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VOLUNTEERING
AT
OPEN DOOR
MISSION

"Earn your success based on service to others, not at the expense of others"
- H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Would you like to lend a hand and your time helping others? We would love to meet you, share our opportunities and to help find your passion here at Open Door Mission.

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Questions about volunteering? Please contact:

Bill White at 832-962-4236 or bwhite@opendoorhouston.org

GUIDLINES FOR VOLUNTEERS

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It is the Mission’s hope and desire that your volunteer experience be fun, educational, safe, and that you feel like you have done something worthwhile.

We thank you for the time you give to us and ask that you follow the guidelines:

  1. Complete an online volunteer application.

  2. Sign –in and out after each visit using the Harrisburg entrance.

  3. Call to let us know if you will be late.

  4. Volunteers under age 18 must be accompanied by a guardian/chaperone. Preferred 1 guardian/chaperone to 5 volunteer ratio.

  5. Stay in groups of 2 or more. Do not find yourself alone with a client of the Mission at any time.

  6. Select attire that you know is appropriate.

    • Closed toe footwear please, sneakers preferred, no flipflops

    • No offensive words, art, advertisements, etc. on clothing

    • No low cut tops, tight clothing, tank tops, muscle shirts; pants need to be worn at the waist, not sagging

    • If you are assigned to work in the kitchen area please have long hair tied

  7. Residents are not permitted to use your personal cell phone for any reason.

  8. Report any inappropriate activity (by anyone) to your group leader/chaperone who must, in turn, report the incident to a staff member as soon as it has happened.

  • Mentoring men in the program.
    Seeking adult men over age 21 to coach, guide, advocate and hopefully become a friend to a resident enrolled in the Mission’s Doorway Program. Mentors are needed for each man in the program. Requirements A completed mentor application and short on-site orientation. One hour of face-to-face contact with your Open Door Mentee once a week with additional phone and electronic communication as the relationship progresses. Flex schedules are fine. A year-long commitment which will hopefully lead to a life-long friendship. Contact Program Coordinator, William Hudson at whudson@opendoorhouston.org
  • Sponsors for Celebrate Recovery and AA.
    Celebrate Recovery and AA are vital components of the recovery process. Sponsors are needed for each student in the program. Celebrate Recovery – Seeking adult men over age 21 who have completed a CR step study group, have maintained one year of constant sobriety/abstinence and who have preferably completed a Celebrate Recovery Training program. Training can take place on-site by participating as a co-facilitator. Requirements A completed CR application A commitment to facilitate a step study class Thursday’s from 7-8pm and/or a commitment to facilitate a small open share group on Saturday mornings from 9:30 am – 11:30 am or both. Alcoholics Anonymous – Seeking adult men over age 21 who are in AA recovery themselves with at least one year of constant sobriety/abstinence. Meetings are on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 7-8pm and Saturday (Meeting Only) followed by process group session to 8:30 pm. If you can give your time and talent to help another in need please contact Program Coordinator, William Hudson at whudson@opendoorhouston.org
  • Tutors for academic education.
    Our adult educational program seeks talented, experienced Tutors in all subject areas for students seeking beginner reading, GED, College, and refresh education. Tutors work with individual students one-on-one, though we occasionally organize group activities for students who are studying the same material. Open Door Mission covers all costs associated with taking the GED to eligible students. All students are assessed on entry and exit, providing valuable information to tutors regarding student needs. Currently, we are seeking tutors and virtual tutors available Monday thru Friday during the hours of 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. If you are interested, please submit a volunteer application or contact Andrew Perales, Education & Career Guidance Manager at aperales@opendoorhouston.org.
  • Food Service volunteers.
    Potential volunteer opportunities Sunday – Saturday for individuals, men, women, families and youth groups to assist in preparing and serving meals to the men at the Mission. The Mission prepares and serves over 350+ meals per day. We welcome volunteer teams from churches and businesses to plan and prepare a meal either on our campus or offsite to be served at the Mission. We have several BBQ grills and smokers on our property available for use by volunteers. Especially needed are Volunteer Teams Saturday mornings from 9:30 am – 1:00 pm to assist with our Noon Time lunch. Every Saturday morning all our men in residence are in a required Celebrate Recovery Program from 9 am – 11:40 am, creating a needed opportunity for Volunteers and/or Volunteer Teams to assist our Mission Chef with prepping, preparing, staging and serving the Noon Lunch after our residents finish their Saturday morning Celebrate Recovery Program. Your group may consider volunteering once a year, once a quarter or once a month. Please call to get on our calendar. We would love to host you and/or your volunteer team. Please contact the Kitchen Operations Manager, Brandon Warner at bwarner@opendoorhouston.org
  • General property volunteers.
    Maintenance volunteers help maintain the grounds and buildings. Assists in keeping buildings and grounds clean, neat and in good repair, assist with major and minor construction projects, assists with landscaping, and assists with maintenance of Mission vehicles and equipment. Questions, thoughts, and ideas are welcomed! Please contact Bill White at 832-962-4236 or bwhite@opendoorhouston.org
  • ODM Alumni Association events.
    The Alumni Association is a group of past graduates who have pledged to live a completely sober life. We vow to regularly return to the Mission and work with the staff to provide the residents leadership, guidance, and support. If you are a graduate of the DoorWay Recovery Program and would like to become a Mission Alumni please contact Philip Vaughn at 832-962-4265 or pvaughn@opendoorhouston.org Our Mission is to: Inspire, encourage, motivate and mentor students at the Open Door Mission. Give back to the Open Door Mission and surrounding communities through volunteerism and donations. Uplift and support all graduates in their quest for sobriety and assist in the development of a relationship with Christ. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Phil. 2:4)
  • Young Professional volunteers.
    Young Professionals Group: “We exist to invite young professionals into Open Door Mission’s vision and work through social service opportunities to promote and serve the Mission’s needs.” The men and women who make up the YP group come from all different professions and churches throughout Houston but are bonded by the desire to help others and give back to the community. If you are interested in getting involved with the Open Door Mission Young Professionals Volunteer Group please contact Bill White at bwhite@opendoorhouston.org
  • Offsite donation volunteers.
    Would you like to engage other community members in Open Door Mission while helping the men we serve? Hosting a donation drive is a wonderful way to create community awareness and participation in our Mission while meeting the very real needs of those less fortunate. The best part about this opportunity is that it is done at your convenience and your location. The most successful donation drives focus on only one or two items. To view our urgent needs list as well as our accepted donations, please visit our Donate page.
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