VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES    August 2010

Please remember this information changes as work progresses. Call for updates.

Habitat for Humanity – go to www.habitat.org click on Volunteer Locally. That will take you to a page entitled “Connect with Habitat in your community.” Learn about volunteer opportunities in the area that you wish to serve by filling in the requested information.  Affiliate name is not required.

Habitat for Humanity – Williamsport, PA

Todd J. Fox

Executive Director

Greater Lycoming Habitat for Humanity

540 Lycoming St., Williamsport, PA  17701

Phone (570) 322-2515 / Fax (570) 322-1683

Email – todd.fox@lycominghabitat.org

Habitat for Humanity ReStore (go online to locate the ReStore nearest you)

Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County

31 Oak Avenue

Chalfont, PA 18914

Laura McClellan, Volunteer Coordinator

215-822-2812 x302

l.mcclellan@habitatbucks.org

www.habitatbucks.org

(This is not rebuilding, but volunteering in Habitat’s retail outlet store)

Good Works, Inc.

P.O. Box 1441

Coatesville, PA 19320

Office:

544 East Lincoln Hwy.

Coatesville, PA 19320

Phone: 610-383-6311

www.goodworks.org

office@goodworks.org

Good Works is a Christian nonprofit organization which exists to improve the living conditions for low-income families in Chester County, PA.  Good Works transforms substandard houses into warmer, safer, and drier homes; and despair into hope. Services are offered to homeowners at no cost and volunteers do most of the repairs. The goal is to see the inhabitants of these homes rise above their level of poverty and experience a richness through being cared for and knowing that their circumstances matter to their community. Good Works believes that everyone benefits when people from different races, cultures, and backgrounds join together in a common purpose.

Group Workcamps (youth and adults)

Phone: 1-800-385-4545

www.GroupWorkcamps.com

Who Can Participate? Junior/Senior High Trips: Participants must be at least 12 yrs. old or entering the 7th grade in the fall.

Preteen Trips: Participants must be 10 to 12 yrs. old, or entering the 5th grade in the fall. Adults (age 21 and above) are a critical part of the mission experience. Adults provide safety, relationships, spiritual guidance, and discipline. Please bring a minimum of one adult for every five youth.

The Group Workcamps Foundation exists as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization to provide dynamic short-term mission trips that help children, youth, and adults connect to Jesus while serving people in Christ's name.  Group Workcamps trips are ecumenical, focusing on the core Christian beliefs that bring the Christian church together.

YouthWorks (youth and adults)

Phone: 1-800-968-8504

www.youthworks.com

Who Can Participate?   Junior High Trips:  Participants are youth entering seventh grade through graduated ninth graders.

2011 Age Requirement: Open to students entering 7th grade in fall 2011 through students who will complete 9th grade in spring 2011.

Junior/Senior High Trips:  Participants are youth entering seventh grade through graduated seniors.

2011 Age Requirement: Open to students entering 7th grade in fall 2011 through seniors who will graduate in spring 2011.

Senior High Trips:  Participants are youth entering ninth grade through graduated seniors.

2011 Age Requirement: Open to students entering 9th grade in fall 2011 through seniors who will graduate in spring 2011.

Multi-Generational Family Mission Trips are designed to provide meaningful opportunities for groups of all ages.

Appalachia Service Project (youth and adults)

4523 Bristol Highway

Johnson City, TN 37601

(800) 289-4254

www.asphome.org

Info@asphome.org

Who Can Participate?  Youth, College and Adult Volunteers

West Virginia and Western Maryland

Community Lutheran Partners, Inc.

P.O. Box 3054

Wheeling, WV 26003

Sherri Schafer

clp@clp-online.org

304-312-4222

A variety of volunteer experiences is available.  Go to www.clp-online.org for more information.

Rebuilding Together – go to www.rebuildingtogether.org click on Find an Affiliate to find a chapter in the area you wish to volunteer.

