How Can I Volunteer at Urban Ministry?

We often get this question, usually by phone, often from individuals or churches or other groups seeking to involve themselves in meaningful community service.

Urban Ministry has many programs which regularly use volunteers. Four of them are:

•  Community Kitchen — We serve a free, hot meal five days a week

(Monday-Friday) to all who come our way. In 2006 we

served 25,793 meals. Volunteers regularly help Assistance Ministries Coordinator Belle Carlisle prepare, serve, and clean up following the noon meal. This work occurs between 11:30 am and

1:30 pm daily.

•  Food Pantry —Four days a week (not on Tuesdays) we

distribute food to qualified clients, generally a 5-7 day

supply of non-perishable items. Volunteers regularly help

Administrative Assistant Phebe Booker in this process and, at other times, in the preparation of Food Boxes for distribution.

•  Children's Program —Urban Kids , our Children's Program, works with

4 th -8 th grade students from Hemphill Elementary School and other area schools in a program of tutoring, homework help, cultural

enrichment, and character development. Volunteers are needed Monday-Thursday afternoons ( 3:00-6:00 pm ) to assist Children's

Coordinator Becky Wadley. Urban Kids also hosts eight weeks of Day Camp in the summer for which volunteer help is needed.

•  Joe Rush Center for Urban Mission —Urban's signature program does

exterior house painting for low-income elderly and disabled persons in our area. Volunteers regularly assist Site Manager

Michael Young in the process of scraping, priming, and painting homes. We painted 25 homes in 2005.

For further information on any of these programs or to volunteer please contact Deb Welsh at Urban Ministry (781-0517 or, by e-mail, WelshDebL@aol.com).