Good Works, Inc.

Volunteer Opportunities

GOOD WORKS exists to connect people from all walks of life
with people struggling with poverty
so that the Kingdom of God can be experienced.
Good Works Mission statement

Good Works, Inc. is a Christian faith-based ministry; a COMMUNITY OF HOPE for those struggling with poverty in rural Appalachia. We provide biblical hospitality through The Timothy House (our shelter for the rural homeless), The Hannah House (our long term residential care-community), job experience programs, creative volunteer service opportunities and community development ministries in the context of Christian Community.
In 2006, Good Works provided more than 1,100 different volunteers an opportunity to serve their neighbors. About half of our volunteers came to serve in our work camp program (558 in 2006) and served widows and citizens with disabilities at their homes.  Ohio University students represent a small segment of our volunteers. This recent article and video produced by Ohio University highlights several of our volunteers last year.  Click here.
 
The following descriptions are specific opportunities to serve through Good Works.
 
THE TIMOTHY HOUSE: Providing shelter for the rural homeless since 1981.
The Timothy House, which serves 9 counties in rural Appalachia, provides a clean, safe, stable, temporary place for the rural homeless to stay while they identify, own and work on the issues in their lives. Our shelter served 156 people last year staying almost 4000 nights. Nearly 17,000 meals were provided to the hungry by Good Works through community donations . Under the leadership of our staff, volunteers interact with our residents (men, women and children) with the goal to provide encouragement, support, inspiration, education and informal mentoring. Volunteers become a temporary “community net” while people are working through the issues of their homelessness. Volunteers are support staff for a number of needs inside the Timothy House every day. For more information about The Timothy House week day volunteer opportunities, e-mail us or contact Andrea Horsch @ 740-594-3333.
  1) Weekday Mornings: Volunteers come to the Timothy House at 8:30 a.m. and work until noon or 1 p.m. once a week. Greeting the residents in the morning, sharing morning responsibilities, answering the doorbell, assisting families with child care, helping residents with morning tasks doing laundry and preparing a lunchtime meal for those in the house constitute much of the morning responsibilities. This commitment is once a week for 10 weeks. This is a ‘low intensity’ service opportunity. Contact Kevin Jacobson @ 594-3333 or e-mail us for more information.
  2) Weekday Evenings: Volunteers come to the Timothy House from 5:00 pm to 9:00 p.m. once a week. Assisting with the dinner meal preparation, visiting with the residents, answering the doorbell, assisting families with child care, helping the residents with specific tasks--daily household chores, filling out job application forms, assisting with educational projects, social activities--constitute much of the evening responsibilities. At the end of the evening, you are given the opportunity to write in your journal about some of your experiences.  This commitment is once a week for 10 weeks. This is a ‘high intensity’ opportunity.  Contact Kevin Jacobson @ 594-3333 or e-mail us for more information.
  3) Weekend (Saturday and Sunday once a month both morning, afternoon and evening): In partnership with several local churches, Good Works sponsors a weekend volunteer opportunity for individuals or families in the faith community wanting to serve the homeless once a month. This opportunity requires a specific application process and special training. For more information on this opportunity specifically, contact Andrea Horsch @ 594-3333.
     
