Volunteer

The administrative assistant supports Crossroads staff by answering phones, assisting clients, updating databases, creating monthly calendar, newsletter, and special event flyers. Volunteer must have typing skills and familiarity with Word, Publisher, & Excel. Organizational skills a plus! This position requires a time commitment of at least two months (longer is preferable,) with at least one day a week in the office. Volunteer must be willing to submit to a background check. Benefits: Increase confidence and develop office administration skills while gaining valuable work experience!

Childcare Volunteers provide childcare during weekly group times.  Volunteers directly engage the children by participating in hands-on activities, leading and/or supporting programming activities, directing children in cleaning up after themselves and carrying out tasks that directly pertain to their respective skill sets and interests. The childcare volunteer should be proactive and willing to take initiative.  Must have experience working with children or be a student in a field of study related to child development.  All childcare volunteers receive a background check.

Special event volunteers assist CRFW staff at client parties (such as the annual Christmas party, Easter party, and Thanksgiving dinner.)  Tasks include:  party prep (cleaning, organizing, decorating,) helping things go smoothly during the party, and assisting with “tear down” (cleaning up and organizing the space.)  Client parties and other special events offer an opportunity for volunteers to meet and connect with the women and children at Crossroads.    The special event volunteer may also attend various community fairs and educational gatherings that provide CRFW with an opportunity to share information about our agency with the public.   At these events, the volunteer assists outreaching efforts by distributing informational brochures and newsletters.  This volunteer also speaks directly with interested members of the community (including potential donors and volunteers) about CRFW services and participants. Benefits:  excellent opportunity to practice presentation and networking skills as well as increase your understanding of special event planning on a budget!

Crossroads for Women invites sociable, extroverted volunteers to join and develop its fundraising committee.  Volunteers on this committee will help create fundraising opportunities and organize fundraising events in the Albuquerque community that will benefit Crossroads for Women.  Fundraising events may be constituted through walkathons, auctions, bake sales, artistic and musical performances, personal donations, etc. Your tasks would include: providing the opportunity for fundraising by connecting with other organizations, corporations, and individuals for the purpose of benefit performances (concerts, art galleries, theaters, etc.); organizing the programs for walkathons, marathons, and other fundraising opportunities; designing and producing auctions for the purpose of fundraising for Crossroads; and attracting other organizations or agencies for the purpose of donating resources to Crossroads for Women. This volunteer opportunity provides a terrific chance to take on a variety of responsibilities, expand your skills, and gain further experience in fundraising and procurement.

Crossroads for Women seeks degreed professionals to share their knowledge, expertise, and skills on topics related to chemical dependency and recovery, mental health, life skills, social skills development, art therapy, healing from trauma, and the development of vocational aptitude and success.  Guest speakers/artists will meet with a CRFW group facilitator in advance to plan and develop a group tailored to the specific needs of program participants.  For example, if your expertise is finance you might co-facilitate a 1.5 hr. group that teaches skills related to budgeting. CRFW provides daily groups that range in attendance from 3-21 participants and take place at different times of the day.  Current groups include: Parenting group, Life Skills group, Recovery group, Art Therapy group, and “Circles of Hope” (a trauma based group).  All groups are facilitated by various CRFW staff members.

Having experienced homelessness, the women and children of Crossroads struggle to afford personal belongings and other essentials.  When a woman (and her children,) first enter Crossroads for Women they are offered a food box.  Donations of food items make it possible for the women and children to begin new lives in the community.   Volunteers can host a food drive at their local office, business, church or community event. This opportunity is great for Scout troops, offices, churches, small groups, families, churches, youth groups, school clubs, and individuals. This is an off-site volunteer opportunity. Simply contact Amanda at 242-1010 or res.dev.coord@crossroadsabq.org for more information and a list of needed items.

CRFW is in need of help with collecting school supplies for the upcoming school year (beginning in August 2011).  The women and children at Crossroads struggle to afford the required school supplies (pencils, reams of lined paper, rulers, etc.) needed to start the school year.   Would your group be interested in hosting a school supply drive for the children at Crossroads?

Hosting a house party is a wonderful way to support Crossroads for Women while having fun with friends.  House parties foster connections between Crossroads and the community and are a great way to raise funds for a great cause.  When you volunteer to host a house party in your home you provide CRFW with an opportunity to meet and speak with your friends and family about the women and children we serve, as well as the programs and services we offer.  For example, last summer a volunteer hosted a pool party for 15 friends for which she provided beverages and appetizers.   This party allowed Crossroads staff an opportunity to share our passion with members of the community and offer information regarding the challenges faced by homeless women and children in Albuquerque.   In addition, the host of the party asked that each friend donate $25 to CRFW.  In the end, this volunteer’s house party raised over $800 in much needed funds for Crossroads for Women!

This volunteer works with Crossroads staff and community service workers to set up apartments for newly arriving clients and to pick up donations of furniture for those homes.  This work typically takes place between 9 & 5, Monday-Friday.  Hours vary depending on how many participants enter the program in a given month and also depending on how many donations we receive. A volunteer in this position typically comes in two to 6 hours per week, but could come in more often or come in some weeks but not others. Volunteers for this position must be over the age of 18 and comfortable working with others to lift mattresses, chairs, sofas, and other furniture.  Must be able to lift over 50lbs, be licensed in the state of NM, and have a clean driving record.These volunteers will gain knowledge of how to receive, organize, and process donations in a non-profit organization.

Work with Crossroads vocational coordinator to communicate to clients what employers search for in job applicants.  Provide insight into successful resume and interviewing techniques. Assist with mock interviews for clients.  Support job seekers in developing their resumes and cover letters.  Teach program participants how to seek out job leads, build networking skills, and create a professional appearance.  Provide encouraging and constructive feedback to program participants preparing for the job search process.

Newsletter & mailing volunteers assists with the production of the Crossroads newsletter in addition to sporadic mailings for events and fundraising appeals. Volunteers stuff and seal envelopes to help Crossroads for Women reach out to our supporters.  The Crossroads newsletter is completely “D.I.Y.”  Volunteers will learn what it takes to mass produce a newsletter in-house.  This is a great project for a group of 10 volunteers or less.

Crossroads for Women provides several therapy, recovery and creative groups for clients and their children to attend throughout the week.  Before each group a nutritious meal or snack is served.  This volunteer will prepare nutritious, low cost meals for the women and their children.  In addition to shopping for and preparing meals, this position may also mentor women & children in how to prepare nutritious meals on a budget. The Meal Preparation Volunteer will gain valuable skills learning to budget meals for large groups of people, and expand their cooking abilities. Volunteers will also gain experience teaching and mentoring the women nutrition and cooking skills.

The special event volunteer assists CRFW staff at client parties (such as the annual Christmas party, Easter party, and Thanksgiving dinner.)  Tasks include:  party prep (cleaning, organizing, decorating,) helping things go smoothly during the party, and assisting with “tear down” (cleaning up and organizing the space.)  Client parties and other special events offer an opportunity for volunteers to meet and connect with the women and children at Crossroads.    The special event volunteer also attends various community fairs and educational gatherings that provide CRFW with an opportunity to share information about our agency with the public.   At these events, the volunteer assists outreaching efforts by handing out informational brochures and newsletters.  This volunteer also speaks directly with interested members of the community including potential donors and volunteers about CRFW services and program participants.