuals must be at least 18 years of age. There is an application process to be completed, which can be found on the shelter website, www.greenhillswomensshelter.net. Volunteers will also be required to pass a background check through the Missouri Criminal Record Check and Family Care Registry (registration information also on the shelter website). Once volunteers are approved, there will be 48 hours of training required, which will include information in care training as well as domestic and sexual violence training. Monthly two-hour trainings/team meetings are also required for all volunteers.
For more information about the volunteer program as well as to learn about volunteer opportunities, persons can go to the shelter website or contact Ms. Sager at the shelter, 359-3297. The shelter also has a Facebook page.