Support Group Facilitator
Volunteer facilitators lead evening support groups for youth of kindergarten through college ages and their families. Groups meet in the evenings from 6:30-8:00 p.m. Experience in mental health professions is not required. Volunteer facilitators must attend one of our 15+ hour trainings and are matched with an experienced group facilitator who serves as a mentor throughout their first series. Even if you are not sure facilitating a group is for you, you are welcome to attend training! It is part of Mourning Hope's mission to educate the community about helping others who are grieving. Whether or not you ultimately facilitate, attending training will build valuable life skills applicable for everyone. If both you and Mourning Hope believe facilitating is a good fit for you, you will be asked to commit to facilitating at least one 10-week series (one meeting per week for 10 consecutive weeks) within a year of attending training. A background check is completed in all Mourning Hope volunteers before they being work with families.
Office Support
Volunteers who are providing office support are asked to extend a welcome to anyone calling or visiting Mourning Hope and to perform general office assistance. Office support volunteers may be asked to make copies, prepare packets, assist with mailings or data entry, light housekeeping, and help set up for support group meetings. Office support volunteers contribute to the overall functioning and professional environment at Mourning Hope. We ask that office support volunteers be available to assist a minimum of two hours per month for 6 months. Scheduling will be arranged based upon current needs of Mourning Hope and your availability.
Speakers Bureau Members
Mourning Hope speakers provide presentation for the community about healthy grieving strategies, helping yourself and others when grieving, the unique needs of grieving children, and grief in the workplace. Speakers bureau members most often are people who have a personal connection with, knowledge of, or passion for helping grieving families. If you are comfortable with public speaking, and think you may be a fit for the speakers bureau, we would love to meet with you and talk more about your unique experiences.
Kitchen Volunteers
Kitchen volunteers prepare and bring a meal for our support group for families coping with illness. This opportunity is a good fit for an individual or a group. Volunteers help set up the buffet style meal, prepare drinks, and generally oversee this time in the evening. Following dinner, they are asked to help put food away and leave the kitchen in order. This group meets on Thursday evenings, and volunteers would need to set up the meal by 6:15 p.m. Volunteers can sign up for one or more evenings.
Sewing Assistants
If you have a talent for sewing, we need you to help grieving families create comfort items in memory of their loved ones during evening support group meetings! Sewing nights occur approximately once every other month during the school year.
Student Practical Experiences and Internships
In cooperation with you and your instructor, Mourning Hope can design an internship for undergraduates or graduate students in human services, communications, or other related fields. Please contact us as early as possible, as limited opportunities are available. Scheduling of hours will be based upon your unique needs and the availability of our staff to supervise.
Handy Helpers
Volunteers needed to complete simple "fix-it" jobs, tidy up the center, yard work, and more.
Special Event Support
Help coordinate or carry out various events throughout the year such as fundraising events, summer reunions, and more! Time commitment may vary depending on event.
Artists
Our summer programming involves Art from Our Hearts, an opportunity for children in grades 1-6 to express their feelings through various art medium. Local artists volunteer their time and talents to work with these youth durning two Saturday morning events.
Other
Do you have a talent not mentioned above that you would like to share with grieving families? We welcome your ideas and questions.