Individual Opportunities
By becoming a Raphael House volunteer and contributing your time and talent to our home, you can make a lasting impact in the lives of our families. Volunteer opportuniies include:
NEW!!! ESL Program Volunteer
AfterSchool Tutor
ChildReach Tutor
Evening Children's Program Volunteer
Evening Family Program
Kitchen Volunteer
Saturday Morning Breadbaking
"I've been inspired and awed by the families in residence, impressed and awed by the dedicated staff, and invigorated and challenged by my fellow volunteers. In many ways, I too think of Raphael House as my home; it is filled with love, respect, dignity, and humanity in the way every home should be."
- Mary Wolfe, Former Chair of the Board of Directors
Check out the descriptions of our various volunteer opportunities and let us know how you would like to be involved.
NEW! ESL Program Volunteer - This ESL Program is for residents and former residents of Raphael House and is taught on a one-to-one basis. Help parents and grandparents learn to speak, read and write basic English to advance in their current job, earn their G.E.D., help their children with homework, read stories to their family, obtain the privilege of citizenship, or speak with a doctor. Tutors and students together will choose a convenient location in the community to meet, with days and times that fit the schedules of both. Volunteers are asked to commit to 1-2 hours, one or two days per week.It is not necessary for volunteers to know a foreign language or have teaching experience. contact us
AfterSchool Tutor – Every week day the children at Raphael House come back from school to a nutritious snack and share their news of the day. Afterwards, they settle in with our Children's Program staff and volunteer tutors to complete their homework. To further improve academic performance, each child is given individualized, supplemental learning material. When that is complete, they read out-loud to an adult and go to the Roof Garden to play. Volunteer tutors arrive at 3 and stay until 5:30pm one day per week, Monday through Friday during the school year. The children in this program are of elementary school age. contact us
ChildReach Tutoring Program - On Saturday mornings during the school year, children in our AfterCare Program from first grade through seniors in high school are invited to come over to Raphael House for special tutoring help. They may have a specific project they are working on or else need help in one particular area. Shelter staff has prepared the academic materials they need to complete their school-work and has assembled the school supplies. Volunteers are asked to come one or two Saturdays per month from 10:15 – noon. contact us
Evening Children's Program - After joining staff and families for dinner, volunteers work with children and assist staff with a variety of activities including art, games, singing, plays and multiple activities designed to capture the imagnation of the children. After the evening activity, families of the younger children gather together for story time, followed by a singing candlelight processional to each child’s room. The evening program takes place Monday through Friday, and volunteers are asked to come one evening each week from 6 – 8:00 pm. they are assigned to either the younger children’s group, usually ages 4 – 7, or with the older children, who range in age from about 8 – 12 years old. contact us
Evening Family Program - Volunteers for the Family Program arrive at 6:00 to join the families and staff for dinner and leave by 9:00 PM. After dinner, from 6:30 – 7:15, volunteers either join mothers and staff to play with the toddlers or (on some Tuesdays) assist staff with a family craft activity. From that point on until the shift ends at 9:00, the volunteer will do a variety of small tasks like bringing up the lunch cart and helping mothers make brown bag lunches for their family or giving the front desk staff a break. It is during these times that volunteers have the opportunity to talk with the parents staying at the shelter.contact us
Kitchen Volunteer - Raphael House serves dinner seven days a week to families, volunteers and staff members. Kitchen volunteers work with our kitchen team. Some afternoon volunteers help with kitchen prep while the evening volunteers come in at 5:15 and stay until 6:45 to serve dinner to our families. This is a lively time with considerable hustle and bustle in getting the meal out to the dining room and serving the families the main course, beverages and dessert. Afterwards, volunteers are asked to put leftover food into labeled containers. contact us
Saturday Morning Breadbaking - volunteer opportunity that has just begun! Well-loved Cook and Kitchen Manager Victoria Crichlow is looking for five or six people who would like to come Saturday mornings from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and make bread of various kinds for the shelter. While the dough is rising, the bakers may make cupcakes, muffins or other things. She would like a group that wants to explore different breads and enjoy each other’s company on a regular basis. contact us
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us and indicate you are interested in volunteering.
Please be aware that we may not have volunteer openings at your preferred area at this time. If that is the case, we will save the information you provide us and contact you when there is an opening. The more specific you can be about your availability and which program area interests you, the easier it is to place you. Thank you for your interest and thank you for your understanding.