Volunteer Opportunities

South East Jurisdiction tornado, flood relief efforts

The South Eastern Jurisdiction UMVIM office has an updated contact list for all of the affected conferences if you would like to schedule long term recovery teams to help with those disasters. Click here to see the list.

Fletcher Place Community Center needs volunteers to serve meals

INDIANAPOLIS – There is a unique opportunity at United Methodist-related Fletcher Place Community Center, especially for those wanting to help serve a meal. The second Wednesday of each month is available through the 2012 calendar year beginning Wednesday, Feb. 8. This is a great opportunity for families, co-workers and church groups. The dinner meal is typically served from 3 to 5 p.m. You could choose one or all of the available Wednesdays. If you are interested please contact Karen at 317-636-3466, ext. 4 or by e-mail karen@fletcherplacecc.org to discuss details and so that she will know which dates will be taken care of and that Fletcher Place neighbors will look forward to a meal.

Mission Guatemala Feeding Center needs sponsors

In early May 2011, Mission Guatemala, an Indiana Conference-based mission, began a feeding program which has been a tremendous success. Each day, MG feeds nearly 100 children in the village of Nueva Esperanza. These children are from very poor families and many were relying on just tortillas, salt and beans for food each day.

Since the program began nearly three months ago, the children have grown significantly. Additionally, the principal of the school told MG that they are learning more and doing much better in school. In order to help underwrite the cost of feeding these children each day, GM is contacting friends and asking them to consider sponsoring a student in the program for $28 a month. In addition to a lunch five-days-a-week, this also will provide each child with a daily vitamin tablet, school supplies and medical and dental services.

MG’s goal is to have at least 30 children sponsored in the next 30 days!

Visit the MG website for more information.

• Learn more about child sponsorship.
• Read our Frequently Asked Questions and Answers.
• Learn about our special interactive website for child sponsors.

Operation Classroom

For more information or application on any of these, call or write Carolyn Wagner, ccwagner@hotmail.com, P.O. Box 246, Colfax, IN 46035; phone 765-436-2805; cell 765-650-0231; fax 765-436-2954. Visit website.

Sierra Leone -- Jan. 28-Feb. 11, 2012:

• The cost for either trip is $3,500 per person, depending on airfare, and covers all but meals to and from Sierra Leone, souvenirs, church offerings and some tips.
• ThIS team will have a Primary Education Team staying and working in West Freetown one week and up country the second week, training primary teachers in language arts and library science.
• For the Primary Education team, contact Amy Zent, 317-345-8712 (amyzent@yahoo.com) or Marilyn Griffith, 317-502-7444 (griffithmarilyn@aol.com).

Hoosier group planning educational mission to Sierra Leone in January

A Sierra Leone Primary School Education Team will be traveling to Sierra Leone, West Africa Jan. 28-Feb. 11, 2012. This team plans to conduct workshops for teachers in UMC Primary Schools (grades 1-6) in Freetown and Bo and to help set up small school libraries. Two or three more volunteers with education experience are needed. The group will travel with a medical group from Sierra Leone Health Partners. For information, contact Amy Zent at 317-345-8712, Marilyn Griffith at 317-502-7444 or Juanita Schmitt at 812-786-6736. Any congregation willing to collect new or very gently used primary age children's library-type books may box them and send with $10 per box for a UMC school in Sierra Leone. Due by Aug 15. Contact any of the above leaders for details.

New Indiana Advance - Homes For Haitians – needs teams to help make this reality

In cooperation with the Methodist Church of Haiti, we have been asked to build 10 homes in the Mellier area just west of Carrefour. Two homes will be built during Nov. and early Dec. Doug will be leaving Thanksgiving night for Miami and then to PAP on the 25th through the 27th. We need teams to help with the slab and finishing the home. This is very light work with no heavy lifting. It is mainly supervision, painting, light electrical and maybe some plumbing. Volunteers in Mission have three months in which to build the other eight houses, most likely in Feb. and March, 2012. We need teams of 3 to 5 volunteers. The cost would be plane ticket and housing. Doug Ahlfeld is working on the housing, but would figure a 6-to-10-day stay, depending upon ones availability. The housing should not be more than $50 per day including food. Plane fares are in the $650 to $800 range. For more information on the Homes For Haitians Program, contact Doug Ahlfeld (djahlfeld@gmail.com) or call 260-693-9380.

