Ways to Get Involved - Volunteer![]() Volunteer Ministry
Dear Friend of the Mission,
Thank you for your interest in serving with Bridgeport Rescue Mission’s Volunteer Ministry. At Bridgeport Rescue Mission we see our volunteers as part of our ministry team, equipped to meet the needs of men, women and children we serve in our community. There are a variety of service and volunteer opportunities for you and/or your group to become personally involved. Coming face-to-face with the homeless and needy can be a life-changing experience. No longer are they faces on television, or an "issue" to discuss. Instead, they're people—men and women, boys and girls—with hopes, dreams, disappointments and a compelling need for God's love. I personally invite you to consider joining our ministry team as a volunteer. To start the process, please review the information below before submitting an online volunteer application. Blessings, Marion Schrade, Community Relations Manager MSchrade@BridgeportRescueMission.org A few things to know:1. Please note that you will be required to attend an orientation session and tour prior to beginning your volunteer service. The purpose is to educate our volunteers on the scope of the services and programs Bridgeport Rescue Mission offers to those we serve.2. We ask that our volunteers commit to a regular rotation for at least three months. When looking at our volunteer opportunities, double-check the days and times volunteers are needed and confirm that you are available at those times. 3. Click here to download our Volunteer Policy and Guidelines. 4. Click here to download our Chapel Service Policy and Guidelines. 5. Click here to download our Mobile Kitchen Policy and Guidelines. 6. It may take up to two weeks for us to contact you once you have submitted your volunteer application. Thank you for your patience. 7. Volunteer positions are divided into subgroups as listed below and many of the opportunities link to a position description. To get started we invite you to read through the following lists and complete the informational application form online. Whether you are an individual or group, student or senior, church or corporation, we have a place for you. (For Groups see appropriate application form below.) Core VolunteersThese volunteers are the lifeblood of the Bridgeport Rescue Mission. More than 1,000 people provide valuable services to our programs and facilities each and every year. We have individuals and groups from all over Fairfield County who come to serve the homeless and hungry through the Bridgeport Rescue Mission’s many volunteer opportunities.CORE Volunteers Care about projects and the Mission. They feel Obligated to help the poor and homeless. They are Ready when called upon. They are Effective in whatever task they are assigned. We have a number of opportunities designed specifically for individuals and groups who desire to volunteer both on a one-time and ongoing basis. We have groups coming from churches, corporations, families, civic service clubs and other organizations. Many of our High Impact Volunteers started out as CORE Volunteers. Come be part of this dynamic ministry. You won’t believe the benefits! CORE VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Click each position listed below for a full description Birthday Party Planners
Position Title:
Birthday Party Planners/Sponsors Facility/Location: Bridgeport Rescue Mission Relates closely with: BRM Volunteer Coordinator Program Directors Men’s Ministry & Women’s Ministry Director, BRM Residents Other BRM staff Purpose: As a Birthday Party Sponsor you can help provide a safe, fun celebration and bless the residents at BRM. A birthday party is a great opportunity to show our students that they are valued and loved. Duties:
1.5 hours one time or once monthly as needed Qualifications:
Complete on-line application.
Car Care Maintenance
Position Title:
Drivers & Car Care Maintenance Facility/Location: Bridgeport Rescue Mission Main Campus & Women’s Center Relates closely with:
Duties:
Time Commitment: 1.5 hours one time or once monthly, as needed Qualifications:
Complete on-line application.
Closet Keepers - Men’s and Women’s
Position Title:
Blessing Room Closet Keeper Facility/Location: Bridgeport Rescue Mission Women’s Shelter & Men’s Center Blessing Rooms Relates closely with:
Purpose: Volunteers are needed with strong organizational skills to sort miscellaneous donated items and distribute to the community the Rescue Mission serves. Responsibilities include receiving and sorting donations, distribution of clothes to the community. Time Commitment: Three hours, once a week/month. 3 month commitment is preferred. Days/Times: Tuesday-Thursday: 1:00pm-4pm for 3 hours Duties:
Complete on-line application.
