Website: https://builtbycommunity.org/
Mission: CommUnity Crisis Services is a volunteer-driven organization based in Iowa City, IA that provides immediate and non-judgmental support for individuals facing emotional, food, or financial crisis. CommUnity provides immediate support through our Crisis Services, Food Bank, and Financial Support programs.
Location: Iowa City (62.3 miles from Grinnell College)
Needs: Our clients depend on a diverse group of hundreds of volunteers who keep our programs running smoothly. Each year, volunteers donate more than 30,000 hours of their time to CommUnity Crisis Services. We have many opportunities, and you don’t have to choose just one.
- Volunteer in the Food Bank: CommUnity’s food bank distributed over 2 million pounds of food to Johnson County residents last year. When you volunteer in the food bank, you’ll work on a team of compassionate and dedicated individuals and might perform a wide range of tasks, including stocking shelves, assisting clients, or helping with data entry. Must be 16 or older.
- Volunteer as a Grocery Delivery Driver: The role of this volunteer is to deliver food boxes to clients living in Iowa City and Hills, IA. Those who volunteer will drive alone. Each day a new delivery route is created by staff and given to volunteers.
- Volunteer at a Mobile Pantry: CommUnity’s Mobile Pantry is a “pop-up” pantry that travels to locations throughout Johnson County. Volunteers can sign up for a variety of duties. Duties may include unloading on-site, checking clients in, stocking, helping clients shop, and loading the van. A calendar listing the dates and locations for Mobile Pantry can be found on the website. Mobile Pantry volunteers must be 16+ to sign up and can accommodate groups up to 4. Shifts are available Tuesday through Friday from April through October.
- Volunteer with Financial Support: Our Financial Support program is in need of volunteers Monday through Friday from 9:00-12:00 to help answer the phones and greet clients who come in for Financial Support services. Job tasks include notifying staff when clients arrive, answering calls, transferring calls and/or taking messages. Staff will train volunteers and be available when there are questions.
- CRISIS SERVICES Volunteer on Phone, Chat or Text Line: Volunteers are trained in a wide variety of counseling techniques and will provide direct support to clients in need over the phone. The training and experience are excellent preparation for those pursuing careers in health care, social work, or related fields.
Volunteers:
- One-time events: yes
- Ongoing: yes
- Groups possible? no
When is service needed: year-round
Number of hours: Flexible, as much or little as is possible for the volunteer
Modality:
- In-person: yes
- Hybrid in-person/virtual possible: yes
- Fully virtual possible: yes
Background check required: yes for some services
Training supplied: CommUnity offers a variety of crisis intervention and mental health trainings. For more information on the trainings offered by CommUnity, please contact cindy.hewett@builtbycommunity.org or call 319-351-2726, ext. 170.
- ACEs and Resilience Training: This training is a brief introductory presentation on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), data from the ACE study, how early adversity as a child can impact adult health, and the steps that we can take to address trauma in those who we work with. Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) is a two-day interactive workshop in suicide first aid. ASIST teaches participants to recognize when someone may have thoughts of suicide and work with them to create a plan that will support their immediate safety. Although ASIST is widely used by healthcare providers, participants don’t need any formal training to attend the workshop—anyone 16 or older can learn and use the ASIST model. All CommUnity Crisis Services volunteers and most staff members are trained in ASIST.
- Compassion, Fatigue and Secondary Traumatic Stress: This training lends to an understanding of compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress affect our wellbeing and ways we can minimize those affects.
- Psychosis Training: This training gives a brief introduction to schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders and offers attendees guidance on working with clients in crisis and experiencing symptoms of psychosis.
- QPR Training – Question, Persuade, Refer: QPR is an emergency response to someone in crisis and can save lives. This course teaches participants 1) how to question, persuade and refer someone who may be suicidal, 2) how to get help for yourself or learn more about preventing suicide, 3) the warning signs of suicide, 4) the common causes of suicidal behavior, and 5) how to get help for someone in crisis.
- Stress Management and Self-Care: This training offers a brief overview of the causes of stress, how stress affects us, how we manage stress, and helpful self-care tips to decrease symptoms of stress.
- Trauma-Informed Care Training: This training introduces the concept of trauma; what trauma is, types of trauma, and populations at risk, and offers a framework for becoming a trauma-informed organization, system or service provider.
How to apply: Only one application is needed for consideration of multiple positions. Apply at https://builtbycommunity.org/volunteer/
Contact: Sara Barth, Director of Supportive Services 319-351-2726 ext. 877 sara.barth@builtbycommunity.org
Operation information: The people of CommUnity Crisis Services are passionate about treating individuals in crisis as valuable human beings. From this passion comes the ability to excel at providing practical help. We are the only crisis intervention agency accredited by International Council for Helplines in the state of Iowa.
Address: 1121 S. Gilbert Court Iowa City, IA 52240
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