Volunteer

You can make a difference by volunteering as little as 4 hours per week.

Help us end violence in our community by volunteering at Middle Way House.

You can make a difference by volunteering as little 4 hours per week. Numerous opportunities exist at our Bloomington locations and our outreach offices in Greene, Martin and Owen counties. Volunteers make it possible for us to provide around-the-clock support to survivors.

All volunteers must complete our 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:

  1. Volunteers be able to commit at least 4 hours a week.
  2. Volunteer 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).
  3. Volunteers are vaccinated and wear a mask during the in-person preservice training and while volunteering.

Our Programs & Volunteer Descriptions

Middle Way House offers a large variety of opportunities to volunteer, many of which allow volunteers to satisfy time and activity requirements for Service Learning classes and university-sponsored internships. Below is a link to short descriptions of volunteer positions for which volunteers are needed. In addition to the initial hybrid pre-service volunteer training, most volunteer positions require an additional orientation session (1-2 hours) and many require additional training as outlined within individual descriptions.

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 – 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. 

  • Four – six months experience on the Crisis Line
  • Eight-hour OSA training
  • All genders, at least 18 years of age
  • Internship opportunities
Community Reception — 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
  • All genders, at least 18 years of age
Youth Program Empowerment Services (Yes!) — at The RISE!

Volunteers interact with children, ages four 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
  • All genders, at least 16 years of age
  • Internship opportunities available
Legal Advocacy

Volunteers will primarily attend court hearings, complete the daily court calendar, manage our cell phone donation program, and maintain our database system. Volunteers will have direct contact with judges, survivors and court personnel. Volunteer hours would be Monday through Friday 8:30am-6pm.

Building Healthy Relationships 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
  • All genders, 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:

  • Guest greeting and registering
  • Merchandise sales
  • Invitations, outreach, and publicity
  • Set-up and tear-down
  • Graphic design/artwork
  • Catering assistance
  • Social media facilitation
  • And more!
Please contact events@middlewayhouse.org for more information.
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 or 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.
Shelter Community Programming

Volunteers plan, organize, and participate in activities for residents of our emergency shelter and transitional housing sites. They may also work on office activities (copying, filing, etc.), materials development, and community and web research projects as needed.

  • All genders, at least 18 years of age
Administration/Development/Communications — 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 newsletter, 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
  • All genders, at least 16 years of age
  • Internship opportunities available
Site Management Support – at The RISE!

Position can be tailored to suit interests. Duties can include sorting and filing, correspondence, researching funding issues, developing/maintaining spreadsheets, and assisting with finding new ways to improve operations and security.

  • Orientation and task-specific training as needed
  • Two-hour shifts
  • All genders, at least 18 years of age
  • Internship opportunities available

Questions About Volunteer Trainings or Positions?

Please reach out to volunteer@middlewayhouse.org with questions about volunteer trainings and/or positions.
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