Volunteer | Patty's Hope

VOLUNTEER

We all need healthy community.

A cord of many strands is not quickly broken

“Behold, the tears of the oppressed, and they had no one to comfort them!... Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! ...a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:1,9,12)

For details of the next volunteer training click here.

IN WHAT ROLES COULD I SERVE AS A VOLUNTEER

HOW DO IT BECOME A VOLUNTEER?

WHY VOLUNTEERING WITH PATTY'S HOPE IS IMPORTANT?

HOW ELSE CAN I GET INVOLVED?

IN WHAT ROLES COULD I SERVE AS A VOLUNTEER?

At Patty’s Hope, we need volunteers to be a healthy community for the women we serve.

Biological moms of children in foster care often have little to no support in their lives. Patty’s Hope aims to weave a new network of care and community around them. This work is often hard, so we don’t do it alone. We need volunteers in many different roles to be “the cord of many strands.”(Ecclesiastes. 4:12)

Click on the roles above to learn more and to see which one fits you best.
There are opportunities for all skills, schedules and interests.

HOW DO I BECOME A VOLUNTEER?

Fill out an Expression

of Interest.

Once you’ve filled out our Volunteer Expression of Interest form, our Connections Coordinator will contact you to discuss your interests and skills. You will receive a Volunteer Application and then determine the appropriate training for your desired role(s).

Complete training

and paperwork.

Depending on your role, you’ll need to complete a 3.5-hour training in person or a 25-minute on-you-own training, along with the relevant paperwork and background check. This training will equip you to serve the women of Patty’s Hope.

Start serving!

Once you have completed the application, training and paperwork, you are all set to start serving the moms of Patty’s Hope! Your role may seem small to you, but everyone brings their own gifts and time to be used by God to love and support these women. Thank you!

WHY VOLUNTEERING WITH PATTY'S HOPE IS SO IMPORTANT?

Because each biological mom needs community to thrive.

We were all made for community. None of us does anything alone. God created us to be woven into a web of healthy and supportive relationships, and too often these biological moms have none. Will you be one of the strands in her cord (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)?

Because paid professionals and formal organizations are limited in their capacities. Caseworkers, therapists and social service agencies all have their place and do tremendous work in the lives of many. But they cannot give us the deep relationships that go beyond service plans and billable hours. Volunteers have the potential to develop the connections that weave throughout the joys and sorrows and ordinary moments of life. We cannot do this work without you.

Because each person has been given unique skills, gifts, passions that they are meant to share with others.

The church is described in the Bible as a body with diverse parts doing diverse functions. Each one of us cannot do everything, but we can ALL do something, and there are so many ways to help! We invite you to consider with prayer the various opportunities to be a part of a biological mom’s story in the way God has designed and planned for you.

We depend on volunteers like YOU to weave a net of care, safety, health and growth for the moms of Patty’s Hope.

“I just love being able to share the love that God has shown to me to others

in a practical way. I feel God’s presence in such a powerful way when I am in relationship with others who want to know His grace and mercy.”

--Susan, Patty’s Hope volunteer

“I loved volunteering at Patty's Hope because it is so great to get to know the moms and their stories and maybe be of some help in their difficult journey.” --Kathy, Patty’s Hope volunteer

“I’m just here to do my little part.” --Catherine, Patty’s Hope volunteer

VOLUNTEER ROLES

Yes! She has a role, too!

This is her life and her relationship with her child(ren), so we fully respect her ability to make decisions and choices about her activities and future plans.

We also try to set appropriate and clear boundaries with her so that each member of the team knows and communicates where one responsibility ends and another’s begins. This models and teaches healthy relationships to a woman who has had very few in her life. It can be very helpful to say “no” at times!

In all our service and help we give each biological mom, we try to be careful not to enable her in unhealthy dependence on agencies or programs, but instead to empower her to do the things she can do using the skills and abilities God has given her, balancing this with an awareness of the effect of past trauma and generational brokenness on a woman’s current functioning.

We never want to do things to this mom or for her but with her and alongside her, gradually encouraging self-sufficiency and mutual interdependence with healthy communities.

One-on-One Mentor

- 2 hours per week

- 1 year commitment,
with opportunity to review and renew annually.

Consistent Contact Volunteer Training (3 ½ hours, in-person). Topics include:
- Our focus: biological moms of foster care kids
- Patty’s Hope mission and general program
- The foster care system
- Trauma and healing
- Healthy community
- Faith-infused practice

Advanced mentoring training and curriculum training provided.
Ongoing training and support provided as needed.

Meet weekly with one Patty’s Hope mom to go through a structured mentoring curriculum with her to help her grow spiritually and emotionally.

Side-by-Side Friend

Prayer Partner

Church Connector

- 0-30 minutes per week availability to invite and welcome a mom to your church services and community.

- 1 year commitment, with the opportunity to review and renew annually

Consistent Contact Volunteer Training (3 ½ hours, in-person).

