Volunteer
Help up end violence in our community by volunteering at Middle Way House.
You have the power to make a meaningful impact by dedicating just 4 hours a week. Inspiring opportunities await you at our Bloomington locations and outreach offices in Greene, Martin, and Owen counties. Your commitment as a volunteer enables us to offer continuous support to survivors.
All volunteers will engage in our transformative hybrid (online modules and in-person) pre-service training sessions held throughout the year. For more information about our pre-service training dates, please reach out to volunteer@middlewayhouse.org.
Due to our limited capacity of volunteers, we ask that:
- Volunteers must be able to commit to at least 4 hours a week
- Volunteers must be able to commit for a year (with the understanding that student volunteers may not be here during school breaks and in the summer).
- We ask sick volunteers to be masked for in-person pre-service training and while volunteering.
Our Programs & Volunteer Descriptions
Middle Way House provides numerous volunteering opportunities, many of which can help fulfill time and activity requirements for Service Learning classes and university-sponsored internships. Below is a link to brief descriptions of the volunteer positions currently available. In addition to the initial hybrid pre-service volunteer training, most positions require an extra orientation session lasting 1-2 hours, and many also necessitate further training as specified in the individual descriptions.
Questions about Volunteer Trainings or Positions?
Please reach out to volunteer@middlewayhouse.org with questions regarding volunteer trainings and/or positions.
Shelter Community Programming
Answer phone lines for crisis calls and take messages for staff and residents. Volunteers must be able to commit to a three to four hour weekly shift or overnight shift from 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM. Because this is an emergency 24-hour service, it is our most immediate and on-going need.
- At least 18 years of age
Crisis Line - at the Cindy Houston Emergency Shelter
Answer phone lines for crisis calls and take messages for staff and residents. Volunteers must be able to commit to a three to four hour weekly shift or overnight shift from 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM. Because this is an emergency 24-hour service, it is our most immediate and on-going need.
- Three workshop trainings and two observation shifts
- At least 18 years of age
- Internship opportunities
On-scene Advocates (OSA)
On scene advocates provide in-person support to survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking. This may be at the local emergency room, police station, or the clerk’s office. Volunteers must carry a cell phone during each volunteer and on-call shift.
- Orientation and task-specific training as needed
- Two hour shifts
- At least 18 years of age
- Internship opportunities available
Community Reception - at The RISE!
Answer phone lines for crisis calls and take messages for staff and residents. Volunteers must be able to commit to a three to four hour weekly shift or overnight shift from 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM. Because this is an emergency 24-hour service, it is our most immediate and on-going need.
- Orientation and task-specific training as needed
- Two hour shifts
- At least 18 years of age
- Internship opportunities available
Site Management Support - at The RISE!
Maintain/monitor building security, protect confidentiality, and interact with residents and community members in two-hour shifts, Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Shifts from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM are also available to volunteers with additional training.
- Two hour orientation and two hour observation shift
- At least 18 years of age
Legal Program
Monitor court cases, prepare the court calendar, update and maintain the database, provide assistance to legal advocates as necessary, and maintain the cell phone program.
- Two hour orientation and two hour observation shift
- Crisis line training
- At least 18 years of age
- Internship opportunities available
Administration/Development/Communication - New Wings Administrative Offices
There are many opportunities such as working in the Resource Center (library organization, indexing, and research), answering incoming (non-crisis) telephone calls, welcoming visitors, and assisting with administrative tasks (filing, developing/disseminating publicity and agency newsletters, assisting with special events, fundraising, grant writing, etc.). Volunteer hours available Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
- Orientation and task-specific training as needed
- Two hour shifts
- At least 16 years of age
- Internship opportunities available
Youth Program Empowerment Services (Yes!) - at The RISE!
Volunteers interact with children, ages 4 to 18 years living at The Rise and the emergency shelter. Activities include homework help, tutoring, mentoring, arts & science programs, games and service projects. Tutors and mentors work one-on-one with school-age children. Programs are open from 3:00 PM to 8:30 PM, Monday through Friday during the school year. Hours vary during the summer.
- Orientation and task-specific training as needed
- At least 16 years of age
- Internship opportunities available
Building Healthy Relationships Prevention Program
Provide presentations about rape, sexual assault, and building healthy relationships to area high school students and community groups. Preference given to committed MWH volunteers.
- Orientation and additional training
- Must complete all Crisis Line and On-Scene Advocacy training
- Additional Building Healthy Relationships training
- Must have two months experience volunteering on the crisis line
- At least 18 years of age
- Internship opportunities available
Events
Various tasks need doing at fundraising and/or visibility-building events. Choose whichever you would enjoy most:
Please contact events@middlewayhouse.org for more information.
- Guest greeting and registering
- Merchandise sales
- Invitations, outreach, and publicity
- Set-up and tear-down
- Catering assistance
- Social media facilitation
- And more!
Wrapped in Love Public Art Display
Create, install, and/or maintain tree sweaters for one of MWH’s biggest fundraisers and visibility-builders each year. If you knit, crochet, or weave, you can be a fabric artist. If you do not, there are several other roles you can play. We work on this project year-round.
Please contact events@middlewayhouse.org for more information.
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