Volunteer Opportunities

Food Pantry:

• Pack bags of groceries for distribution.
• Register those coming for groceries and give out bags and extra items.
• Sort food from a variety of sources and stock shelves.
• Drive the SVdP truck or assist the driver with picking up items from local grocery stores. Deliver to SVdP for sorting and storage.

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Thrift Center/Boutique:

• Collect, fold and arrange clothes.
• Sort and display housewares.
• Assist shoppers as needed.
• Work in our Boutique of upscale clothing, accessories, jewelry and shoes.
• Work cash registers for payment of purchases.

Furniture Center:

• Pick up furniture with SVdP truck.
• Organize, price and display items.
• Assist shoppers as needed.

Home Visitors:

• Provide financial and other counseling as needed and wanted.
• Arrange payment with service providers of essential needs.
• Assist those who are temporarily homeless.
• Make referrals to local social service agencies and offer other SVdP services such as the Food Pantry and Thrift Store.
• Be on call one to two days a month.

Donations Shed:

• Accept and sort donations, provide receipts.
• Move items to the appropriate locations for merchandising.
• Manage temporary storage shed areas.

Ambassadors:
Welcome new Vincentians and help them find their ministry with SVdP.

• Meet and greet new members.
• Provide a one-on-one discussion to explain SVdP programs.

Friendly Neighbor Ministry:
The elderly are often forgotten members of our society.  Friendly Neighbors:

• Provide phone contact and home visits for the isolated or homebound.
• Offer those we visit our smiling faces, listening ears and understanding hearts.
• Provide the presence and friendship of a faith-based, serving community.

Phone Responders:
SVdP has a helpline. Phone responders work one day a week to retrieve calls and refer callers to the appropriate person.

Building Maintenance/Security:
Several jobs assist the facilities engineer to:

• Insure maintenance of systems.
• Determine space designation and expansion.

Marketing/Publicity Committee:
Communicates our mission and activities to clients, volunteers and supporters.

• Photograph special events and fundraisers.
• Write and submit press releases to local publications.
• Coordinate with other committees to support fundraising efforts.
• Write quarterly volunteer newsletters.
• Maintain SVdP's social media websites.
• Set up and promote Amazon Smile, Giving Tuesday, and other ways to donate painlessly.

Computer, Database and Website Support:

• Assist in maintaining and updating databases.
• Develop and maintain website as needed.
• Provide technical support for all computer systems.

Community Outreach:
Liaison with other Talbot County partners dealing with hunger, housing, employment, and other local issues affecting those who are disadvantaged.

General Support:

• Write grant applications.
• Track volunteer hours.
• Record minutes.
• Write thank you letters.
• Assist with special events.

Voice of the Poor:
This advocacy group supports programs to help those in need at the local, county, state and federal levels. We also support programs and actions sent to us by SVdP councils and national leadership. Reports as appropriate go to our members. This is not a political lobbying group.

Youth Activities:
Student volunteers assist adults at the Thrift Center where help is needed. They are eligible to receive Service Hours required for graduation in Talbot County.

Special Projects:

• Angel Tree: - SVdP matches children and adults in need with Christmas presents from their wish list.
• Detention Center Christmas Party: - SVdP hosts a Christmas party at the Talbot County Detention Center for detainees and their families.

Assist with fundraisers:

• Dining Out “Feed the Hungry” Card..
• Movie Under the Stars Night.
• Other activities to raise money.

Spirituality:
The primary purpose of SVdP is to increase the spiritual growth of its members.  Volunteers prepare a prayer for all meetings, maintain prayer list requests, schedule Masses, organize spiritual reflections, and provide spiritual guidance and prayers for other ministries.