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Mission
Local
Opportunities
Below are descriptions
of volunteer opportunities with local organizations supported by
the Mission Ministry. Click on the organization name to learn more
about their volunteer needs. For more information on volunteering,
please contact Nancy Munn Smith, Coordinator for Mission, at 310/826-5656
ext. 3128 or nsmith@bpcusa.org.
650
Westminster Transitional Living Center
In 1989, BPC created 650 Westminster Transitional Living Center
in Venice, California for women and their children. 650 Westminster
can accommodate eight mothers and their children for up to two years
while the mothers are in school or job training programs, or working.
Programs offered include parenting and life skills classes, computer
classes, and counseling. Dozens of families have been served by
650 Westminster, enabling them to move into permanent housing and
to lead more independent, stable lives.
Volunteer
Opportunities: Tutor residents. Participate in one-day work
projects. Provide on-going friendships. Serve on the board of HOPE
(Housing Options for People to Excel), the organization that raises
funds for 650 Westminster and coordinates its programs.
CASA
(Court Appointed Special Advocates)
CASA, a program of The Los Angeles Child Advocates Office, recruits,
trains and supervises community volunteers to work with the Dependency
Court on behalf of abused, neglected and abandoned children. CASA
volunteers supplement the important work of social workers and attorneys,
and serve as independent advocates for the welfare and best interests
of each child in the program.
Volunteer
Opportunities: Serve as an advocate (position requires 2-year
commitment; must be at least 25 years of age and enjoy working with
children; each volunteer is assigned by a judge to a specific child,
makes an independent assessment of the child's circumstances in
the foster care system, and reports findings to the court). Collect
donations of magazines suitable for teenagers under the care of
the court system.
Chrysalis
A nonprofit organization with offices in Santa Monica and downtown
Los Angles that helps economically disadvantaged individuals and
people without homes to prepare for and find employment. Chrysalis'
guiding principle is that a steady job is the single most important
step in a person's transition to long-term self-sufficiency.
Volunteer
Opportunities: Teach job preparation class using curriculum
provided (one to two times monthly). Consult on resume writing (weekdays).
Teach job retention classes on the 1st and 3rd Friday evenings of
each month.
CLARE
Foundation
Community Living for Alcoholics by Rehabilitation (CLARE) is a nonprofit
organization in West Los Angeles, devoted to helping alcoholics
and addicts find sobriety and self-sufficiency. CLARE runs 14 programs
on the West Side, offering a continuum of services including detoxification,
adult recovery and sober living, as well as services to people without
hearing capabilities.
Volunteer
Opportunities: Occasional short-term opportunities.
Common
Ground
Common Ground, formerly the Santa Monica AIDS Project, was formed
in 1992 to help persons living with HIV and AIDS, providing them
with full case management services. In 1997, BPC began working with
the Common Ground Food Bank. On the 2nd and 4th Wednesday/Thursday
of every month, BPC members and their friends pick up, package and
deliver groceries to households served by Common Ground. In addition
to the food project, church members also volunteer to help Common
Ground in its educational outreach, office work and other activities.
Volunteer
Opportunities: Pick up food on designated Wednesday mornings,
bag food in individual allotments on Wednesday evenings, or deliver
it to the Common Ground office on designated Thursday mornings.
FAITH/Saturday
Dinner for People Without Homes
FAITH is a nonprofit organization that provides meals for the Santa
Monica Shelter, which serves people without homes. On the 4th Saturday
of each month, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., BPC volunteers gather
in our church kitchen to prepare, cook, package, and deliver meals
to the Santa Monica Shelter. Mission Ministry covers expenses.
Habitat
for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity has been building houses for those seeking
shelter in the United States and internationally for 18 years -
a Habitat House is completed every 50 minutes throughout the world.
The organization provides low-cost, no-interest loans for families
based on their need and on their willingness to invest 500 hours
of "sweat equity" into their home and other homes in their community.
By making decent shelter a matter of conscience and action, Habitat's
goal is to "eliminate poverty housing form the face of the earth."
Volunteer
Opportunities: Help build local homes on designated Saturdays
throughout the summer and fall, as part of a coalition of several
local Presbyterian churches.
My
Friend's Place
Located in Hollywood, My Friend's Place is a resource center dedicated
to helping young people without homes escape street life. There
are an estimated 2,500 teens living on the streets in Hollywood,
and My Friend's Place serves 80-100 young people each day, offering
food, hygiene supplies, clothing, individual case management, job
assistance and on-site medical, legal and HIV clinics. It also operates
a drop-in facility and provides meals, substance abuse counseling,
employment assistance and referrals for medical care.
Volunteer
Opportunities: Distribute information about My Friend's Place
while walking through designated areas. Provide tutoring. Help with
administrative tasks. Assist with annual Christmas party hosted
by BPC. Attend and assist at Open Mike/Karaoke night, a monthly
evening of music, poetry, rap, etc. performed by young people currently
being served by My Friend's Place.
One
Day Mission Ministries
Throughout the year, Mission sponsors one-day mission ministries.
Volunteer
Opportunities: To Be Announced
- Caregiving
for Members
- Mission
- Local
Opportunities
650 Westminster, CASA, Chrysalis, CLARE Foundation, Common Ground, Saturday
Dinner for People Without Homes, Habitat for Humanity, My Friend's Place,
One Day Mission Ministries
- National/Global
Opportunities
Building Homes in Mexico; Nicaragua Covenant Relationship; Embangweni
Hospital in Malawi, Africa; Partnerships with Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
- Committee
Opportunities
Patio Table Coordinator, Mustard Seed Group Liaison, Angel Store Chairperson
and Team, Mexico Work Camp Planning Team, Nicaragua Covenant Relationship
Team
- The
Angel Store: A Christmas Tradition
- Volunteer
Opportunities
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