Donation Center Coordinator
Position Title:
Donation Center Coordinator Facility/Location: Bridgeport Rescue Mission Women’s Shelter Relates closely with:
Purpose: Volunteers are needed to work at the Donation Center where donations are received at Bridgeport Rescue Mission. Responsibilities include receiving and sorting donations and preparing tax receipts. Time Commitment: Three hours. Once a week/month. Duties:
Qualifications:
Application/training/orientation and other requirements: Complete on-line application.
Drivers - Appointments / Food Pickup
Position Title:
Drivers Facility/Location: Bridgeport Rescue Mission Main Campus & Women’s Center Relates closely with:
Purpose: We are developing a “pool” of men and women drivers who are willing to offer transportation to residents to and from work, when they need to attend meetings or have medical and program appointments and for food pickups. Duties:
Time Commitment: 1.5 hours one time or once monthly, as needed Qualifications:
Application/training/orientation and other requirements: Complete CORE Volunteer n-line application.
Facility Maintenance / Cleanup Crews
Position Title:
Facility Maintenance / Clean-up Crew Facility/Location: Bridgeport Rescue Mission Relates closely with:
Purpose: BRM holds high standards for their facilities to be efficient and clean. As a volunteer handyman, you will provide support to the maintenance team by assisting in various projects and tasks.To be good stewards of our property and desire to keep it safe and attractive . Duties:
Time Commitment: One morning a week, you will choose one day and time per week according to your schedule. A 6 month commitment is preferred Qualifications:
Complete on-line application.
Food Service - Meal Server
Position Title:
Meal Server Facility/Location: BRM Kitchen Relates closely with:
Purpose: To assist the staff in the kitchen, before, during, and after meal times. Duties:
Time Commitment: 2 or 3 hours weekly / monthly. Qualifications:
Application/training/orientation and other requirements: Complete on-line application.
High Impact VolunteersThese volunteers make an impact in so many ways, touching the lives of the men, women and children served by the Bridgeport Rescue Mission Men’s and Women’s Campuses. Our High Impact Volunteers are considered an integral part of our ministry team. A High Impact volunteer senses God’s calling to use their God-given gifts, skills and talents to serve the poor and homeless of Fairfield County. Once they have completed their orientation process—which includes an application, tour of our facilities, training with our volunteer coordinator and an interview with a staff leader—they receive a "letter of call" which serves as a formal invitation to join our volunteer ministry team. If you are interested in any of these volunteer opportunities, we invite you to fill out the application below. Space is available on the application for you to indicate your skills, talents or training.HIGH IMPACT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Click each position listed below for a full description Chapel Leader and Chapel Service Teams
Position Title:
Chapel Leader Facility/Location: Bridgeport Rescue Mission - Main Campus & Women’s Center Relates closely with:
Purpose: Students in the New Life Discipleship program come to live at the BRM during their long-term recovery. The people who come to Bridgeport Rescue Mission are broken and in need of the love our savior Jesus Christ offers. Worship services are held seven nights a week from 7pm to 8pm. The chapel leader will plan, lead, and conduct a worship service that will reflect the hope and love of our God for men who are on the road to recovery. Duties:
Time Commitment: One evening each week/monthly. A one year commitment is preferred Qualifications:
Application/training/orientation and other requirements: Complete High Impact on-line application.
