Arrupe Jesuit High School Service Opportunities Resource List “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others” ~Mahatma Gandhi This list is intended to be a starting point. Many, many other opportunities exist. If you have an interest area, or a talent that you want to use, do some research and find a place to share your gifts in the service of others! General Options: Visit volunteer websites volunteermatch.org. metrovolunteers.org dosomething.org http://teens.denverlibrary.org/involved/volunteer.html The Denver Post Volunteer Guide http://www.denverpostcommunity.com/resources.shtml Explore city/county governments Many local governments have volunteer and internship programs Inquire about opportunities at your place of worship, school or local community center If you have a hard time finding something that fits, ask Mrs. Brin for help! Health Care Servicios de la Raza o Assists in areas of emergency assistance, HIV/AIDS, Mental Health, Domestic Violence o 303-458-5851 Ronald McDonald House Charities Denver o Volunteer with an adult if under 18; Clean and help around the house that provides a place for families to stay while their children are hospitalized o Contact: Cassandra McKee 720 382-7206 OR
[email protected] Project Cure o Organize and sort Medical supplies which are sent to developing countries o Contact: Stephanie York • 720-490-4017•
[email protected] Project Angel Heart o Help people cope with life-threatening illnesses by decorating lunch bags/birthday cards o Also available, deliver meals with an adult o For more information, visit http://www.projectangelheart.org or call 303.830.0202 9 Health Fair o Serve as greeters, translators (if you speak English and another language fluently), pack supplies, run errands, etc at the 9 Health Fair www.9healthfair.org Most local hospitals have teen volunteer programs. Go to the website for the hospital in your area
Education/Children Escuela de Guadalupe o Assist with the after-school program: Tutoring, sports, arts & music, health & fitness o Main Office: 303-964-0816 Children’s Museum o 303.433.7444 www.mychildsmuseum.org Denver Museum of Nature and Science: o www.dmns.org Denver Art Museum o www.denverartmuseum.org Denver Botanic Gardens o www.botanicgardens.org Denver Zoo o www.denverzoo.org Butterfly Pavilion o www.butterflies.org Four Mile Historic Park o Help with activities for tours, Living History Days and Heritage Events o Contact 720-865-0812 or visit http://www.fourmilepark.org 32nd Jubilee Center o Youth Enrichment Program 303.477.3944 or www.jubilee32.org Girls Inc. o Inspires girls to be strong, smart, and bold : 303-893-4363 or www.girlsinc.org Mount St. Vincent Home o Angela Frederick, 303-458-7220 x253 ▪ or
[email protected] Tennyson Center for Children o www.tennysoncenter.org/volunteer OR 303-433-2541 Warren Village o Assisting with child care for single parents (evenings and some weekends) o Brian Palmeri (13th & Gilpin)
[email protected] 303-320-5032 o Dena Lee (52nd & Federal)
[email protected] 303-477-3843 Contact YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, or your local parks and recreation department Contact local preschools, elementary schools, church youth groups/Sunday schools and day cares
Immigration/Law Centro Humanitario o Assist with ESL classes, administrative tasks or law advocacy o
[email protected] for more information or 303.292.4115 American Friends Service Committee o This organization works through peace programs especially geared toward immigration reform and overcoming violence. o Contact: Melissa Nix at
[email protected] or at 720.261.9238 Bayaud Enterprises o Help with translation and welcoming guests seeking tax services from Americorps o Search for Bayaud Enterprises on the metrovolunteers.org website or visit bayaudenterprises.org Centro San Juan Diego o Centro San Juan Diego offers many services to the Hispanic community in Denver, such as education, immigration assistance, obtaining IDs and other documents, family support, etc o (303) 295-9470 Animals Connections Therapeutic Riding Center (in Elizabeth, CO) o Help special needs riders in horse therapy by helping with various ranch activities o Contact Cathy Stecklein • 720-273-3659 • MAX Fund o Work with an animal shelter caring for animals o Must be accompanied by an adult if under 18 and orientation required Contact (303) 5954917 Adler’s Assistance Dogs o Train dogs for use with various disabilities. o Call to inquire about volunteer opportunities 303-722-0327 Contact other local animal shelters such as the Dumb Friends League or shelters in your county Environment Denver Parks and Recreation o Contact Tina Romero• 303.698.4904 • :
[email protected] Volunteers Outdoor Colorado o Help with trail building, parks clean up, weed mitigation, etc o www.voc.org or call 303.715.1010. Sports Boys and Girls Club o Contact Kristine Cohn at 303-892-9200 ext. 125 or
[email protected]. America Scores Volunteers needed to referee soccer games or assist in coaching soccer teams. 303-832-5879
Housing/Homeless St. Francis Center o Give the ministry of hospitality to Denver’s homeless by volunteering in the clothing room, sorting mail, or cleaning o Contact the volunteer coordinator at 303.297.3607 The Gathering Place o The opportunities are endless at this day-shelter for women and children who are experiencing homelessness or poverty o 303-996-9034 The Delores Project o Provides shelter and services for women. Contribute by serving a meal, running errands, or working in a garden. o (303) 534-5411 ext. 101. Denver Rescue Mission o Help prepare/serve meals, sort donations, or assist in special events. o www.denrescue.org or call 303.953.3955 Samaritan House o Wide range of services for homeless individuals o www.ccdenver.org/Services/Homelessness/Samaritan-House-(1).aspx Elderly/Disabilities Argyle o Contact the activities director at 303-455-9513 Mullen Home for the Aged o Little Sisters of the Poor is a highly regarded full-service care facility for Denver’s elderly poor, and all residents are 60 years or older. Help with special activities, interact with residents or help serve a meal. o Volunteer Coordinator:
[email protected] or 303-433-7221 Bessie’s Hope o Innovative programs for youth and elderly working and learning together o Also, fun events such as Intergenerational Idol (like American Idol) o 303-830-9037 Special Olympics o Volunteer for various local events serving as support staff and ultimately a fan. o Visit http://www.specialolympicsco.org/ and click on Volunteer link OR 720-359-3103.