New Indiana Advance – Homes For Haitians – needs teams to help make this reality

In cooperation with the Methodist Church of Haiti, Homes for Haitians has been asked to build 10 homes in the Mellier area just west of Carrefour. Volunteers in Mission have three months in which to build the other eight houses beginning in Feb. and March 2012. Homes for Haitians need eight teams consisting of three to five volunteers. The cost would be a plane ticket and housing. Ahlfeld is working on the housing, but would figure a 6-to-10-day stay, depending upon the volunteer’s availability. The housing and meals should not be more than $50 per day. Plane fares are in the $650 to $800 range. For more information on the HOMES FOR HAITIANS Program, please contact Doug Ahlfeld at djahlfeld@gmail.com or call 260-693-9380.

West Bengal, India medical team

West Bengal, INDIA: Feb 8-18, 2012. Medical/Evanglical mission team led by Roger and Carol Weaver (weavrs5@roadrunner.com), Crouse Chapel UMC, Chillicothe, Ohio (W. OH). 740-779-0205.

El Salvador

Fort Wayne Habitat for Humanity has schedule two mission trips to El Salvador. Registration for the first week only is open and if there is sufficient response, the second week, Feb. 18-25, will open up. Both trips will begin and end on a Saturday. The cost is $1,970. This includes airfare, daily R & B, team transportation, required costs, required contingency fee, a nominal amount for the meal(s) and transportation away from the hotel or build site, and one T-shirt per person and an overnight in Atlanta. As we are leaving earlier than what we have done in the past, all fees have to be paid by Dec. 15. Contact Perry Shull, 5516 Dartmouth Dr., Fort Wayne IN 46825.

Nicaragua medical team

NICARAGUA: Feb 23- March 3, 2012. Medical – Teresa Miller (W. MI) rbkids@yahoo.com, 517-699-4116.

Free online webinars about disaster response coming from CWS

Church World Service Emergency Response Program continues to hold a series of free webinars on various aspects of long term recovery. Details and registration information can be found at www.cwserp.org.

The schedule for the next several webinars:

• March 6: Long Term Recovery Success Stories
  Long Term Recovery Groups are recognized as the best practice for communities recovering from a disaster. This webinar will highlight success stories from several current or recent Long Term Recovery Groups in their own words.
• April 3: Who Does What in Disaster Recovery?
  This webinar will introduce long term recovery groups to faith based, community based, and other partners and the resources they bring to a disaster affected community.
• May 1 and 2: Long Term Recovery Basics
  This series of 50 minute webinars over two days will introduce the concepts and best practices that communities employ for effective long term recovery.

Additional information about the domestic disaster ministry of Church World Service may be found here.

UMCOR Disaster Preparedness Academy

We never know when the next round of disasters, whatever they may be and whenever they may hit our conferences. To be prepared, a United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Disaster Preparedness Academy for the North Central Jurisdiction will be held March 14-17, 2012, at the Minnesota Conference Koinoina Retreat Center in North Haven, Minn. The event invitation and registration information is posted on the UMVIM-NCJ website at www.gbgm-umc.org/northcentralvim/NCVIM/Disaster_Response.html.

Preliminary plans call for novice, training and experienced class tracks. Besides courses open to ALL, there will be classes for Conference Disaster Response Coordinators, District Disaster Response Coordinators and Conference UMVIM Coordinators, plus a class where they all meet together to discuss their respective roles and how to interact during a disaster. A special course on working with Children in Disaster is being brought to the event by Children's Disaster Services, Church of the Brethren. If you have never thought your skills could be used during a disaster, this might be your special place.

Heather Klason, Minnesota Disaster Response coordinator, will host the event. A minimum of 30 people must attend in order to hold this event. UMCOR consultants lead most of the classes.

For more information, contact Lorna Jost at umvim-ncj@brookings.net or call her at 605-692-3390. This opportunity is provided in part through your Indiana Conference tithe. For more information, click here.

Children’s Disaster Services is about nurturing children

Since 1980, Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) has been meeting the needs of children by setting up child care centers in shelters and disaster assistance centers across the nation. Specially trained to respond to traumatized children, volunteers provide calm, safe and reassuring presence in the midst of the chaos created by tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, wildfires any natural or human caused disasters.

Volunteers from across the country:

• Participate in specialized experiential training,
• undergo a rigorous screening process,
• learn to work with children after a disaster and
• are capable of mobilizing rapidly and responding both locally and nationally.

Volunteers arrive to a disaster location with a “Kit of Comfort” containing carefully selected toys that promote imaginative play. Volunteers give children individualized attention and encourage them to express themselves, thereby starting the healing process. Although many volunteers are motivated by faith, CDS’ training is open to anyone over 18 years old. CDS provides respite, education and individualized consultation for parents about their child’s unique emotional needs after a disaster. Through consultation or workshops specifically tailored to each situation, CDS also works with parents, community agencies, schools or others to help them understand and meet the special needs of children during or after a disaster.

