Mission Volunteer Opportunities: United states

ALASKA

Location: Ketchikan Hostel 

Position: Assistant Hostel Manager
Duration: Mid-May through Mid-September 
Estimated monthly living expenses:  $250, including lodging and meals. 
Work description: The assistant hostel manager is the face of The United Methodist Church to travelers who need lodging. The Mission Volunteer will welcome and orient guests; answer the telephone and respond to emails; receive payments from hostelers and maintain a receipt ledger; make deposits for refunds; ensure the cleanliness of the dormitories and public spaces; and maintain the linens.


Location: Birchwood Camp, Chugiak 

Position: Assistant Camp Host
Duration: March through June or July through October
Estimated monthly living expenses: $250, including housing and meals 
Work description: The assistant camp host will offer excellent hospitality to ensure guests and campers feel welcomed and comfortable, assist in overall camp operation and help with office work. Qualified candidates would have excellent hospitality skills.

illinois

Location: Midwest Mission, Pawnee

Position: Volunteer Leader
Duration: 2 to 12 months
Estimated monthly living expenses: $300, including housing and meals. 
Work description: Greet volunteers; aid staff in delegating; educate and monitor volunteers in various work assignments; receive and log donations; and assist with other duties as needed.

kentucky

Location: Henderson Settlement, Frakes 

Position #1: Work Camp Project Assistant
Duration: 2 to 12 months (year-round)
Estimated monthly living expenses: $150-300, depending on season, including meals, housing and transportation. 
Work Description: Established in 1925, Henderson Settlement is located in rural Appalachia. The Mission Volunteer will help the project coordinator operate a tool shop and assist volunteer teams to get their tools each workday; deliver and retrieve tools and materials to/from work sites; and interact with community and other work campers. Needs a basic knowledge of tools and building materials. 


Position #2: Dining Hall Cook Assistant
Duration: 2 to 6 months (Spring-Summer-Autumn only)
Estimated monthly living expenses: $150-300, depending on season, including meals, housing and transportation. 
Work Description: Established in 1925, Henderson Settlement is located in rural Appalachia. The Mission Volunteer will help prepare and serve two meals per day; wash dishes; clean dining hall and do other duties as needed; and interact with the community and staff. This is for Spring-Summer-Autumn only.


Position #3: Outreach Ministries Assistant 
Duration: 2 to 12 months (year-round)
Estimated monthly living expenses: $150-300, depending on season, including meals, housing and transportation. 
Work Description: Established in 1925, Henderson Settlement is located in rural Appalachia. The Mission Volunteer will help with daily community services and programming, including ministries such as youth, older adult care, women’s group or food pantry. 


Position #4: Mission Awareness and Communications Assistant
Duration: 2 to 12 months (year-round)
Estimated monthly living expenses: $150-300, depending on season, including meals, housing and transportation. 
Work Description: Extend mission awareness with an audience of shared partners in ministry; maintain web pages, Facebook, phone and printed materials; assist with donor management and fundraising using the software eTapestry; assist with the creation of videos and presentations on multiple software platforms; and help with general office duties as needed.

LOUISIANA

Location: Calcasieu Mission of Fuller Center Disaster Rebuilders, Sulphur 

Position: Assistant Volunteer Coordinator and Client Relationships 
Duration: 3 to 12 months
Estimated monthly living expenses: $350, including housing, meals and transportation. 
Work description: The Mission Volunteer will help the area recover after Hurricanes Laura and Delta by working with homeowner clients during the entire rebuilding process; assisting volunteers on the job sites; and ensuring the volunteers have a mutually positive experience while serving. 


Location: Sager Brown – UMCOR Depot, Baldwin

Position #1: Depot Assistance
Duration: Flexible weeks
Estimated monthly living expenses: $250, including housing most meals and transportation.
Work Description: Position requires to be on your feet and able to lift 20-30 lbs. Have excellent interpersonal skills and engaged with short-term volunteers and staff. Familiar with UMCOR kits and specifications and able to manage the stock and willing to assist with other tasks. 


Positions#2:  Host and Hostess
Duration: 3/4 weeks and longer
Estimate monthly living expenses: $250, including housing most meals and transportation.
Work Description: Position requires people and computer skills.Responsible for welcoming, orientation and campus tours for short-term teams and other guests. Support other tasks, gift shop, medical emergencies, and local activities.


Position #3: Outreach Office Assistant
Duration: Flexible – 2months or longer
Estimate monthly living expenses: $250, including housing most meals and transportation.
Work Description: Position requires interpersonal skills to interact with everyone on campus. General Microsoft Office skills and assist the Associate Director. Assist with food distribution and housing repairs


Position #4: Assistant Construction and Project Manager
Duration: Flexible – 2 months or longer 
Estimate monthly living expenses: $250, including housing most meals and transportation.
Work Description: Position requires interpersonal skills to interact with everyone on campus. Assist with volunteer orientation, match volunteer skills with tasks, and assessment work assignments and recommend next steps. Assist with ordering materials. 

