Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are needed in many areas of our collaboration with Focus: HOPE.

Listed below are some of the areas of opportunity to volunteer and descriptions of the help that is needed;

Technical and professional: Strategic planners, Architects, Tradesmen,, etc. are are needed at various times.

Glazer Elementary School: Tutoring, “Reading Buddy”, after school activities, etc.

Hand on Projects: Help with specific projects; painting, yard clean-up, etc.

Ingatherings: (Collecting lawn mowers,snow blowers, gloves, toys, blankets, etc.)

For more information or to volunteer, please contact Linda Braun at 248-227-6854 or at linda.braun16@gmail.com

I came across a beautiful story this week about a young Detroiter named DeAngelo Simpkins (liveunitedsem.org) His life was turned upside down – or right side up? – because of risk taking and vulnerability.

Simpkins shares, “A year ago, I was at a low point in my life. I had been working one temporary position after another with the hopes that someone would hire me.” By some fluke, Simpkins landed in a seat next to Judith Brantley from Focus: HOPE on a bus one afternoon, and they struck up a conversation. Simpkins took a risk – he shared with her what was happening in his life – that he had made some bad decisions in his past that were preventing him from moving forward. Brantley asked him what he wanted to do.”I just need work,” Simpkins told her.

Once she heard Simpkins’ story, Brantley took a risk herself – she encouraged him to give her a call at Focus: HOPE so that they could talk more. She started off by helping Simpkins build a resume, and introduced him to a program at Focus: HOPE’s Center’s for Working Families where he learned about financial literacy.

But she didn’t stop there. Knowing that there are many obstacles to employment, particularly for those who have been out of work for a long time, or who have never had work at all, Brantley helped Simpkins get a scholarship to attend a four-week job training program at Focus: HOPE that provided him with OSHA and First Aid/CPR certifications, as well as job readiness and computer skills. Within a few interviews, Simpkins was hired by O’Brien Construction as a general laborer.

“This opened up the door for so many opportunities for me and my family — many more than I even imagined would be available. I now have a steady income, and it has allowed me to think about and plan for my future. I realize now that I am not my past.”

Christ Church Cranbrook recently invested $24,000 into a Jobs Pipeline Program that provides training, screening and certification through Focus: HOPE. Our grant will put OVER 75 people through this program – 75 people ready to start their futures in a few weeks!

But let’s not stop there! Let’s ask how we might take a risk and help our neighbors even further on their way. Are you in a position in your own work place to hire a trained entry level person? Or to contact your HR department to let them know about these job training graduates? Talk to member of the Outreach Committee, or call me at 348-644-5210, ext. 30 or email me at btaylor@chrischurchcranbrook.org, and we can talk about this and other outreach opportunities.