Volunteer in the Community
Opportunities for Christian Service
Compiled 2/09 by the Board of Christian Service of First Congregational UCC, Sheboygan, WI
If any of these interest you, feel free to make direct contact. Please keep C.S.B. in the loop by letting anyone on the board know of your activity. Board members are listed at the end of this document.
Above and Beyond Children’s Museum
Purpose: A hands-on learning and discovery center designed to provide fun, interactive exhibits that compliment formal education.
Contact: Volunteer Coordinator
Weekly, over 60-100 volunteer hours given:
Stuffing envelopes, answer phones, wait on customers, host birthday parties, give tours, assist teaching staff, write programs, design programs and exhibits, build exhibits, clean, cut grass, shovel snow, etc.
www.abkids.org; 920-458-4263
Alzheimer’s Association of Southeastern Wisconsin
Purpose: To eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.
Contact: Ginny Nyhuis
Need 10-12 volunteers to help assemble packs of brochures, books, flyers to be placed in church libraries/resource areas/community bulletin boards. Volunteers will deliver the resources and routinely stock materials when depleted. Must have own car and valid driver’s license, professional dress and appearance.
www.alz.org/sewi/in_my_community_about.asp;
920-838-1311
Eastern Wisconsin Sustainable Farmers Network, Inc
Purpose: Non-profit regional publication in its 5th edition listing farms, businesses, farmers markets, artisans, institutions and events promoting buying and producing locally made foods and products.
Contact: Fred Depies
Needs include: Desktop publishing, sales, and distribution of the Farm Fresh Atlas; Food servers at the Fall Food and Energy Fest; Website design and maintenance
Active members of Sheboygan Area Food Alliance and New Food
www.farmfresheastwi.org; 920-418-2718
House of Kabataan Charity
Purpose: To provide financial, material, and volunteer assistance to orphanages around the world. We encourage adoption through existing placement agencies. Our primary funding is through philanthropic donations by individuals and corporations.
Contact: Fernando Kuehnel
Need volunteer graphic designer; someone to collect old clothes and school supplies to be sent to Manila.
www.houseofkabataan.org; 954-243-5100
Literacy Council of Sheboygan
Purpose: The Literacy Council Project of the Family Resource Center of Sheboygan County is a volunteer-based organization that provides reading partners to elementary schools and free, one-to-one literacy instruction to English and non-English speaking adult residents of Sheboygan County.
Contact: Jo Ann Dent
Need tutors to work with adult learners and also mentors to work with school children in the Partners in Reading program. Training provided.
http://www.familyresourcesheboygan.org/index.php; 920-457-1888 or 920-892-6706
Meals on Wheels
Purpose: Caring volunteers deliver nutritious food to the door of elderly, homebound and disabled people, allowing them to remain independent
Contact: Kelly Heyn
Need 17 drivers. Need to be licensed, insured drivers age 18 or older.
www.sheboyganmealsonwheels.org; 920-451-7011
Mental Health America in Sheboygan County, Inc.
Purpose: Dedicated to promoting mental health, preventing mental disorders, and overcoming mental illnesses through advocacy, education, research, and service.
Contact: Beverly Randall
Anyone with an interest in suicide prevention is invited to join the committee. Meetings are once a month at 8:00 pm at various locations.
www.mhasheboygan.org; 920-458-3951
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, Inc.
Purpose: To empower all individuals to manage their sexual and reproductive health through patient services, education and advocacy.
Contact: Kristen Biese
Need clerical and reception support.
www.ppwi.org; 920-458-9401
Project Angel Hugs
Purpose: A non-profit Christ-centered service that ministers to the emotional needs of children with cancer and their families.
Contact: Char Jensema
Youth groups of 24-28 with an adult helper from your group. Helpers needed at the annual car wash and also to help pack up Angel HUG boxes.
www.projectangelhugs.com; 920-892-9138
Rainbow Kids, Inc.
Purpose: To assist young people dealing with the pain of loss through death or divorce.
Contact: Judy Meise
Facilitators are needed to lead small group grief support. Volunteers must be 21 and attend a six-hour-training and a desire to help those who are grieving. Other volunteer opportunities: helping at picnic, help with large mailings, other office duties.
www.rainbowkidswi.org; 920-452-2838
Rebuilding Together
Purpose: A local chapter of a national organization that uses volunteers to rebuild homes for those in need.
