Needs From: Be The Change 907

We are in need of 20 aprons for volunteers helping in our teaching kitchen and/or serving holiday meals. We're hoping someone with some sewing skills and ability to donate the fabric would be able to help us out. Color would be CHA blue.

Ideally, we'd receive these (at least 10 of them) by November 1st.

Bonus if you could add our embroidered logo or emblem (we can talk more about this).

Do you know how to sew? We need your help in sewing Christmas bags for the young adults we serve at Covenant House Alaska. We use these bags to help us organize Christmas gifts for about 200 youth. Not only is the bag helpful for us, it becomes a gift in itself that youth can use as a laundry bag all year round. In fact, MACK House, our program housing youth 13-17 years old, has requested them now so youth can pack up their belongings to move to a foster home. So much better than a plastic trash bag!

We're looking for a suggested size of 24"W x 30" L bag with a drawstring top. Some bags with a more flexible fabric would help to accommodate large boxes. A variety of fun fabrics helps us to personalize things; especially patterns that are gender-neutral.

We'd like to receive these bags by December 18th for Christmas use.

Further information and details about delivery provided upon sign up.

Are you great at customer service or hospitality? We are seeking volunteers for our Covey Concierge role! Volunteers would answer the phone line for Covenant House Alaska, welcome youth into the space, sort mail, connect youth to the services they need.

Ideally, individuals could commit to a consistent weekly schedule. Volunteers would have access to a FAQ and a phone list, helping them know who to transfer phone calls to and how. We also would need volunteers who can be helpful and resourceful, even if they don't know the answer to a question or the question doesn't relate to something on the FAQ. There may be some down time during a shift and volunteers would be welcome to bring a book, knitting project, etc.

Seeking a minimum 3-month commitment. Schedule is flexible but our greatest needs are 11:30am-1:30pm and 4:00pm-6:00pm daily. This would be a huge lift for our staff, allowing more space and time to directly serve young people.

Covenant House Alaska serves young adults experiencing homelessness. These Career/Life Skills Workshops take place at Transitional Living Program, Rights of Passage (ROP). They are meant to support young adults in their personal, professional and academic goals. We’re seeking volunteers with a variety of backgrounds and experiences to facilitate one 60-minute group for youth we serve.Skills workshops should focus on building education, employment, and/or life skills. Possible topics could include: resumes, interviews, budgeting, financial literacy, time management, computer skills, "a day in the life" spotlight on a career, and more!

Opportunities available on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 6pm.

Did you know that we have simulators for youth to explore and train for flight, CDL, heavy equipment operating, and boat? We're looking for volunteer instructors to work directly with young people on these simulators. Volunteers do need to have capacity between the hours of 9am and 4pm Monday-Friday, but we can work out a specific schedule that works for you! Upon signup, we'll follow up to learn your skills and availability and get something scheduled!

We're seeking 1-2 volunteers with graphic design experience to support our mission of ending the experience of homelessness for youth in Alaska. Volunteers would design digital or print assets to support Covenant House Alaska's communications and/or events.

Each month, Covenant House Alaska (CHA) develops various elements related to our work sharing out about the mission or opportunities for youth. It could be our annual impact materials, flyers related to events/activities, signage or print materials for specific events, social media templates, etc.

We would appreciate a commitment of minimum 3-6 months.

Volunteers must be proficient in Canva as the main design tool, and we have a business account you would use (proficiency in the Adobe Suite is a nice bonus). You would begin by participating in a 45-minute Branding Training with the Communications Manager to understand our brand and communications standards and requirements.

Being a mentor is a highly rewarding endeavor. It’s a chance to provide guidance and serve as a positive role model for one of our youth, aged 18 to 24, who is making the journey to self-sufficiency and independence.

Mentors work with residents in our Transitional Living program, Rights of Passage (ROP). Mentors provide youth with the much-needed connection to a caring, reliable adult and work one-on-one with youth to help develop the skills they need to live independently.

As a mentor, you would make a commitment to:
Spend time with your mentee at least twice a month.
Maintain weekly phone contact with your mentee.

Mentor Qualifications

To be a mentor at Covenant House Alaska, you must:
Be at least 28 years of age.
Have patience.
Make a two-year commitment to the mentorship program.
Have the ability to maintain clear boundaries with youth.
Complete an application, background check, and orientation process.

Looking for some projects? Youth at Covenant House Alaska really understand the love and attention that goes into handcrafted donations. Below are some project ideas for our sewers, knitters, crocheters, and paper crafters. If you have other ideas, let us know!

Pillowcases
Drawstring Laundry Bags (suggested size- 24x30")
Winter Hats, Gloves, Mittens, and Scarves
Blank greeting cards (Birthday, thank you, volunteer anniversary)

Further details provided upon signup. We are unable to provide supplies for these projects, but donation receipts are available for tax purposes.

Covenant House Alaska serves young people experiencing homelessness, ages 13-24 years old. Do you have a certified therapy dog? We'd love for you to visit!

Volunteers must complete a volunteer form, interview, and onboarding process.

Do you dabble in music? Are you looking to volunteer your time and share your talent? If so, we may have an opportunity for you!

Covenant House Alaska is looking to bring some musical talent to the youth we serve. We are looking for individuals who would like to volunteer weekly in our music room teaching and/or jamming with youth. Currently we have access to guitars, electric keyboards, an electric drum set, and recording equipment. Music is a passion and oftentimes outlet for many of the youth we serve. As a volunteer you would manage this space and provide lessons to those interested.

Covey Academy houses education and employment services at Covenant House Alaska. We offer assistance including life skills development, pre-employment skill development, career coaching, career exploration, and support achieving educational goals. Services are provided through one-on-one meetings with youth, group workshops and trainings, internships, and field trips. Youth are provided with resources and guidance needed to succeed in educational pursuits and secure meaningful employment. By fostering a supportive environment, staff and volunteers play a crucial role in empowering individuals to overcome barriers and achieve their aspirations.

We're excited to invite volunteers to support youth at Covey Academy through our education and employment skills lab.

Youth can visit the Skills Lab from 10 AM to 12 PM. Participants are able to utilize laptop computers for educational, employment, or personal development purposes. Volunteer support for Skills Lab can encompass a variety of ways to help individuals achieve their academic and career goals. Youth may need assistance with building resumes, job searching, mock interviewing, interview preparation, and job search strategies. The wide range of career and life experiences of volunteers will be a great resource for our youth.