Church Ambassadors
Position Title:
Church Ambassadors Relates closely with:
Purpose: Bridgeport Rescue Mission’s Church Ambassadors increase church awareness of issues related to homelessness and how the Mission addresses those issues through our programs and services. We do this by working hand-in-hand with individuals in our community who feel called by the Lord to be voices of help, hope and healing as Church Ambassadors. In Christ, we are all called to be ambassadors for the Kingdom of God. And as followers of Christ, we are also asked to care for the needs of the poor. That's why we invite fellow servants to come alongside us and minister to the least and the lost in Fairfield County. Duties: Here's how Church Ambassadors work alongside the Mission! Once a month, each volunteer messenger receives and then relays key current information about the Mission directly to his or her church congregation, Sunday school class or youth group. Some messengers choose to take their involvement with the Mission a step further and not just represent their church, but also their workplace, school or social organization. The information includes:
Time Commitment: As a Church Ambassador, you will be an invaluable partner with us as we strive to extend your church's hands into the kingdom. Qualifications:
Application/training/orientation and other requirements: Complete High Impact on-line application.
Classroom Instructors
Position Title:
Class Instructor Facility/Location: Bridgeport Rescue Mission Men’s Campus & Women’s Center Relates closely with:
Purpose: The volunteer class instructor will teach a specific subject to the residents which is an important part of our student’s recovery process. Time Commitment: One hour, once a week. A 6 month or 1 year commitment is preferred. Duties:
Qualifications:
Application/training/orientation and other requirements: Complete High Impact on-line application.
Food Service - Kitchen Assistant
Position Title:
Kitchen Assistant Facility/Location: Bridgeport Rescue Mission Main Campus Relates closely with:
Purpose: Providing 40,000 meals each month is no small task. This is why we desire to have an assistant in the kitchen to humbly serve alongside the Food Manager and ensure the food is prepared, served and the kitchen is cleaned to the high standards Bridgeport Rescue Mission desires to achieve. Duties:
Time Commitment: Once a week / month for 2 or 3 hours, can vary as your schedule allows Qualifications:
Application/training/orientation and other requirements: Complete High Impact on-line application.
Intake Assistant
Position Title:
Intake Assistant Facility/Location: Bridgeport Rescue Mission Main Campus & Women’s Center Relates closely with:
Purpose: This is a perfect volunteer position for a man who wants a “hands-on” experience. Provide help, hope and encouragement to the residents of Bridgeport Rescue Mission staff. Duties:
Time Commitment: Once a week / month – 4 to 8 hours. Qualifications:
Application/training/orientation and other requirements: Complete High Impact Volunteer on-line application.
Mentors - Men’s and Women’s
Position Title:
Mentor Facility/Location: BRM Relates closely with:
Purpose: It is so important for healing hearts to have someone to trust and to share their joy and their pain. A Mentor will befriend, encourage, guide, and be a Christian role model for an assigned BRM resident. You both will surely be blessed by this relationship. Time Commitment: Once a week, you will choose one day and time as your schedule allows. A 6 month commitment is preferred. Duties:
Qualifications:
Application/training/orientation and other requirements: Complete High Impact on-line application.
Mobile Kitchen Feeding Teams
Position Title:
Mobile Kitchen Team Leader Facility/Location: Bridgeport Rescue Mission Mobile Kitchen Relates closely with:
Purpose: Each night, our Mobile Kitchen visits the most impoverished areas of Bridgeport and South Norwalk, bringing hot, nutritious meals to homeless and low-income individuals and families. The people who come to the Bridgeport Rescue Mission are broken and in need of the love our savior Jesus Christ offers – served one meal at a time. Duties:
Qualifications:
Application/training/orientation and other requirements: Complete High Impact on-line application.
Tutors - Basic Skills / Computer
Position Title:
Learning Center Tutor Facility/Location: Main Campus & Women’s Center Relates closely with:
Purpose: The role of a tutor is to provide opportunities for residents of the BRM to learn skills such as typing, resume assistance, GED preparation, email/internet training, homework assistance, reading, and writing. We invite you to become a tutor and bless these people who were broken and are now on track for restoring their lives and once again become productive members of society. Time Commitment: 2 hours a week for 3 months, you will choose one day and time per week as schedule allows Duties:
Qualifications:
Application/training/orientation and other requirements: Complete High Impact on-line application.
