Volunteers

Training for prospective volunteers for the Peace at Home Family Shelter is held at semi-regular intervals. Any individual wishing to serve as a crisis line volunteer or an adult or children's services volunteer must complete 6 hours training and 4 hours of staff shadowing. To register for an upcoming volunteer training, please contact Doris Jennes, Volunteer Services Coordinator at (479)444-8310  or email.

Current Volunteer Opportunities

The following volunteer opportunities are available to those who have a few hours to share and want to assist the victims of family violence:

• Crisis Line Volunteers: responding to calls from victims of domestic violence seek help, safe shelter of information (10 hour training is mandatory); must have a land line telephone (no cell phones) and call waiting;

• Thrift Shop Volunteers: processing donations, assisting customers, maintaining shop appearance;

• Legal Services / Court Watch: assisting victims of domestic violence with divorce, custody and other issues; monitoring domestic violence-related court activities;

• Pick-Up / Delivery Volunteers: picking up/delivering items being donated to the thrift shop and/or shelter;

• Knit One, Purl Two Volunteers: creating handcrafted hats, mittens, booties, slippers and scarves for the "winter woolies" basket at the shelter (remember victims often come to shelter with only the clothes they are wearing);

• Clerical Volunteers: assisting with copying, filing, general office work;

• "Blanket the Shelter": crafting adult and children's quilts for client rooms, which they will take away with them when they leave;

• Graphic Arts Volunteer: creating attractive signage and posters for thrift shop and for the Shelter's special events, as well as the website;

• Community Educators: staffing health fairs, community expos, public exhibitions and speaking engagements;

• Window Dressers / Merchandising Specialist: creating a more attractive and shopper friendly thrift shop atmosphere;

• Children's Services Volunteers: providing childcare services for children of victims while moms participate in support group activities (6 hours training mandatory);

• Sign Language Volunteers: providing assistance to victims with hearing impairments during Shelter in-take process;

• Computer Hardware Specialist: assessing the condition of computers donated to the Shelter and thrift shop (this may be done on a bi-monthly basis);

• Antiques / Collectibles Specialist: identifying antiques and collectibles from the donations received at the Thrift Shop and assessing their worth for placement in the new Unique Boutique section of the Shop;

• Spanish Language Teachers: teach shelter staff basic Spanish language skills;

• Court Watch: attend court in Washington, Madison and/or Carroll Counties and take notes on domestic violence cases (minimal training required). Currently taking applications - must be available between 8:30 and 11:30 Monday, Wed., or Friday..

• Statistics Gathering: work with County Clerks in Washington, Madison and/or Carroll Counties to find out how many Orders of Protection have been petitioned for, how many have been granted, etc. (minimal training required).

• Court Companions: attend court hearings with women seeking Temporary Orders of Protection. (minimal training required - does require "on call" status). Currently building program & taking applications - not ready at this moment to get started.

For additional information, contact Doris Jennes, 
Volunteer Services Coordinator
479-444-8310 or email. .

Please fill out our volunteer application online today, as we have lots of opportunities for you!

If you'd like to help us with transportation, please fill out the motor vehicle release form.