April 20, 2011
I have volunteered with Shepherd's Door, the women and children's recovery program at Portland Rescue Mission for many years. Over the years, I have seen many women graduate from the program, which addresses all aspects of recovery - from physical to emotional to spiritual. The program isn't rules based. Instead the staff and volunteers help teach the women and their children, through a grace and love filled approach, how to make the best choices to heal their families and build their futures. This approach seems to make the difference since so many of the women are successful at maintaining their sobriety and using their newfound life and job skills after graduation. It has been a privilege to be a small part of this work.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Through the training that Portland Rescue Mission provides to teach the volunteers how to understand and aid in the the recovery process with the women and children, I have learned to understand more about myself and how my life experiences have changed me. Caring for such a diverse group of children has helped me understand more about children's development and ways to draw each child out and help them grow. This has spilled over into other work I do with children.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
let people know how rewarding working with the kids is, so that there might be a larger group of volunteers willing to do regular work with the kids and be able to give the moms more breaks.
More feedback
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
MY ROLE:
Volunteer & I provide childcare as part of a Respite program for the women and also for their Aftercare meetings.