ReWork Project Volunteer Orientation – April 15th
We’d like to invite you to ReWork’s first ever Volunteer Orientation.The orientation is open to all and anyone who is already working with the program or would like to begin volunteering is invited. Even if you are uncertain you want to get involved but would like to find out more, please join us.
The cost is free and open to all and is required for everyone wanting to regularly participate with ReWork. Read down to find out about some common volunteer activities.
When: April 15th at 3pm
Where: ReWork Project (4201 S Congress Ave. Suite 301)
Sign up: Click Here to sign up and let us know you’re coming.
If you have any questions, email Sarah Boyd at reworkvolunteers@gmail.com
About ReWork
ReWork Project is a city-wide community response that is about work itself and rethinking work for those experiencing homelessness. It is a relationally driven response. We can’t always give money and jobs to everyone, but we can offer healthy relationship with dignity and respect. It is informed by the belief that everyone has some talent, but not everyone has opportunity. We want to be distributors of opportunity.
There are several components of the ReWork Project:
Workshop: We have 2200 sq ft warehouse in South Austin that we are building out with a woodship and sewing/crafts space for men and women to be able to build, repurpose and construct products to sell in our retail space and at area community events.
Retail: This is where we will sell products that men and women make. Proceeds from these products go directly back to the person who made it.
Job Search and Training: We have computers available for job searching, help with resumes and general job search training.
New Businesses and Job Creation: We will work to create new businesses that provide “living wage jobs” for men and women who are experiencing homelessness.
Our goal is complete renewal of a person and ReWork creates space for creativity, allowing men and women to use the knowledge they already have in woodworking, sewing, and other pursuits, or teaching them these skills, to provide opportunities to earn a living wage. ReWork has the space, the tools, the materials, and the trained volunteers to make this possible. ReWork Gallery will be a storefront that puts these products produced by the homeless up for sale and each person retains 100% of income from these sales. ReWork believes that teaching these trades enables individuals to continue to support themselves no matter where they are, as well as giving purpose and meaning where perhaps there wasn’t before.
ReWork also has a computer lab equipped with a printer and telephone. Men and women can create resumes, search for jobs, receive online training (for example, TABC certification or Food Handlers), as well as print applications and call businesses or family. Volunteers are also available to help create or edit resumes, complete applications, or search for jobs.
In the works.
Currently ReWork is equipping itself to have showers and a washer/dryer setup. This would allow men and women to prepare for interviews, and just gain a little dignity and self-respect. The benefit of a good shower is something everyone can understand.
Some common volunteer tasks
ReWork is already functioning and making real impacts on the lives of many in the homeless community…but we have a long way to go, and several opportunities to join us.
Pick up Army
Volunteers are needed who have large vehicles, preferably trucks, that can carry materials from drop off points to the ReWork facility. ReWork constantly has a large influx of donations and needs help picking these donation up. The Pick Up Army is on a call/email list and when a shipment is ready, the request will be sent out to go get it. Volunteers in the Pick Up Army operate on an on-ball basis.
Homeless Advocates
Most of the men and women experiencing homelessness that ReWork interacts with are men and women that have been forced into homelessness because of circumstances or lack of family to help them. Many men and women would like to be reunited with family, need new copies of identification, need help creating a resume, finding a job or housing.
Homeless advocates spend some one on one time with one or two men/women. It’s important to learn that person’s story, in order to help them the best. Once the needs are clearly outlined, the advocate would most likely spend a lot of time on the phone, online, seeking out the information that is needed.
Gallery Volunteers
The gallery is the front door and first space someone enters when they get to ReWork. Part of this role involves selling items and operating the retail part of the gallery, as well as telling the story of the items they are selling. Gallery volunteers are asked to schedule their time in 3-4 hour shifts if possible.
General Volunteers
This is perhaps ReWork’s greatest need right now. There is so much organizing, cleaning, building, etc still needing to be done in the ReWork facility, and not enough people available to do it. Anyone and everyone can volunteer in this capacity. If someone is more detail oriented, there are tasks for that. If someone is better at moving big and heavy things, there is definitely tasks for that. If someone has a specialization, say electricity, there is definitely tasks for that. More than anything, ReWork needs helping hands on a daily basis to engage with men and women as they come in, build relationships, and help ReWork become more equipped to do all that it is designed to do.
