City Description
Situated on rolling hills on the banks of the Ohio River, Cincinnati offers big-city attractions with the small-town flavor of street fairs, festivals, and open markets. You’ll find lots to do in the city’s extensive park system, award-winning museums, top-rated public library system, world-class arts attractions as well as professional and college sports venues. The volunteer community lives in a 3-story brick home with a front porch balcony in the Norwood neighborhood, within walking distance of one of the service sites and Xavier University.
Housing: house
Transportation: 2 cars
Number of Volunteers: 4
Service Site Descriptions
Bon Secours Mercy Health
Mission: To extend the compassionate ministry of Jesus by improving the health and well-being of our communities and bring good help to those in need, especially people who are poor, dying and underserved.
Embracing its mission to serve those at the margins, Bon Secours Mercy Health is the largest provider of Medicaid services in Ohio, with 6 hospitals and 80 network locations in the Cincinnati area. Many of the people seeking care are suffering from chronic illness, grief or emotional distress, social isolation, and loneliness sometimes stemming from low income, addiction, or poor access to resources. A volunteer is needed as a spiritual care and mission assistant, visiting patients in the hospital and making follow up calls to those in outpatient care to offer a listening ear and additional support services as well as assisting with outreach programs of the hospital. At times the volunteer would also participate in education about advance care planning. Thorough orientation and training will be provided for the position.
Site Details
Website: bsmhealth.org
Skills: Healthcare, Pastoral Care, Community Outreach, Counseling
Ignite Peace
Mission: To educate and advocate for peace, challenge unjust systems, and promote the creation of a nonviolent society.
Ignite Peace mobilizes individuals and organizations throughout the city to take action for systemic change and equips them with practical skills, knowledge, and resources to build a culture of nonviolence and anti-racism. Ignite Peace focuses its education and advocacy efforts on four core issues – criminal justice, immigration justice, anti-racism and nonviolence. The volunteer will serve as a program assistant as part of a collaborative team. The volunteer will advance their expertise in peace and nonviolence practices through training; facilitate education sessions on nonviolence and anti-racism; research and design informational materials on the core issues; plan programs, rallies, and prayer services; and engage with various collaborating groups.
Website: ignitepeace.org
Skills: Education, Advocacy, Event Organizer, Research, Team-Oriented
Lydia’s House
Mission: To provide safe, stable, and supportive housing for women and children in crisis.
Lydia’s House offers support to single mothers (ages 18-30) experiencing housing instability to connect them to housing; pertinent documents and government services; meaningful educational or employment opportunities; and a supportive community of women to help them walk through difficult times. Accompaniment and community are at the heart of this ministry. Two volunteers are needed to serve as a case manager and a daycare teacher. The case manager welcomes and orients new guests; accompanies guests to various appointments and helps them navigate governmental systems; and maintains the household by assisting with cleaning and cooking. The daycare teacher supports the lead teacher in daily classroom activities; engages children in play-based learning, story time, and creative activities; and encourages children’s social-emotional development.
Website: stlydiashouse.org
Skills: Social Services, Hospitality, Relationship Builder, Advocacy, Childcare
St. Boniface School
Mission: To be a faith community grounded in the Gospel message of Jesus Christ and committed to the education of all of its children.
St. Boniface School is an elementary school and belongs to the urban school structure of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. The school serves about 200 students from various ethnic, racial, and religious backgrounds, with nearly all families at or below the national poverty level. A volunteer is needed as an intermediate team classroom aide (grades 3-5). The volunteer will support the teachers’ needs in the classroom with preparation of lessons and materials; engage in one-on-one and small group instruction; provide supervision on the playground and at lunch; and assist with afterschool clubs as needed.
Website: stbonifaceschool.net
Skills: Elementary Education, Tutor, Activities Coordinator
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