FRIDAY NIGHT LIFE: A different kind of community meal since 1992.
Friday Night Life (held from October-March at The Plains UMC and from April-September ‘picnic style’ on the Good Works Luhrig Road property) is a weekly event where community members, homeless individuals, families, and college students join together to provide a public meal to an estimated 120-150 people. Click here to watch a video about this opportunity.  Specific volunteer opportunities include:
  Participate in the supper as an informal mentor serving once a week from 4-8 p.m. for a 10 week commitment. Contact Cory Blackwell @ 740-594-3339 or e-mail us for information.
  Sponsor a supper. Organize a group (not less then 7 and no more than 14) to provide the meal and help with the clean up once or twice a year. For more information about being a volunteer sponsor, click here or e-mail us.
  Participate in our KIDS CLUB held every Friday night. This will involve working with other KIDS CLUB volunteers in one of several areas with children: pre-K children, K-6 grade children, and teens. The Good Works KIDS CLUB relies on volunteers who make a minimum 20 week commitment. For more information, e-mail us,contact Cory Blackwell or Amanda Porter @ 594-3339.
  Van driver. Because transportation is a major problem for the poor in SE Ohio, Good Works provides transportation at two locations with both pick up and return. We need volunteers who can drive one of our vans to pick up kids and adults who want to come to the supper.
  Help organize adult activities or share music, drama, art or something else which can enrich Friday Night Life. We have recently constructed a beautiful stage which has been designed for two purposes, to provide low-income people with access to the arts and to provide low-income citizens with artistic talent a means to share with the public. To come and share music or drama with our guests, e-mail us or contact Keith Wasserman @ 594-9000.
 

Food Recovery:  In partnership with Ohio University, volunteers spend about 1-2 hour on Friday’s between 4:00pm and 6:00pm picking up food from the Ohio University cafeterias and transporting it to the site of Friday Night Life. This food is distributed to participants in our Friday Night Life community.  On an average week we provide food for about 40 families to take home. Volunteers use a Good Works vehicle to pick up and transport the food. For more information about how you help, contact Chris Linscott @ 594-3333 or e-mail us.

 
After each Friday Night Supper, we sponsor social activities for adults ranging from board games, “movie night”, and “open stage” while inside the Plains United Methodist Church and volleyball, frisbee, basketball and outside games while on the Good Works Luhrig Road property. If you would like to be involved or would like more information on these activities, e-mail us or contact Keith Wasserman @ 594-9000.
     
THE GOOD WORKS HEALTH CARE CLINIC was established in the summer of 2005 to provide on-site health care to homeless men, women and children at The Timothy House and health education to the participants of our Friday Night Life community. In addition to our RN who meets with the rural homeless each week, the clinic also provides weekly Health Education information to participants in our Friday Night Life program. Volunteers are invited to contact our Health Clinic Administrator (Lisa Edwards) to assist with health education information. For more information, e-mail us.
     
TRAINING FOR LIFE COMPUTER CLASS: Good Works sponsors a unique computer software training class held at The Timothy House computer lab several days a week. We assist people of all ages by teaching typing, internet access and MS Office.  The long-term goal is to broaden the student's computer usage skills and increase their attractiveness to prospective employers. For more information on when the class meets and how you can volunteer one morning or evening a week to assist in computer software training, e-mail us or contact Amanda Porter @ 740-594-3339.
     
THE TRANSFORMATION STATION: Built in 2003 and launched in the fall of 2004, this project is designed to assist those who need automobiles, furniture, or appliances and can earn them through the economy of time rather than money. This is not a ‘crisis’ program and eligibility requires that the person needing items has the time to volunteer the hours necessary to obtain these resources. “Partners” volunteer mornings and afternoons over a period of weeks and earn ‘points’ which are traded in for “thank you gifts” such as a car, furniture, an appliance or a bicycle. This volunteer opportunity requires a once a week or once a month commitment of 4-5 hours. Volunteers generally serve from 9:00 am–noon or 1:00 pm–4:00 pm. You would help oversee and work with those volunteering their time to obtain the items they need.
  Do you enjoy working with your hands? Do you like working on automobiles, small engines or just ‘fixing things’?
  Are you able to work on bicycles? Do you have skills to repair furniture?
  Are you good at building things? Can you fix small appliances or tools?
For more information about this opportunity, click here, e-mail us or contact Paul Richard at 594-3336.
     
