Volunteer

Opportunities Available at all Programs!

Hope Villages of America offers many opportunities for individuals and groups who want to make a difference in the community. In addition, coordinators of food and item drives are always needed. Please call the Volunteer Manager to schedule your group at 727-443-4031 ext 506 or email volunteer@hopevillagesofamerica.org.

Food Distribution Services

Volunteers help with the most basic part of our mission, getting food to the people who need it most. Most donations need sorting, packing and marked before they are ready to be distributed. That is where you come in! Help us prepare food to be distributed through our program to fight hunger. Another way to help is through a Food/Fund Drive. This is an excellent project for our younger volunteers or as a group project. Volunteer opportunities available at the Food Bank:

  • help in the interview room;
  • help in the warehouse;
  • drivers who do light pick up (bread);
  • people to clean
  • on Fridays, a person with a strong back to help load crates.

Abuse Services

The opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life is at the heart of the volunteer experience. At The Haven, we recognize that volunteers are a valuable resource and our best ambassadors. We know individual skills and interests vary and that everyone can’t volunteer the same amount of time. Therefore, we offer many opportunities with various time commitments. Persons interested in working directly with clients need to complete the state mandated 30 hour training class. For those who would like to get started right away or cannot take the training programs there are other opportunities available. Currently, The Haven seeks the following volunteers:

  • victim advocates
  • people to clean
  • adults to work with children

*Volunteers at The Haven must also complete CORE Training (three days of classroom training (24 hrs) and 6 hrs on on-site shadowing that is required of certified domestic violence center advocates and volunteers in order to qualify for victim/advocate privilege communications under Florida law.)

Housing Stability Services

Hope Villages provides affordable housing for families who are working towards self-sufficiency. As a volunteer for our Housing Stability Division, you can support the mission of Hope Villages in countless ways. Volunteer opportunities currently available:

  • Mentors
  • Life Skills Facilitators
  • Childcare for Life Skills classes
  • Landscaping
  • Beautification Projects
  • General Maintenance
  • Administrative Assistance

VOLUNTEER FAQs

  1. What is volunteer orientation? Volunteer orientation is an opportunity for you to learn about Hope Villages of America with a brief overview of all of our programs and the opportunities we have with in those programs, including ways you can support it.
  2. How often do you offer orientation? Once a month
  3. Where do I go? 503 S. Martin Luther King Jr., Avenue, Clearwater, FL 33756
  4. How long is it?  It is about 30 to 45 minutes
  5. For a one-time group project, does everyone need to attend volunteer orientation? No. A brief agency overview will be provided at your site. 
  6. What is included in a background check? We ask you to provide your current name, Florida driver’s license number, date of birth, and gender so a local background check can be done. Results will not necessarily prevent you from volunteering with us. 
  7. What is CORE Training? This is only required for volunteering at The Haven. If you wish to work directly with our participants, it is Hope Village’s policy to train you through the CORE Competency curriculum, a 24-hour training course. By completing CORE Competency and passing the written test, you receive certification and the knowledge necessary to work in the field of domestic violence. You will also receive “privileged” status, meaning any information shared between you and a participant will be held confidential. 
  8. How much does CORE Competency cost? The course is free for those who volunteer! 
  9. What happens during the staff interview? A staff interview is an opportunity for you and our staff to get to know each other. Our staff will give you a tour of the facility and explain what the volunteer job you are seeking is like. They will ask what you wish to gain from your volunteer experience and you can ask any question about Hope Villages of America, our policies, our philosophy, etc. From there, you and our staff will decide what job is best for you. 
  10. How can I get more information? Call 727-443-4031 ext. 506 or volunteer@hopevillagesofamerica.org