Have you ever wanted to make a lasting impact on someone’s life? Consider volunteering with our Changing Lives Forever program to help others learn to change their lives. The program is open to anyone who wants to live a self-sufficient life—financially and emotionally, while depending on God as the source of happiness and blessing. And we could use your help.
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him forever.”— Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie, English Writer (1885)
The Changing Lives Forever program is a powerful tool for breaking the cycle of generational or situational poverty. The principles employed are part of SVdP’s Systemic Change Initiative designed to help people realize their true human potential as opposed to relying on others for basic needs. To learn more about the program, click here to hear Sheila Gilbert, President of St. Vincent de Paul-National, speak about this important work.
Changing Lives Forever
Our program graduates explain the journey best. Hear this graduate explain how her life was transformed and what she learned about herself during this program.
Changing Lives Forever Volunteer Opportunities
A truly gratifying way to spend your time and talents, this important program thrives because of volunteers like you who can offer encouragement, patience, good listening skills and a giving heart.
Facilitators
To share information through facilitating an 18 week program in your local parish after participating in training at the national and local level. Facilitators will lead discussion as class progress through the program workbooks and materials.
Subject Matter Experts
Share knowledge of specific areas such as finances, health and fitness, job search strategies, education and other topics of need.
Mentors
Provide practical support and encouragement to a program participant for 12-16 months after graduation. Skills needed include patience, persistence, empathy, good listening, motivational, compassionate, sincere and committed. Trusted Mentors, a long-time SVdP Indy partner, provides training and support to equip mentors with the best mentor-mentee pairing to ensure success.
Helping Hands
Minimally, brings lunch to one or more workshop sessions. Other areas of help could include bringing fresh fruit or snacks, setting up/tearing down and clean up. Help is also appreciated on graduation day, which may include food and cake preparation, decorations, set up/tear down and clean up.
Transportation
Provides transportation for a participant to/from one or more sessions.
Child Care
When made available by the host conference, provides childcare at a specific location for one or more three-hour sessions during the 18-week program.
VOLUNTEER EXPECTATIONS
- Proper Dress
Slacks, jeans, no shorts, modest tops. No sandals/flip flops. - Be Respectful of Clients/Others
We strive to see the face of Christ in those we serve, and serve with. - Maintain Privacy/Confidentiality
Our clients and volunteers deserve for their privacy to be honored. - Be Aware of Hazards
Keep work areas safe and free of trash. - Report Incidents/Issues
Please notify the Food Pantry leadership about issues of concern.