Rebuilding Together Philadelphia

P.O. Box 42752

Philadelphia, PA 19101-2752

215-568-5044

www.rebuildingphilly.org

Carrie Rathmann, Executive Director

carrie@rebuildingphilly.org

Jennifer Wootten, Administrator and Program Coordinator

302-234-2045

jenw@rebuildingphilly.org

Teams work Saturdays over a series of weekends. As a nonprofit, Rebuilding Together relies on charitable gifts and grants to pay for materials, and asks teams to sponsor a house through a minimum contribution of $3,000, with limited flexibility on this amount.

The Mission: To prevent homelessness by partnering with the community to rehabilitate the homes of elderly, disabled, and low-income homeowners so that they may continue to live in warmth, safety, and independence.

Konnarock Retreat House

6402 White Top Road

Troutdale, Virginia 24378

www.konnarockretreathouse.org

Monroe Herring

423-323-7741

Mherring9@aol.com

The following sites are from the Evangelical Lutheran Coalition for Mission in Appalachia (ELCMA).  The Evangelical Lutheran Coalition for Mission in Appalachia is a nonprofit entity.

Appalachian Mission Opportunities – go to www.wvappalachianmissionopportunities.org. Work sites from across the thirteen Appalachian states are included, listing their work sites by state.

Pennsylvania

Worksite:  Connellsville Area Community Ministries, PUMP Program

Connellsville, PA

724-626-1120

No website

Work Done:  painting, minor repair, small construction such as ramps

Cost:  $100 per person per week

Worksite:  Young People Who Care

Frenchville, PA

814-263-4855

www.ypwcministries.org

Work Done:  painting, minor repair, yard work, moving families

Cost:  $200 per person per week

Maryland

Worksite:  Garrett County Habitat for Humanity

Oakland, MD

301-533-0600

www.garretthfh.org

Work Done:  New construction only      Cost:  $135 per person per week

West Virginia

Worksite:  Appalachian South Folklife Center

Pipestem, WV

304-466-0626

www.folklifecenter.org

Work Done:  minor repair, major repair       Cost:  $175 per person per week

Worksite:  Big Creek People in Action

War, WV

304-875-3418

www.Bigcreekpeopleinaction.org

Work Done:  minor repair, major repair, food bank, school supplies

Cost:  up to $385 per person per week

Worksite:  Heart and Hand House Inc

Philippi, WV

304-457-1295

www.heartandhandhouse.org

Work Done:  general repairs, roofing, major repairs, small construction, new construction, summer garden market      Cost:  $200 per person per week

Worksite:  Scotts Run Settlement House

Osage, WV

304-599-5020

www.srsh.org

Work Done:  painting, weatherization, major repair, food pantry

Cost:  $0

On October 3, join in a national day of prayer and lament for the Gulf of Mexico.

Now that the oil well is capped, media attention will move on to other things. As people of faith, we remain concerned about the long term economic and environmental recovery of the Gulf, its people and its creatures.

The ELCA, along with the National Council of Churches, understand that prayer, worship and reflection are part of the long-term recovery that is vital for the Gulf.

To begin this healing process, we invite you to join us by hosting a worship service, candle light vigil or other event that lifts up the needs of those in the Gulf. For those who haven't participated, you are also still welcome to sign the petition urging Congress for a comprehensive response to the oil spill. Just click here to sign on.

Worship materials, a bulletin insert, educational resources and other activities have been developed for you and your congregation to use on on the national day of prayer on Oct 3.

These materials can be found here.

Please let us know if your congregation will be participating.

Blessings,

ELCA Washington Office

... but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40:31

Sisters and brothers in Christ,

Sunday August 29th, 2010 marks the five-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina making landfall on the Gulf Coast. Across our country, and even around the world, there will be solemn remembrances as we keep alive the memories of the people and the places that were lost to that terrible storm. The passing of time cannot fully heal, but only lessens, the anguish and grief felt in the days that followed the disaster.

I encourage Lutherans everywhere to take time Sunday August 29th to remember in your worship and prayer all of the people affected by Hurricane Katrina. Please especially remember the pastors and people of the ELCA Texas Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod, the ELCA Southeastern Synod, and the LCMS Southern District who have served so faithfully in the five years following Katrina. The ELCA Worship and Liturgical Resources Unit has produced excellent worship resources to assist in these commemorations and has posted examples of prayer vigils created by congregations in the ELCA. To download these resources, click here.

