As one of the oldest programs in the agency, the volunteer program has a proven history of providing vital support for The Bridge’s mission. Volunteers serve in all divisions of The Bridge: working on the front lines of client services, special projects, and fundraisers or behind the scenes in the office.
Volunteers have different reasons to serve. Whether they want to complete an internship, make friends, give back to the community or fulfill a personal calling in their life, one quality they all seem to share is the desire to see lives change for the better.
There are many ways for you to lend your talents and be part of the volunteer legacy at The Bridge. Here are some examples:
Direct Services – Work directly with clients by serving as a hotline advocate, assessment aid, shelter advocate, victim advocate or in the children's programs.
Clerical – Assist with general office duties such as filing, typing, and compiling mail-outs.
Speaker's Bureau – Assist in awareness and education presentations as a representative of the Bridge by speaking before groups at schools, religious/civic centers and corporate gatherings.
Special Projects – These could include food and supply drives, fundraising events, workshops, holiday activities or projects or any other special activities or classes for women or children such as Bible studies, tutoring, life skills or arts and crafts.
Days of Caring – Companies and other groups can volunteer at the emergency shelter or long-term apartments to provide projects such as landscaping, building shelves, constructing fences, painting rooms, and more.
Since many volunteers work directly with clients, The Bridge offers thirty hours of crisis intervention training twice a year. This time offers insight into a variety of topics such as crisis intervention, cultural diversity, family violence, legislation, the medical response to sexual assault and impact panels of former victims. It is designed to provide each volunteer a higher level of awareness and confidence as they continue to work with The Bridge. In addition to the semi-annual training, a variety of in-services and workshops are offered throughout the year.
For more information about volunteering contact: Thecia Jenkins, Prevention & Education Director at 713.472.0753 ext.113 or tjenkins@tbotw.org.
updated: 4.19.08