GOOD GIFTS: Buy a gift, change the world! In the fall of 1999, we launched our first economic development project called Good Gifts. The Good Gifts Store is a small non-profit fair-trade business located on the Good Works Luhrig Road property. The purpose of Good Gifts is twofold. First, we purchase hand-crafted items from citizens living in developing (third-world) nations which assists in raising their level of income. We then re-sell these items here in Southeast Ohio. Second, the money from these products becomes an ‘income stream’ helping Good Works to hire and train individuals who participate in our Life in Transition long term housing program.  Volunteers can:
  sign up to be on call to manage a Good Gifts sales event in the community. Call 740-594-3336 or e-mail us for upcoming dates
  Assist with inventory management.
  Serve 2-3 hours a week at the Good Gifts store.
  Volunteer to staff a Good Gifts public event once or twice a quarter.
For more information on being a volunteer with Good Gifts, click here, e-mail us or speak with Paul Richard @ 594-3336. WHO are we looking for? College age or older women able to give an evening or a Saturday once a month.
 
WORK-GROUP PROJECTS: One-time service projects. Can you organize a group of 5-10 volunteers to help with a 1 or 2 day service project? Good Works relies on volunteers for ALL of our labor-intensive and skilled projects. There are many service opportunities at both of Good Works’ two properties which are particularly conducive for small groups, but can also be suitable for individuals. Good Works Timothy House has several one-day service opportunities. The Hannah House, located five minutes from Athens on the Good Works Luhrig Road property, is an eight bedroom farmhouse that houses some of our offices, a 30 bed dormitory and our Life In Transition program which offers long-term shelter to the recovering homeless. Both Good Works properties provide volunteer opportunities for groups of 5-30 people interested in landscaping, cutting & splitting wood, trail maintenance, home maintenance/repair, painting, carpentry, and other similar tasks.

You can also come and stay for a week any time during the year. WEEK OF SERVICE is designed to provide a week-long volunteer experience in Kid’s Clubs, Samaritan Projects, The Timothy House, Senior Care, Health Care and helping Good Works maintain and develop its properties. For more information and an application for Week of Service and the Summer Service Program e-mail us or contact Paul Richard @ 594-3336.
     
GOOD WORKS PROPERTY MAINTENANCE: Weekly or bi-weekly labor intensive service. Want to help once a week for a few hours at a time which best fits your schedule? Good Works relies on volunteers, skilled or unskilled, to assist the ministry with the tasks of maintaining both of our properties. Volunteers can assist once a week or once every two weeks with different projects on our properties at an arranged time. Projects include lawn mowing, yard work, cleaning, painting, wood cutting, etc. Those who have skills to offer can help us with various carpentry, plumbing and electrical projects. We would like to be able to schedule people to help us one day a week. Contact Paul Richard at 740-594-3336 or e-mail us.
     
FIXING BICYCLES: Good Works has several bicycles donated from the community which need constant repair and maintenance. We are seeking a volunteer who could come on occasion to assist us in the repair and maintenance of our bicycles.  How about you? Contact Paul Richard @ 594-3336.
 
FIXING AUTOMOBILES : Good Works has several cars donated from the community which often need repair and maintenance. We are seeking a volunteer who could come on occasion to assist us in the repair and maintenance of our automobiles.  How about you? Contact Paul Richard @ 594-3336.
 
HELP WITH MAILINGS:  At Good Works, we send out newsletters to the community and to those who donate to us. We are looking for volunteers who would like to assist us with these projects. We need people that we could call or e-mail when we have an up-coming mailing project. You will be informed of the project date and time and if you are able to come, you could come. To sign up, e-mail call Sherilyn @ 594-3339 and ask her to place your name on a list to be called or e-mail us.  Most of the projects take place at The Good Works Hannah House and last anywhere from 2-4 hours.
     
SAMARITAN PROJECTS: Going to where the need is since 1999. This is an outreach which goes to the homes of seniors and people with disabilities in our community who are no longer able to care for their property and do not have the income to pay someone to do the work for them. Last year, 558 different volunteers provided service to 38 families at their homes in Athens County.  Click here to watch a video with more information about this opportunity.
  We send volunteer groups to individuals' homes in rural Appalachia to do home maintenance projects they are no longer able to do.
  We also send volunteers to do lawn and garden care for people we have contracted with.
We welcome volunteers in groups of 2 to 8, depending on the project. For more information, click here or contact Paul Richard @ 740-594-3336.
     
