Community Service Partners
Community Service volunteer time at non-profit partners is an important NWC value and strategic objective as well as a vital part of our 50+ year history of helping our community.
Members are asked to support our non-profit partners with their volunteer time. There is a large variety of opportunities. Select an agency that appeals to you. Please remember to record your hours spent at one of these organizations or any work related to supporting them.
Watch the Communiqué for Community Service opportunities, or contact the Community Service Chairperson(s) about the Community Service of interest, or contact one of the Co-Directors.
Can-Do-Quilters
Can-Do Quilters meet the 3rd Friday, in member homes. Members bring a sack lunch; dessert and drinks provided. January, February and April are all day Quilt-A-Thons at First United Methodist Church, Richardson. Members are asked to complete one quilt by May. Completed quilts are delivered in June to Interfaith Family Services for re-decorating 23 residential apartments. Interfaith empowers families in crisis to provide a hand-up out of poverty. Qualified families - mostly Moms with kids - live in the apartments for up to one year as they work to break the cycle of poverty.
Fee: $25 to join. New members welcome.
This organization is dedicated to providing safety, dignity, and hope to abused children by providing support to the caseworkers of Dallas County Child Protective Services. Volunteers are needed to work in the warehouse during the holidays sorting Christmas toys collected annually for children in foster homes. Other opportunities may arise during the year as the need occurs.
Dallas Casa
This non-profit agency provides Court Appointed Special Advocates for children who have been removed from their homes because of abuse and neglect. Thirty hours of training is required to be an advocate. One-time volunteer opportunities in the summer and fall will be announced in the Communiqué.
Emily’s Place
Emily’s Place is a 24-month residential program which promotes emotional healing and the development of life skills for survivors of domestic violence and their children, enabling them to transition from a difficult past to a bright future. The program includes one-on-one counseling, vocational assistance, and weekly evening programs such as parenting classes, healthy relationship education, financial management workshops, and job readiness. Volunteer opportunities may include general office assistance, help with mailings, child care during evening classes, preparing a meal once a month for residents, and preparation for and participation in fundraising events. In addition, Emily’s Place welcomes monthly assistance to organize their “Blessing Bag” program which provides household, baby, and personal care items for their residents.
Frisco Family Services
Frisco Family Services helps those facing hunger, homelessness and other urgent needs to achieve self-sufficiency. Volunteers are needed in the food pantry to sort food donations and stock shelves at the Resale Store, to sort and merchandize donations, and on special projects including the Back2School Fun Fair, the Feed Frisco Food Drive, the Christmas distribution of toys and clothing, and the Senior Silver Bells Celebration. Volunteers are also needed for the Summer Lunch program which feeds kids who would get free and reduced lunch during the school year.
Genesis Women’s Shelter
Many volunteer opportunities are available at this agency, including helping with an October and February meal for the women and children who live at the Shelter. We also participate in their Holiday Drive where you can Adopt-A- Family/Client, donate gift cards, give gift wrapping materials, and bake/buy cookies for Shelter cookie trays. We have a fun, easy and heart-warming Spring Purse Project beginning in late February and finishing at the end of April, in time for Mother’s Day in May. Genesis offers many other one-time or on-going volunteer commitments, which may or may not involve a training session at their offices. Details of these projects are on their website.
George W. Bush Presidential Center
The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum provides volunteer opportunities for docents who volunteer in the museum as experts on various exhibits. Due to the sensitive nature of the Presidential materials, all volunteers must be U.S. citizens, successfully pass a background check, and sign a confidentiality agreement. Volunteers will receive training, must be able to make a one-year commitment, and serve up to 4.5 hours per week.
Interfaith Family Services
The mission of Interfaith Family Services is to empower families in crisis to break the cycle of poverty. Volunteers work to stabilize homeless families by providing 25 fully-furnished apartments. The parents build self-confidence as they learn to identify a purpose that will inspire them to enjoy their work. Finally, they provide families with new skills via counseling, training, and job search support to help them land a career with a livable wage. They also provide the financial coaching needed to make the most of their new income. NWC volunteers cook and deliver casseroles for new residents, decorate and donate Christmas wreaths for each of the apartments and help with the Christmas store where parents “shop” for their children, and children “shop” for their parents.
Landmark of Plano
From September to May, volunteers meet at Landmark of Plano on the second Monday of the month from 2:00-4:00 to host a Bingo Party for the residents. The residents really enjoy the interaction with the NWC members. You can also earn hours for baking homemade cookies or providing fruit and cheese. It is fun, easy and rewarding!
Lifesavers Foundation
LifeSavers Foundation’s mission is to serve children and single mothers in crisis by providing free medical care. They operate The Doctor Spot, a clinic staffed by real medical professionals. They provided free sonograms, immunizations, hearing and vision screenings, exams, and more, all funded by donations. They also operate Upscale Resale store, which is funded by selling donated items. Volunteer opportunities include sorting and displaying clothing and household items. Occasionally volunteers will be needed at events to serve a light breakfast.
Upscale Resale is located at 561 W. Campbell Road, Richardson, Texas 75280, phone 972-669-9000. LifeSavers is always grateful for any donations. www.lifesaversfoundation.org
Network of Community Ministries
Network is a non-denominational organization in Richardson with three core programs: Emergency Services, providing food, clothing, and utility services for those in need; the Adolescent and Children’s Clinic, meeting the acute medical care and dental needs of uninsured children; and Seniors’ Net, dedicated to providing those aged 60+ with the resources to live independently in their own homes. NWC volunteers help with three-hour shifts in the Clothes Closet or Food Pantry. This does not need to be a weekly commitment although volunteering on a regular schedule is appreciated. NWC volunteers also help assemble or distribute holiday food and gift bags to seniors prior to Thanksgiving and Christmas and help on an “as needed” basis with special projects.
Now Forward (Formerly North Dallas Shared Ministries)
Now Forward is an interfaith community of volunteers providing charitable assistance and emergency aid to families in the Dallas area. This includes furnishing school uniforms and school supplies to over 3,000 students each year and distributing food to seniors on fixed incomes and families in need. Now Forward also provides medical and dental care, ESL classes, job counseling and tax preparation. Volunteers perform a variety of duties such as interviewing, working in the food pantry or clothes closet, teaching ESL classes, computer input, job counseling, and uniform distribution.
Refresh North Texas
Refresh North Texas works directly with the school districts in North Texas. Our mission is to ensure every child in our community has access to personal hygiene items; proper hygiene is important for a child’s health, well-being and self-confidence. We provide “Refresh Packs” to qualifying students quarterly. These packs include shampoo, conditioner, body wash or soap, lotion, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, lip balm and a comb or brush. Students in middle and high school also receive deodorant, shaving cream and feminine hygiene products. Volunteer opportunities for NWC include working 2-hour shifts to fill the packs for one distribution. Our distributions are done on a quarterly basis— August, November, February and May.
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital For Children
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital is a non-profit Children’s Hospital. The success of this hospital depends on dedicated volunteers and organizations throughout the year. NWC has been volunteering at the Texas Scottish Rite for over 26 years. There are also numerous opportunities to sign up as a weekly volunteer through the hospital’s Volunteers Service Department. NWC also participates in a Special Project program during the Christmas Season. NWC decorates 3-60 ft. railings that overlook the mail lobby, the 12 ft. boardroom Christmas tree and 1 tree located on the patient level. We will also decorate 1 tree located at the new medical facility in Frisco. November volunteer opportunities for decorating sign-up will be presented at the August meeting.