Judy Bezon (jbezon@brethren.org) is Associate Director, Children’s Disaster Services, Church of the Brethren, 601 Main Street/P.O. Box 188, New Windsor, MD 21776 or phone 410-635-8734 (office). View the program information on the CDS website. Read a story about volunteering through this avenue.

Children’s Disaster Services is one of the classes offered at the upcoming NCJ Disaster Response Academy in March to be held at the Koinonia Retreat Center near South Haven, Minnesota. Information on the whole Academy and registration can be found on here.

Free online webinars about disaster response coming from CWS

Church World Service Emergency Response Program continues to hold a series of free webinars on various aspects of long term recovery. Details and registration information can be found at www.cwserp.org.

The schedule for the next several webinars:

• April 3: Who Does What in Disaster Recovery?
  This webinar will introduce long term recovery groups to faith based, community based, and other partners and the resources they bring to a disaster affected community.
• May 1 and 2: Long Term Recovery Basics
  This series of 50 minute webinars over two days will introduce the concepts and best practices that communities employ for effective long term recovery.

Operation Classroom

For more information or application on any of these, call or write Carolyn Wagner, ccwagner@hotmail.com  P.O. Box 246, Colfax, IN 46035; phone 765-436-2805; cell 765-650-0231; fax 765-436-2954. Visit website.

Sierra Leone -- April 21-May 5, 2012: Renovation of Girls' Dormitory at Taiama; Mary Tinley, co- leader

Men and chainsaws needed at Pine Creek Camp near Lafayette

Pine Creek Camp (near Lafayette, IN) is looking for volunteers with chainsaws that would be willing to provide some clearing assistance. The date is April 21, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Lunch and beverages will be provided. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Trey Clayton at 765-385-2260 or tclayton@impact2818.com.

Pine Creek Camp is one of the seven camp sites that comprise Impact 2818, the outdoor ministry of the Indiana Conference United Methodist Church.

Free online webinar about disaster response coming from CWS

Church World Service Emergency Response Program continues to hold a series of free webinars on various aspects of long term recovery. Details and registration information can be found at www.cwserp.org.

The schedule for the next several webinars:

• May 1 and 2: Long Term Recovery Basics
  This series of 50 minute webinars over two days will introduce the concepts and best practices that communities employ for effective long term recovery.

Additional information about the domestic disaster ministry of Church World Service may be found here.

NCJ Rx Consultation to be held near Detroit May 4-6

The North Central Jurisdiction Volunteers in Mission announces the 2012 Rx Consultation to be held at Highland United Methodist Church in the Detroit Conference. Dates are Friday to Sunday, May 4 to 6. Please include this event on your calendar. Information on speakers, workshops and registration will be available within a month. Thanks to Highland UMC, the staff and Karie Saunders, mission coordinator, for agreeing to host the event. Highland UMC is located at 680 W. Livingston Road in Highland, Mich. (45 miles northwest from downtown Detroit or 32 miles northeast of Ann Arbor, Mich.).

Looking for a mission trip this summer?

Why not Minot, North Dakota in the Dakotas Conference of The United Methodist Church? More than 4,000 homes were flooded, many filled to the rafters with water that stood for weeks. Can you imagine how overwhelming the flood repair work must be to an individual or family? Imagine trying to do the repair work on your house, perhaps a couple of hours each evening or maybe on the weekends. And while you are trying to repair your home (which you probably are not able to live in), you continue working at your job, caring for your family and/or spouse or parents. You continue to attend your children's school, community and church activities. And we think we are overwhelmed or discouraged? The strength and courage of the people in Minot is a real testimony to their faith. And yet in the middle of their courage and resilience, the people of Minot need our help. Recovery from the flood will take years. There will be more information on this summer’s work mission trip that is still in the early planning stages that coming out in the next several weeks. Please be in prayer concerning this mission trip and ask God what he wants you to do. For more information, contact the Dearborn Hills UMC Mission Team leader Harry Lyness at hlyness@aol.com.

Nurses needed this summer for Camp REYOAD at Epworth Forest in North Webster

Epworth Forest Conference Center, (North Webster, IN) is looking for nurses to volunteer at Camp REYOAD by being Medical Support Staff during the week of camp this summer, June 10-15, 2012. Camp REYOAD is a unique camp experience for over 100 adults with physical and mental disabilities. For more information about volunteering, please contact Ryan Gernand at (574) 834.2212 or rgernand@impact2818.com.

Epworth Forest Conference Center is one of the seven camp sites that comprise Impact 2818, the outdoor ministry of the Indiana Conference United Methodist Church.