I also want to encourage you to think about the five years that have passed since Hurricane Katrina. Living in an Easter world of faith and hope, we recognize that it is our response to tragedy, that which follows, that truly defines us. Indeed, on Sunday August 29th 2010 we remember the amazing things that have happened along the Gulf Coast since August 29th, 2005, which cannot be summed up or defined merely by a single day.

In these five years, we remember the courage and steadfastness that the people of the Gulf Coast have shown in rebuilding their communities. We give thanks to God for their witness.

In these five years, we remember the countless many who prayed and gave gifts to support the work of the church in these communities. We give thanks to God for their faithfulness.

In these five years, we remember the more than 50,000 Lutheran volunteers who have traveled from near and far to help their neighbors in need. We give thanks to God for their enduring generosity.

In these five years, we remember thousands of Lutheran young people who gathered in New Orleans as a hopeful witness of the Resurrection. We give thanks to God for their energy and their service.

In these five years, since August 29, 2005, God has been showing us signs of help, hope and healing in these and many other ways. So let us remember together all of these five years, as we continue to accompany and comfort those who mourn, and in deep gratitude for the many signs of continued recovery.

In Christ,

Rev Kevin Massey - Director - Lutheran Disaster Response.

As I sat and watched the many red zones on the weather map recently and listened to the weather man's list of the communities around me who were potentially in the path of severe thunderstorms and possible tornados, I was reminded that along with the blessings of our summer weather, can come potentially hazardous weather.  While listening to the weather report I was also mentally reminding myself of the tornado safety checklist I learned while at the Red Cross to identify the safest place in my home.

Summer offers us to the opportunity to enjoy the warmth and bountiful blessings of God's creation - swimming, hiking, vacationing, and possibly relaxing in the shade of a majestic tree.  It can offer a time for increased service to others as well.  A part of our planning for summer fun, service, rest and relaxation should also be preparedness planning.

• Before heading out to the beach check to be sure you have packed the sunscreen and review water safety tips.
• Going on a picnic - practice food safety.  Bring lots of ice.  Summer salads and other foods can quickly spoil in the heat.  Remember keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold and use gloves when preparing food to prevent food born illnesses.
• Thunderstorms are part of the upstate NY summer weather.  Learn the difference between a warning and a watch as well as severe thunderstorm safety tips.
• Is your congregation interested in helping with recovery following a disaster?  Opportunities abound, even right here in upstate NY.  The western NY communities impacted by the August 2009 flooding are still recovering.   They are in need of both volunteer work teams and financial support.  Consider planning a day or overnight service trip.  Start planning by learning what help is needed.  Contact Gowanda Love in the Name of Christ at gowandaloveinc@yahoo.com or visit their website at http://gowandaloveinc.org/.   Financial assistance can be provided by sending your designated, "WNY Floods" donation to the Upstate NY Synod.  Funds will be forwarded for recovery work in western NY.  You can also support LDR preparedness work in our synod by making a donation to the synod and designating it for LDR in Upstate NY.

There are also volunteer opportunities to help with disaster rebuilding and recovery throughout the country.  Find out about locations and contact information for sites from Iowa to Mississippi and in between on the LDR page of the synod website.  Due to the nature of the Oil spill clean-up volunteers are not presently needed for this work.  (http://blogs.elca.org/disasterresponse/post/oil-spill-update-10)

• Consider getting involved right here in our own synod with disaster preparedness and response.  September is National Preparedness Month (http://www.ready.gov/america/npm10/index.html) - schedule a preparedness activity at your church or plan a time to begin work on your congregational disaster preparedness plan.  Lutheran Disaster Response in Upstate NY is creating Conference Disaster Response Teams.  Volunteers are needed to provide preparedness education in congregations and to serve as leadership people for disaster response within our synod.  To learn more contact Patsy Glista, LDR Coordinator, at pglista@upstatenysynod.org or 315.289.2686.

Patsy Glista, AIM
Lutheran Disaster Response Coordinator in Upstate New York