Hunger/Poverty Denver Urban Ministries o Helping at the reception desk o Assisting in food pantry o 303-350-5066 www.denum.org Grant Avenue Street Reach o “Volunteers serve a free hot meal every Monday (even holidays) for the homeless. You may help serve any Monday between 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. Food preparation begins at 10:00 am, with serving from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, and clean up from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.” o Contact 303-839-1432 Food Works Colorado o Work by preparing food or organizing in warehouse o Contact
[email protected] or 303.294.0272 Food Bank of the Rockies o Packing food for distribution at food banks www.foodbankrockies.org Growing Home o Volunteer in the food bank from 10am-12pm on weekends o To learn about this project and others contact 303-426-0430 Metro CareRing o Metro CareRing volunteers counsel those in distress, greet clients requesting services and fill pantry orders based on clients' needs. o www.metrocarering.org Volunteers of America o Various office tasks, snow shoveling, and child care service opportunities o Visit http://www.voacolorado.org/ and click the volunteer link in the upper, right-hand corner or contact 303-297-0408
Others???? Get Creative! Get Inspired! Get out there!
Community Service Tracking Log By serving others in your community, you are demonstrating your commitment to the Jesuit vision of becoming men and women in the service of others. Volunteerism provides opportunities to open your heart and your mind to the beauties, struggles, joys and pains of your neighbors. Service work allows you to positively impact your community, but also provides you with gifts and opportunities for personal growth that are hard to find in other experiences. For example, community service can help you identify talents that you never knew you had; or overcome a fear; or master a new skill. Volunteering can also expose you to jobs, industries, and potential career paths. In the short term, volunteer work can boost your resume for jobs, college applications, and scholarships. Employers, college admission counselors and scholarship boards want to see young people who are motivated, altruistic, and well-rounded. When you volunteer, it is a good idea to keep track of your activities. You may need this information for class assignments, job applications, resumes, college admissions and scholarship applications and essays. In addition to recording your hours, writing a brief reflection about each activity could give you material for interviews, college and scholarship essays. Some questions to guide your reflections are on the back DATE
NUMBER OF HOURS
ORGANIZATION
WORK PERFORMED
SIGNATURE OF ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATIVE
Community Service Tracking Log Questions to guide post-project reflection:
Why did I select this project? What did I learn about the population and/or the situations which lead to their need? Has this activity changed my perceptions or understandings? How did I feel before starting the project? How do I feel afterwards? What stood out about this project? What do I want to remember? What additional questions/concerns/doubts am I struggling with after this project? What joys/excitement/positive feelings do I have about this experience? What gifts did I bring to the project? What gifts did I enhance or become more aware of through this project? Was this experience difficult/easy/fun/boring/challenging/enlightening/etc? What three words would I use to describe this experience and why?
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Arrupe Jesuit High School Service Project Reflection Questions
What types of service have I already done? What types of service would I like to become involved with? When I hear the term “community service” or “volunteering,” what types of people or organizations do I think of? What do I know about these groups? What do I want to know? What feelings do I have about service? Does it excite me? Make me nervous? Do I feel apathetic? Why? What did I learn about the population and/or the situations which lead to their need? Has this activity changed my perceptions or understandings? What gifts do I have that I could bring to others through service? What would I want to learn or develop in myself through service? After touring the non-profit site, what am I thinking about?
