BECOME
A VOLUNTEER
As a Volunteer with the Alle-Kiski Area HOPE
Center, you will have the opportunity to positively impact the lives of
victims of domestic violence and their children and your Community. Your
senses will be challenged, your emotions will be heightened, and your life
will be enriched as you help those less fortunate than yourself. Your
unselfish contribution of time and energy will be surpassed only by
self-gratification and personal fulfillment.
Volunteer
Opportunities At the HOPE Center
Volunteers have the opportunity to work
toward the elimination of domestic violence in the Alle-Kiski Valley
directly and indirectly. You can help directly in many ways:
Are you good at listening
to others and have a need to help?
Volunteers work on the 24 Hour Hotline -
Answering the hotline and providing immediate help to victims of domestic
violence is a primary source of satisfaction to many people.
Working in the 30-day emergency Shelter -
Volunteers help victims and their children in the shelter by listening to
their problems. By giving information and referrals they also provide
support to shelter staff.
Facilitating Support Groups - Volunteers
can help victims to understand that they are not alone, there can be a
brighter tomorrow.
Do you have a soft spot in your
heart for kids?
Many volunteers find it most rewarding to
work as a Childcare Worker. These special people demonstrate non-violent
communication techniques while working with children and are able to spend
quality time with them while acting as a positive role model.
Do you have an interest in the
court system?
You could be a Volunteer Legal Advocate -
By providing support and accompaniment through the legal system, volunteers
help victims achieve safety and justice.
Trainings
Provided
Free Of Charge
No volunteer is ever asked to do something
unless they have been trained to do the job!
The
HOPE Center recognizes that no one should be responsible for doing a job
well unless they have been taught how to do it.
All volunteers are provided with detailed
training for every aspect of volunteer work.
According to the Protection From Abuse Act
(PFA) anyone working with and providing services to a victim of domestic
violence must have received a 45 hour basic training. These trainings are
educational, interesting, informative and fun and give volunteers the
necessary skills to do the work they want to do - help victims and their
children.
Trainings are provided twice a year in the Spring
and Fall. Other trainings on converging topics are offered throughout the
year.
Volunteers come in all sizes,
ages, race and gender. There are opportunities for women and men as well as
high school students.
Junior and Senior high school students have
the opportunity to volunteer as Junior Advocates providing day care
for children in shelter by demonstrating nonviolent communication
techniques and acting as a positive role model.
Junior Clerical Assistants learn to
use the skills taught in school and gain practical experience in a job
setting which adds to their resumes.