Topics include:
- Our focus: biological moms of foster care kids
- Patty’s Hope mission and general program
- The foster care

system
- Trauma and healing
- Healthy community
- Faith-infused practice

Ongoing training and support provided as needed.

Show intentional hospitality to Patty’s Hope moms who would like to visit and attend church services or other programs.

Could include transportation to and from events.

Because our clients are diverse, we need a diverse array of church communities to care for them.

Transportation Team

- 0-60 minutes per week availability, depending on your schedule (all times of the week and day are needed!).

- 1 year commitment, with the opportunity to review and renew annually

Consistent Contact Volunteer Training (3 ½ hours, in-person).

Topics include:
- Our focus: biological moms of foster care kids
- Patty’s Hope mission

and general program
- The foster care

system
- Trauma and healing
- Healthy community
- Faith-infused practice

Ongoing training and support provided as needed.

As a team member, you will be available to drive clients to and from appointments, court, visitations, therapy, and Patty’s Hope activities.

An optional part of this role is to accompany clients to appointments and/or participate in PH group activities.

Therapeutic Activities Team

- 2-3 hours per year: plan, host and/or lead a workshop at least once annually.

- 1 year commitment, with the opportunity to review and renew annually

Limited Contact Volunteer Training (30 minutes, on-your-own).

Topics include:

- Patty’s Hope mission and vision

- The foster care system

- Patty’s Hope’s 4 focus areas

- The role of faith in our practice

Ongoing training and support provided as needed.

Share your unique skills and interests with the women of PH to teach, lead and encourage new pathways and growth through experiences.

From needlepoint to rock climbing, gardening to yoga, board games to bread making, the possibilities are endless!

Life Skills Training Team

- 30-60 minutes once per quarter.

- Share your skills on an as-needed basis, either in small groups or one-on-one with a client (PH case manager or staff member always present).

- 1 year commitment, with the opportunity to review and renew annually

Limited Contact Volunteer Training (30 minutes, on-your-own).

Topics include:

- Patty’s Hope mission and vision

- The foster care system

- Patty’s Hope’s 4 focus areas

- The role of faith in our practice

Ongoing training and support provided as needed.

Do you have some expertise or experience in a particular field?

We need you to come alongside a Patty's Hope client and teach her new skills in areas like these:

- Budgeting

- Resume writing

- Basic computer use

- Meal planning

- Nutrition

- Home organization

Legal Team

- 30-60 minutes once per quarter.

- Willingness to offer occasional in-person, video or phone consultations to clients after reviewing pertinent legal documents.

- 1 year commitment, with the opportunity to review and renew annually

Limited Contact Volunteer Training (30 minutes, on-your-own).

Topics include:

- Patty’s Hope mission and vision

- The foster care system

- Patty’s Hope’s 4 focus areas

- The role of faith in our practice

Ongoing training and support provided as needed.

As a legal professional, you can advise a PH mom about specific legal issues related to their child’s case, past legal infractions or other legal matters (driving, serving sentences, custody of other children, appealing court decisions, etc.).

This is not legal representation, simply providing free legal advice.

Fit-it Team

- 2-3 hours per year, or more if desired.

- Willingness to participate in occasional workdays at client home or Patty’s Hope property.

- 1 year commitment, with the opportunity to review and renew annually

Limited Contact Volunteer Training (30 minutes, on-your-own).

Topics include:

- Patty’s Hope mission and vision

- The foster care system

- Patty’s Hope’s 4 focus areas

- The role of faith in our practice

Ongoing training and support provided as needed.

If you are handy with tools, you can offer practical help to maintain and repair Patty’s Hope facilities or a client’s own car or property, as needed.

Host Family

- 6-12 months of client living in your home full time.

- Willingness to serve as Side-by-Side Friend while waiting for Host Family opportunities

- 1 year commitment, with the opportunity to review and renew annually

Advanced mentoring training and curriculum training provided.
Ongoing training and support provided as needed.

Provide short-term housing (6-12 months) for a Patty’s Hope client who has successfully completed the residential program.

Provide informal discipleship and model healthy family relationships while client is living in your home.

Provide informal friendship for one Patty’s Hope mom with opportunities to have fun, talk about life and challenges, encourage each other and develop a deeper connection.

Advanced mentoring training and curriculum training provided.
Ongoing training and support provided as needed.

-Text or call a mom once per week (5-15 minutes, 1x/week)

- Plus, 2-3 hours per month to get together in person (could include Patty’s Hope-organized activities or your own plans)

-1 year commitment, with the opportunity to review and renew annually

Commit to supporting one Patty’s Hope mom with prayer and encouragement in the big and small challenges of her life.

This role is ideal for a home-bound senior or stay-at-home parent.

Advanced mentoring training and curriculum training provided.
Ongoing training and support provided as needed.

- 5 minutes per day to pray for one woman’s needs and for Patty’s Hope.

- Plus, 10 minutes per week to contact client by text, email or phone to get her prayer requests and encourage her.

- 1 year commitment, with the opportunity to review and renew annually