Habitat for Humanity ReStore

[SirHelpMe]

I’ve been looking for nonclinical volunteering opportunities in my area, and my first choice would’ve been to volunteer at a prison or jail, but unfortunately the closest jail that takes volunteers is nearly an hour away. My second choice would be to volunteer at Habitat for Humanity, which is only 7 minutes away. However, they only have open positions for the ReStore right now, and so I was wondering, would volunteering at the ReStore be looked on favorably by AdComms since it’s just organizing, stocking, and doing customer service things? If it isn’t very ideal, then I might be more willing to drive the full hour to volunteer at the aforementioned jail.

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[LizzyM]

Customer service (dealing with the public) is nice but for the most part you are dealing with middle class shoppers who aren't much different in life circumstances than you and your family.

Are there any food pantries, homeless shelters, facilities that help people transitioning from the streets, or other such things in your community?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I agree, you can keep looking. But...

I will disagree: working at Goodwill, ReStore, American Cancer Society Discovery Shops, or your school's "campus closet" doesn't usually attract upper-class or middle-class shoppers. (Although with inflation on the imminent horizon, that's going to change. We didn't think middle-class to upper-class people would take advantage of food pantries during the pandemic and as much as we can complain about egg prices now...). For many people with limited means, finding affordable, functional (fittable) clothes is essential as food.

I won't diss anyone for working retail, and the profits (in your case) go to support those in need. You certainly learn how to organize and work in teams. But in many cases, some of the people you will meet are also those who eventually benefit from the core projects upon which the charity is based.

If you need to classify it as employment, that's fine. I don't have a problem with this activity and have argued such to other adcoms.

You can also see about working with those who are newly released when it comes to job placements closer to home. You don't have to make the drive out to the jail... just help those who came out recently so they don't go back.

EDWINS Leadership and Restaurant Institute

EDWIN’s Leadership and Restaurant Institute is a local nonprofit that takes formerly incarcerated adults and trains them in the skills they need to succeed in the culinary and hospitality industries, all while offering the finest in French dining.

www.thisiscleveland.com

 

[SirHelpMe]

Customer service (dealing with the public) is nice but for the most part you are dealing with middle class shoppers who aren't much different in life circumstances than you and your family.

Are there any food pantries, homeless shelters, facilities that help people transitioning from the streets, or other such things in your community?

I have been looking for such facilities in my immediate area, but they don’t have much opportunities, and if they do, then it’s a once a month thing rather than being, for example, once a week. I will keep looking though.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I would say leverage your local faith community or collective. You might find some opportunities in community service that might surprise you. You can also check for pro bono legal clinics, especially those connected with law schools.

 

[SirHelpMe]

I would say leverage your local faith community or collective. You might find some opportunities in community service that might surprise you. You can also check for pro bono legal clinics, especially those connected with law schools.

Thanks for the advice. I’m currently calling around and will update if I find something that I want to do that also fits within my schedule. The idea about working with those who were recently released sounds interesting.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thanks for the advice. I’m currently calling around and will update if I find something that I want to do that also fits within my schedule. The idea about working with those who were recently released sounds interesting.

We cover "correctional medicine" in Becoming a Student Doctor, but keeping them from returning to jail is also important. Solid social support is absolutely critical. Edwin's also just opened a free childcare center for his students because many of them have very young children and are without access to affordable care while they are training (look up Edwin's Family Center in Shaker Heights, OH).