Receptionist/Office Assistant
Position Title:
Receptionist/Office Assistant Facility/Location: Bridgeport Rescue Mission Main Campus Relates closely with:
Purpose: The volunteer office assistant will work with the BRM staff and help with support work. It’s important to have the logistics behind the ministry done efficiently to benefit the guests and residents of Bridgeport Rescue Mission. Duties:
Time Commitment: Monday through Friday at 9:00a.m. to 12 noon and/or 12 noon to 3:00p.m. Qualifications:
Application/training/orientation and other requirements: Complete High Impact on-line application.
Specialized Volunteer OpportunitiesFrom time to time, we are in need of volunteers with specialized skills such as photography, mechanical or electrical expertise, sewing, Spanish translation, or professional skills. If you have a particular skill you’d like to use to bless our ministry, we invite you to fill out the application below. Space is available on the application for you to indicate your skills, talents or training.Administrative VolunteersDo you like to organize? Serve "behind the scenes"? Seasonally there is a need for administrative help throughout the Mission. Responsibilities may include opening mail, scanning documents, filing and data entry. If you are interested in helping in this way, we invite you to fill out the application below. Space is available on the application for you to indicate your skills, talents or training.Community ServiceBridgeport Rescue Mission often receives inquiries about volunteer opportunities for individuals needing to complete community service hours. We attempt to accommodate those needing to complete school-assigned community service as part of coursework; however, we require two-week advanced notice. We may or may not be able accommodate all or part of the required hours due to staff availability. If under 18 years old, volunteers must be accompanied by an adult. If you need to complete community service hours, we invite you to fill out the application below. Space is available on the application for you to indicate your skills, talents or training.Volunteers on CallThis important group of volunteers is always on call to assist us with special projects such as landscaping, painting, repair work, baking and housekeeping! If you are interested in helping in any of the ways listed below, we invite you to fill out the application below. Space is available on the application for you to indicate your skills, talents or training.
Serve from Your Location Through a DriveBridgeport Rescue Mission depends on volunteers of all ages to help us fight poverty from the inside out here at the Mission but also from your home, your church or your workplace. You, your school, church, business, organization, youth group or Sunday school class can help the hungry, homeless and addicted of Fairfield County by participating in any of our offsite drives.Special Opportunities for BusinessesCompassionate businesses like yours can make a world of difference when they team up with Bridgeport Rescue Mission to help the homeless. Click below for just a few ways your company can help.Opportunities for Businesses
Join us for special events. Sponsor a table at our annual Restore Hope Banquet and our Hearts of Hope Women’s Benefit Reception, or engage your employees in our Volunteer Community Service Team Building opportunities as part of our Corporation Compassion in Action Program. For a complete list of our upcoming events, visit Attend Events (Ruth, this links to http://bridgeportrescuemission.org/attend.php
Sponsor a drive at work. We have lots of great ideas for drives, from Winter Warm-Up to food needs. Click here for a complete list of drives or develop your own! Donate. There are so many inventive ways you can collect funds to help fuel our outreach to the homeless. Sponsor an event, take up a donation, match employees’ gifts—the list is endless. Come Serve. Grab your coworkers and come serve lunch at the Mission, or schedule a workday where employees from your business do light housekeeping or repair work at our shelter. Check out our volunteer opportunities now. (Ruth, this links to the top of the volunteer page) Teach a Class. Spend a few lunch hours teaching important job or life skills to our guests. To learn more, click here. (Ruth, this links to Classroom Instructors under High Impact Volunteers) Donate Professional Services. If you’re a doctor, lawyer, accountant or other professional, our guests and the Mission itself can use your professional skills. Schedule a speaker. Schedule a brown bag lunch and invite a speaker from the Mission to talk with staff members about homelessness and our services. Click here to find out how. For more information on ways your company can benefit Bridgeport Rescue Mission, contact Community Relations Manager, Marion Schrade at 203-333-4087, ext. 114 or email Marion. Let’s Get Started! |
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