MICHIGAN

Location: Cass Community Social Services, Detroit

Position: Assistant to the Facilities Director 
Duration: 3 to 12 months
Estimated monthly living expenses: $100, including housing, meals and transportation. 
Work description: Cass Community Social Services is a social service agency with 13 buildings, 25 tiny homes, two four-unit apartment buildings, and a free health clinic. CCSS provides temporary residency to people without homes. The Mission Volunteer will work closely with the facilities director, help maintain the facilities, and work alongside volunteers and mission teams. Qualified candidates should have a basic knowledge of building maintenance, be able to work alongside others who are less skilled and have a safe driving record.

NEW MEXICO

Location: El Calvario Immigrant Advocacy Center, Las Cruces

Position: General Shelter/Resettlement Assistant 
Duration: 2 to 6 months
Estimated monthly living expenses: $250, including housing, meals and transportation. 
Work description: El Calvario is an immigrant advocacy center located in a United Methodist church. The agency provides temporary shelter to those in need in various locations around the New Mexico and Texas southern border. The Mission Volunteer will assist with welcoming and hospitality ministries for immigrant resettlement; furnish transportation (church provided) to appointments or shopping; help determine the needs of newcomers; assist the case managers; set up homes; provide general assistance for the El Calvario staff in providing outreach services to various migrant populations in Las Cruces/El Paso; and help newcomers become familiar with U.S. culture.


Location: McCurdy Ministries Community Center, Espanola

Position #1: Assistant Retreat Center Host
Duration: 2 to 6 months, Spring through Autumn
Estimated monthly living expenses: $300, including housing and meals 
Work description:  A 100-year-old United Methodist National Mission Institution formerly known as McCurdy Schools of Northern New Mexico, MMCC provides after-school, preschool, mental health counseling, summer camp and youth programs. As the assistant retreat center host, the Mission Volunteer will welcome volunteers on campus and assist throughout their stay, as well as manage the MMCC gift shop when volunteer groups are visiting. 


Position #2: Assistant VIM Work Coordinator
Duration: 2 to 6 months, Spring through Autumn
Estimated monthly living expenses: $300, including housing and meals 
Work description: A 100-year-old United Methodist National Mission Institution formerly known as McCurdy Schools of Northern New Mexico, MMCC provides after-school, preschool, mental health counseling, summer camp and youth programs. The Mission Volunteer will work with a team to plan and coordinate VIM teams and individuals; ensure all necessary equipment and materials are ready for volunteers; and work alongside the volunteers on projects.

NORTH CAROLINA

Location: Hinton Rural Life Center, Hayesville 

Position #1: Sanctuary Garden Assistant 
Duration: 2 to 9 months, August-May 
Estimated monthly living expenses: $275, including housing and meals  
Work description: Hinton Rural Life Center is a lakeside retreat and conference facility in the Appalachian Mountains of Western North Carolina. Working with a team of local volunteers, the Mission Volunteer will help implement a new initiative – Sanctuary Trails and Gardens – by enhancing existing trails and gardens into spaces for reflection and renewal; work on trail improvements and new plantings; install new garden fixtures; and help create resources such as prayer and meditation guides.


Position #2: Safe and Healthy Homes Assistant Coordinator 
Duration: 2 to 9 months, August-May 
Estimated monthly living expenses: $275, including housing and meals
Work description: Hinton Rural Life Center is a lakeside retreat and conference facility in the Appalachian Mountains of Western North Carolina. The Mission Volunteer will help conduct safety checks of local homes for hazardous or unsafe conditions; make minor home improvements such as smoke-detector installations; perform educational outreach and follow-up with homeowners so that their health and safety improve. Provide access to site amenities during off hours.


Location: Haywood Street Congregation, Asheville

Position: Community Resident and Respite Companion
Duration: 3 to 12 months 
Estimated monthly living expenses: $175, including housing and meals 
Work description: HSC is a mission church with a particular focus on welcoming those most excluded by the world, especially those living with mental illness, the formerly incarcerated, the jobless, the houseless, or those in active addiction. The Mission Volunteer will support the Downtown Welcome Table, where lunch is served family style twice a week by managing orders from suppliers, training volunteers, and providing hospitality and presence to all on campus. The Mission Volunteer will also help with the hospital respite program.

WEST VIRGINIA

Location: Clarksburg Mission

Position #1: Assistant to Director
Duration: 2 months or longer
Estimate monthly living expenses: $250
Work Description: In 2021, the Clarksburg Mission (the area’s homeless shelter and day center) refocused its ministry to become a recovery center. This position supports the director in training staff and volunteers, and also maintains scheduling, monitors supplies and supports a safe/secure shelter environment. Helpful: flexibility to do other tasks.


Position #2: Assistant to Kitchen Director
Duration: 2 months or longer
Estimate monthly living expenses: $250
Work Description: Assist with scheduling, arranging deliveries and preparing food. Support and serve the daily breakfast and/or evening meals. Assist with special dietary needs of guests.