Before you even begin thinking about volunteering, ask yourself – Am I well enough to volunteer?
Your safety and limiting the spread of COVID-19 is everyone’s main priority. We encourage you to review and adhere to the recommendations on the Buncombe County readiness site on how best to avoid COVID-19 and what to do if you think you might have it.
ABCCM Crisis Ministry is an organization providing supports and resources to individuals and families in Buncombe County who are living with low incomes, are facing financial emergencies, or are struggling to meet their basic needs. The Crisis Ministry is a division of Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM), a nonprofit organization working in Buncombe County to address poverty, hunger, homelessness, and health care access. ABCCM is a family of Christian congregations in the Asheville-Buncombe County area organized to respond to emergency assistance needs in the community.
We are currently looking for compassionate volunteers to assist with supporting clients via phone and in-person during the COVID-19 pandemic. Volunteers will be working on site.
We are currently seeking volunteers to assist in the ABCCM Crisis Ministry office on Cumberland Ave. Shifts will run M-F from 8:30 am-4:30 pm and 12:30pm-4:30pm. Current urgent need is for Tuesday mornings 8:30 am-12:30 pm and Wednesday afternoons 12:30 pm-4:30 pm.
Volunteer Opportunity Includes:
- Communicate with clients over the phone and outside in person.
- Showing compassion to clients
- Listening to clients needs
- Communicating with ABCCM Crisis Ministry staff what the needs of the client are
- Assisting in writing food and clothing vouchers for clients
- Referring clients to NC 2-1-1 and other agencies for needs that ABCCM cannot meet
Volunteer Requirements:
- Excellent listening and communication skills
- Maintain professional boundaries with clients
- Ability to speak clearly and take notes of needs
- Maintain client confidentiality
- Comfortable being on the phone for shift duration (breaks between clients)
- Ability to remain calm during crisis situations
- Participate in training prior to beginning your volunteer shift
Health and Safety:
- We are asking volunteers to wear/bring their own face covering, one of the below:
- Bandanna covering nose and mouth
- Cloth covering nose and mouth
- Fabric or disposable face mask
- Asking volunteers to maintain physical distance of 6 feet or more when possible
- Note: there are times when the volunteer task requires volunteers to engage closer than 6 feet. Please do not sign up if you feel uncomfortable.