SENIOR CARE: Do you enjoy visiting with seniors? Would you like to develop a friendship with a widow or an older citizen with disabilities? The Good Works Senior Care program was developed to connect volunteers with seniors in Athens County who have requested visitation. Many people don’t realize that before Good Works began serving the homeless of SE Ohio in 1981, we organized a senior care ministry. Many in our community feel forgotten, neglected and lack the support systems they need during their senior years. They are delighted to have someone take a genuine interest in them. Volunteers are introduced to our seniors either by participating in a Samaritan Project or by a an introduction through our staff. We ask volunteers to commit to visiting weekly or bi-weekly for 2-3 hours. For more information e-mail us or contact Amanda Porter @ 594-3339. Senior Care usually involves volunteers who are willing to build long term relationships with seniors over a period of months. You can click here to read a reflection by Elizabeth Franko, who has worked with Senior Care and is pictured above.
     

THE WALK FOR THE HOMELESS is a annual community event held in Athens on the Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend. The next WALK will be held on Saturday January 17th 2009. Registration starts at 8:30 am and the WALK is from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. The WALK leaves from the First UM Church on College Street in uptown Athens. People from all walks of life join together in an educational and inspirational experience for adults and children of all ages. Last years walk attracted about 500 people and raised more than $30,000.00. Volunteers help the staff of Good Works develop an experience for the community to learn about poverty and homelessness and to raise funds to support the Good Works Timothy House. Would you like to serve on the 08-09 WALK TEAM? Volunteers begin serving in September 2008 (although some can begin earlier). We are looking for volunteers to help with organization, WALK promotion, media, OU/Hocking College participation, public school involvement, church involvement, graphic design, and a wide range of other practical projects.  Internships are available during the fall of 2008. Contact Keith Wasserman or Cory Blackwell by e-mail or by phone at 740-594-3339. To visit the WALK web page click here. 

     

GOOD WORKS  STORE:  Several times each year (usually March and December), Good Works provides an opportunity for participants of our Friday Night Life Community to shop at our special "Store.” The currency used to purchase items in this “store” will be provided to those who participate in our health care education programs on Friday Nights. Participants are rewarded with points for participating in each educational experience and can use their points to purchase items in the store.  Volunteers are needed to help solicit and organize gently used (but in very good condition) items for the store and help wrap gifts after people shop. E-mail us for more information.

     
GOOD WORKS CHRISTMAS PARTY: On Friday, December 19th, 2008, Good Works will sponsor our annual Christmas party with a special dinner for the rural poor and homeless at The Plains United Methodist Church. During and after the dinner there will be special music, special times of blessing and the story of Christmas will be shared. If you would like to assist with or provide the special dinner or would like to share special music or assist with some of the activities, contact us. We expect approximately 200 men, women and children will attend. Volunteers are needed provide the dinner meal , and assist with the evening activities. For more information on this special opportunity, click the link above and e-mail us.
     

WEEKLY NEEDS: Want to help from time to time but can’t make a regular commitment right now? You can:
  Volunteer to make snacks and drop them off at FRIDAY NIGHT KIDS CLUB.
  Volunteer to purchase and then drop off 2 gallons of milk, lunch meat, & cheese once a week at the Timothy House.
  Volunteer to provide transportation (or substitute for someone) for people who would like to attend our Friday Night Supper.
  Volunteer to help Good Works on a one time basis with your mechanical, electrical, plumbing, or computer skills. We always need help repairing appliances or with light carpentry and plumbing needs.
  Volunteer to take our current needs list and promote it inside your organization.
  Volunteer to organize a small group to do a food drive for Good Works.
     
THE NEXT STEP...

MAKE THE CALL… TAKE THE TOUR… COMPLETE THE APPLICATION.

Note: To complete the application, you will need three personal references so please bring contact information with you. 

