Resource of the week: SARCC volunteer opportunities
Monday, January 15, 2024 is Dr. Martin Luther King day. In remembrance of Dr. King efforts to mobilize the country to move in the direction of civil rights and justice, many individuals choose to share acts of service. Volunteers. Founded SARCC, and we continue to operate many of our services with the support of community volunteers. if you are looking for opportunities to get involved, this weekend is a great weekend to learn more.
Here are a few of the ways that are volunteers, share their service with SARCC :
- Complete standard hotline training as a SARCC volunteer. This involves a 40-hour training period completed with half of the training time completed online and on-your-own, and half with our staff working through different related topics and role-plays. Following the training, you complete a practicum, and then join our hotline volunteer rotation, or work in conjunction with a staff member to facilitate groups and programs.
- Join our Lebanon Community Council, which is the local arm of our board of directors. This volunteer commitment only requires a 2-hour orientation, monthly meetings, and participation in at least one of our planning committees for our big events – Monte Carlo Night or Thriver Walk.
- Join the Connected Together Board. This board works in a community development and advisory capacity to promote protective factors and reduce risk factors for violence in our county. The board meets for 2 hours to learn these strategies and understand data related to local risk factors, and also has subcommittees that meet to work on specific projects.
- Provide administrative or event support. These opportunities are on an as-needed basis, and would not have any direct contact with program participants. Examples include assisting staff to clean or organize storage areas or administrative files, day-off set-up or volunteering for SARCC fundraising or community engagement events, or assisting with mailing tasks. Administrative and event volunteers are not required to complete training, but may still be asked to submit clearances or sign confidentiality agreements if they will be onsite at our office or likely to come into contact with children at an event.
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All of our volunteer roles require clearances and some basic forms that are required by our grant funders for volunteer service. You can learn more and access Instructions for requesting your clearances at no cost. Clearances required include 1) Child Abuse History Clearance; 2) PA State Criminal Record Check; 3) EITHER the completed FBI disclosure statement, or a copy of your FBI clearance. Clearances submitted from other volunteer roles or employment must be no older than 60 months (5 years). If you would like assistance requesting your clearances, please schedule a time to visit our office and someone from our staff can assist you.
Volunteers make enormous contributions to keeping our organization running, and our services accessible to the community. Last year loan SARCC volunteers gave the equivalent of over $100,000 in hours of service to support survivors and prevent sexual violence. If you or someone you know, is ready to get involved, please have them reach out!