Contact: Bob Guenther
Ask that major sponsors provide a core group of volunteers to work on a home during the Project Day. These helpers can be skilled or unskilled. Could be indoor/outdoor painting, installation of windows or doors, bathroom renovation, installation of flooring, grab bars, ramp building. Each crew has a skilled tradesperson in the lead.
www.rt-sheboygan.org; 920-980-1088
Safe Harbor of Sheboygan County
Purpose: Dedicated to the prevention of all forms of domestic abuse and sexual assault in the community through raising awareness, education, and providing safety, shelter, and support for all victims.
Contact: Mary Fontanazza
Need volunteers: Most volunteers must attend an orientation; those working with clients must undergo a background check. Volunteers serve on the board and its committees; assist with fundraising and special events; help with newsletter, community outreach, and education; assist with projects and tasks at the shelter and administrative office; provide direct services for shelter residents as well as non-resident clients. Direct services to clients include: answering crisis line, providing childcare and transportation, assisting children’s support groups, providing shelter coverage.
www.sheboygansafeharbor.org; 920-452-8611
Sharon S. Richardson Community Hospice
Purpose: Dedicated to providing comprehensive care focused on maintaining dignity, improving quality of life, and providing comfort and empowerment for the patient and their loved ones when a cure is no longer possible, or when symptoms and pain will need to be managed for an extensive period of time, surrounding them with medical, emotional, and spiritual support. SSR will provide a full range of services for home care as well.
Contact: Linda Cates
Volunteers are an essential part of the team. Must have a commitment to others and be 18 or older to apply for Hospice volunteer opportunity. Some of the specialized roles include: patient care, administrative support, special events, bereavement, and other unique areas (i.e. pet visits).
www.ssrhospicehome.org; 920-467-7940
The Salvation Army
Purpose: Battling hunger, homelessness and helplessness.
Contact: Sandy Leske
Need licensed nurses and doctors as well as support staff. Professionals take care of patients just as they would in their own facilities. Support staff help clients fill out paperwork, answer questions, and do administrative work.
www.sheboygan.salvationarmywi.org; 920-458-3723
Sheboygan County Head Start
Purpose: The Wisconsin Head Start Assoc. (WHSA) is a private not-for-profit membership organization representing more than 16,000 children throughout the state. Children who attend Head Start participate in a variety of educational activities. They also receive free medical and dental care, have healthy meals and snacks, and enjoy playing indoors and outdoors in a safe setting. Head Start helps all children succeed.
Contact: Julie Perkovich (Continued next page)
Needs: Always welcomes volunteers in the classroom and on field trips.
www.whsaonline.org/aboutus.htm; 920-458-1154 x 13
STARS Program
Purpose: to provide teen girls at risk opportunities for fellowship to build self-esteem and life skills.
Contact: Lorrie Ruiz
Needs: We are always looking for people gifted in jewelry making, arts and crafts, or any other fun ideas to share.
No current website available; 920-627-0757
Other Opportunities:
Meal Buddies at Bridgeway House, a Sheboygan transitional living program for homeless women and their children, needs one or two adult volunteers on the 15th of the month to share the evening meal and to spend social time with families. If it sounds simple, that’s because it is. The simple act of dining together has a tremendous impact on Bridgeway residents. Prior to coming to Bridgeway House, dinner was a meal that was eaten in the car, or in front of a television, or sometimes not eaten at all. Meal Buddies teaches resident moms and their children that dinnertime is “family time,” and that there is a larger community of friends that care about them as people. Each month a different experience! Sign up sheet on the church bulletin board, or for more information, see Chris Kuehnel, 920-693-3141 or chris@clevelandwi.net.
Wisconsin Disaster Recovery needs churches throughout Wisconsin to provide teams that can respond in cases of natural disaster (flooding, fire, etc.) Local churches should go to the UCC resource at www.community.com/index.htm for training materials in order to train and organize their own Disaster Ministry teams. For an excellent resource for local church disaster planning local go to www.ucc.org/oghs/national. For more information, also contact Gerry Bertsch at gwbertsch@charter.net.
UCC Companion Communities: Young Adult Service Communities This is a great opportunity for 21-30 year olds to participate in intentional community living, service and social justice action, and spiritual conversation. Both 10 week summer and 10 month communities are forming, beginning in June and September, 2009. If you are interested or would like more information, check out the website:
www.psr.edu/ministry/ucc-companion-communities-young-adult-service-communities
Organizations listed in this brochure received or were considered for funding from FCC in 2008.