Also, any volunteers seeking class credit, community service hours or internship credit must request this in writing, in advance, through our application process. We will not sign off on any volunteer time that is required for class credit, community service or internship credit after it is completed, unless it is approved in advance.
     

Tours inside the Good Works community and applications are required for anyone interested in volunteering and can occur at both Good Works locations. If you are interested in serving at the Timothy House, call 740-594-3333 and arrange to come by for a tour and an application. If you are interested in serving through any other service opportunity through Good Works, call 740-594-3336 or 594-3339 and arrange to come to the Good Works Luhrig Road property for a tour and an application. Locations and directions are provided when you call.

A map to our locations is found here.

NOT CERTAIN? If you would like to discuss the different service opportunities through Good Works, call our administrative offices at 740-594-3339 or 594-9000 and talk with one of the staff.

Those who want to volunteer will need to come to one of our centers, take a tour, fill out an application, and have a short interview.

     

The following information is provided to you on the volunteer application form but we thought it might be helpful for you to read this now:

THANK YOU for your interest in exploring volunteer opportunities with Good Works! Good Works was established through volunteers. The organization did not have any paid staff until the fourth year. Volunteers provide a necessary component to our work that cannot be accomplished any other way.  Click here to read an article by one of our staff who regularly works with volunteers.

By filling out an application, you will provide us with some information that will help us determine where you might fit inside the Good Works Community of HOPE. In addition to reading the two handouts (1) Good Works, Inc., A Community of Hope (our newsprint brochure), and (2) Good Works Volunteer Opportunities 2007 (above), please read the statement below about our philosophy & worldview before you answer the questions in the application.

PHILOSOPHY AND WORLDVIEW
      Good Works, Inc. is a faith-based Christian ministry, which has been involved in the lives of those struggling with poverty in rural Appalachia since 1981. Through a variety of outreach and residential services, Good Works has established a community network to assist and support our neighbors who are struggling with various forms of poverty. Our three focus groups are (1) Homeless men, women and children. (2) Widows, widowers, elderly and the disabled. (3) Children considered “at risk”.
     As a Christian ministry, we are motivated by the love of God (“…God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us.” - Romans 5:5). Our care for people in need is born from the overflow of Christ’s love and care for us. Half of our ministry is to care directly for those mentioned above through our various outreach services. The other half is to provide an avenue for volunteers to become involved in caring for those we are serving. We believe that only a limited amount of education occurs in the classroom; the rest of our education is obtained through the experience of associating, serving, loving and knowing those in need. Our intent is to create opportunities that bring volunteers face-to-face with people in need, and in doing so, to encourage and inspire our volunteers toward personal growth.

WITNESS
     As a Christian ministry, our primary purpose is service. With each person Good Works serves, we seek to build trust and place love as the foundation of each relationship. We want to both demonstrate and communicate our faith. Our approach is four-fold: (1) We must first earn the right (permission) to share our lives, values and convictions with those in need. (2) Through integrity, we must work to establish trust as the primary ingredient and foundation of all our relationships. (3) We must seek to recognize that whatever we have to say about our faith and our relationship with God comes in the context of and builds upon what already exists inside each person we are learning how to love. (4) We believe that RESPECT is the primary lens through which we must conduct every relationship.

     
Finally, built inside the Good Works world-view are the following core concepts:
  As human beings seeking to grow, we need to serve others regardless of whether or not they are grateful.
  Under no circumstances do we believe it is loving for our staff or volunteers to take any form of abuse from those we are serving.
  All service requires some measure of sacrifice and volunteers should expect to be challenged emotionally, psychologically and spiritually.
  The personal growth of our volunteers is equally important to us as the personal growth of the populations we are serving.
  Where you (a volunteer) meet the people Good Works serves determines what kind of relationship you will have with them. If you meet them at a local restaurant, for example, we will have a limited “voice” into how you conduct yourselves. If you meet them through Good Works, we will expect you to listen and consider our “voice” in your relationship. Recognizing the wisdom found in those who have been serving at Good Works for a long time is essential for being a volunteer.