Gulf Coast Center For
Nonviolence

GCWCFN Volunteer Team Descriptions

Concert Ushers
Location:
IP Casino and Golden Nugget Casino
Time Commitment: Usually about 3 hours on concert evenings
Requirements: Must be 21 or over; must sign up in advance for the shows you want to work

Concert ushers are needed to provide support for IP and Golden Nugget concert events. Our Center provides volunteers to assist in taking tickets and showing customers to their seats, and in return the casinos provide us with a cash donation. While ushering, volunteers get to watch the show for free!

 

Crisis Line/Resident Assistant Volunteers
Location:
Biloxi Shelter or Adrienne’s House (Pascagoula)
Time Commitment: Variable, but generally a 4-hour shift
Requirements: Completion of background checks, completion of 2-hour volunteer group training session and additional time in individual training, learning the phone system

We are always in need of volunteers who are willing to fill in for our regularly-scheduled Resident Assistants when they need to be out (due to illness, etc.) This position entails answering the crisis lines, speaking with victims, logging calls, assisting shelter residents, making referrals to other agencies when appropriate, referring to our clinical staff or other staff members as needed. We are a 24-hour shelter, so times for shifts can vary based on when you’re needed.

 

Sexual Assault Volunteer Advocates
Location:
Local hospitals in Jackson, George, Harrison, Hancock, Pearl River, and Stone Counties
Time Commitment: Actual hours vary according to frequency of sexual assault calls; advocates are asked to be “on call” for a 15-hour shift weekdays (5pm to 8am) or for a weekend, scheduled in advance.
Requirements: Completion of background checks, current driver’s license, reliable transportation, completion of 2-hour group volunteer training, completion of 12 hours (2 weekends) sexual assault advocate training

Our SA Advocates are very special people who are willing and able to be on call for hospital crisis response. These volunteers respond when we receive calls through our crisis line that a person has been sexually assaulted and needs volunteer assistance. Advocates visit the victim in the hospital to provide support, distraction, and comfort during the rape exam (if the victim chooses), let victims know about follow-up services through our Center, and notify our SA Prevention and Response Coordinator so she can pursue after-care where needed.

 

Donation Pickup/Delivery
Location: Biloxi Shelter or Adrienne’s House (Pascagoula)
Time Commitment: About an hour, once a week (according to a monthly schedule dependent on how many people sign up)
Requirements: Reliable vehicle and valid driver’s license

The Center receives donated items throughout the week, and some of them can’t be immediately used or stored on-site. These surplus items need to be picked up once a week (currently Wednesdays) and delivered to the Humane Society as part of our SAFE program. We also have regularly-scheduled pickup times at area businesses, requiring us to visit the business, pick up the donations, and bring them to the Center. We do have occasions where groups do donation drives on our behalf, and we need help picking up these items for delivery to the Center. One of our BIGGEST needs, though, is assistance with moving items whenever a client leaves shelter, or whenever a donated item of furniture needs to be delivered to a client’s new home. This is not a huge job; it usually entails delivering a bed or a table, etc., but our Shelter does not have a truck! This is an occasional need, not something that occurs on a regular schedule, but if you’re willing and able to assist with this it would be a huge help to us.

 

Art Group Volunteers
Location: Biloxi Shelter
Time Commitment: One hour, plus setup/planning time
Requirements: Creativity, willingness and ability to teach a craft activity to ladies in shelter

Our women’s art group meets each Monday at 2pm for one hour. We need creative individuals who are willing to dream up fun crafts or art activities and then teach them to the ladies. It’s particularly special if the craft project can be used to illustrate or facilitate healing, dealing with emotions, personal growth, etc. We do have some art supplies on hand, but if specialized materials are needed, the volunteer will need to help locate donations for those items.

 

Administrative/Clerical Volunteers
Location:
Biloxi Shelter
Time Commitment: Variable according to your schedule and desire to work
Requirements: Organization, ability to work independently, basic computer skills a plus

We always need volunteers who can help with basic office tasks – filing, creating file folders, making copies, putting together booklets, stuffing envelopes, updating mailing lists, etc. We also need volunteers who are able to enter data into our clinical tracking system, scan documents and upload them, etc.

 

Children’s Program Volunteers
Location: Biloxi Shelter
Time Commitment: Variable according to your schedule and desire to work
Requirements: Completion of background checks, completion of 2-hour group volunteer training

We need caring and patient volunteers who can assist with child care/activities on the evenings when we have our group therapy sessions (currently Tuesday evenings at 6pm for one hour). We additionally need folks willing to assist as needed to be chaperones for field trips, summer and holiday activities off-site.

 

Tabling Event Volunteers
Location:
Varies according to where events are held
Time Commitment: Also varies, according to length of event, but we can schedule shifts if needed
Requirements: Completion of 2-hour group volunteer training, transportation to get to the event location

Throughout the year, our Center is invited to set up booths/tables at many “awareness” events. We try to participate in as many of these as possible, to reach as many people as we possibly can. Sometimes, our paid staff are already scheduled elsewhere when these events come up, and we could use volunteers to man the booth, answer people’s questions, possibly set up and take down the display..

 

Holiday Activity/Special Event Volunteers
Location: Biloxi Shelter or Adrienne’s House (Pascagoula)
Time Commitment: Variable according to your schedule and desire to work
Requirements: Creativity and holiday spirit!

This is another new project we’re hoping to begin, if we have enough support for it. Throughout the year, we have many families who are living in shelter during the holidays. We do have many community groups who remember us and send gifts (Easter baskets, Mother’s Day packages, etc.) but we’d love to have a committee of volunteers who could be in charge of planning and carrying out holiday activities throughout the year – maybe a barbecue on the 4th of July, or a Superbowl viewing party in shelter, or a “makeover day” for Mother’s Day, etc.

@GCCFN_1977
Saving Animals and Families Everyday

A great way to show your support!

Just drop off your donated items to the Humane Society of South Mississippi in either of its thrift store locations (Gulfport or Ocean Springs) and let them know you're donating on behalf of the Women's Center. They will then provide us with vouchers our clients can then use to purchase clothing or household items for their family!

Upcoming Events

Nov
29
Tue

Giving Tuesday

Jan
11
Wed

Human Trafficking Awareness Day

Mar
18
Sat

Drawdown Throwdown

Frank Gruich Center

Apr
01
Sat

2023 Rock the Cause

Pascagoula Beach Park

Apr
5
Wed

Start By Believing Day

Events Page/More Info