Christian Appalachian Project is seeking a long-term (12-month commitment) volunteers to serve in our domestic violence shelters in eastern Kentucky. These positions are available immediately and the usual admissions timeline and application dates for long-term volunteers do not apply. Volunteers may begin immediately after completing the application and admissions process (typically 1-2 months).
Christian Appalachian Project has been committed to helping families resolve varying degrees of crisis and domestic abuse for more than 25 years. Currently, CAP operates two centers that serve several Kentucky counties. With a staff of employees and CAP volunteers, they provide safe shelter to hundreds of survivors and their children each year.
Our abuse centers assist survivors of domestic abuse in obtaining housing, serve as an advocate for survivors in the court system and help survivors obtain any other resources they might require. Participants are also able to access counseling though CAP’s Counseling program. CAP staff and volunteers educate the public about domestic violence through community presentations and events.
Some volunteers in this program may perform community education and work with incarcerated women, while others serve children living in the shelter, so evening shifts are frequent. Volunteers may also perform other staff assistant duties as required.
Benefits of Long-term Volunteering
Long-term volunteers receive a multitude of benefits from their service time, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Immersion in a new culture
- Living in intentional Christian community
- Valuable job-related experience
Even though volunteers receive many intangible benefits, it is important to note that making a long-term commitment can be a significant financial sacrifice. We ask our volunteers to make sacrifices, but we also provide our volunteers the support they need to provide the best service they can. CAP offers the following benefits to long-term volunteers to help make volunteering more affordable and to ease the concerns that you or your family may have:
- Room and board
- Monthly stipend
- Health insurance
- Travel reimbursement
- Potential student loan deferment
- Time off to visit friends and family
Requirements
To become a long-term Domestic Violence Shelter volunteer, you must meet the following requirements:
- Minimum age of 18 years old
- Complete a volunteer application, including a complete driving records check, three personal references and a national background check
- Be personally interviewed by CAP Volunteer Program staff
- Pass a drug screening upon arrival at CAP
We are looking for volunteers who are dependable, flexible, emotionally mature, self-starting, sensitive to other cultures, religions, etc., able to live in community, have a sense of humor and have a desire to serve others. We can teach the particular skills needed to perform in your service position, what we can’t teach is a compassionate heart and a passion for our mission.
Please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information about long-term volunteering.
Pillars of CAP Volunteer Life
At Commissioning, long-term volunteers sigh a covenant representing their commitment to service, community and spirituality. Follow the links below to learn how each value contributes to the volunteer experience.
Service
CAP volunteers serve in various CAP and local programs that benefit children, the elderly and persons with disabilities.
Community
Whether a volunteer lives in one of CAP’s volunteer communities or independently, each volunteer makes a commitment to community life by sharing in the joys, challenges and growth that comes with being a short-term or long-term CAP volunteer.
Spirituality
CAP is an interdenominational organization that encourages people to share their faith and express it through their actions. Personal spiritual growth is an integral part of the CAP volunteer experience. To foster a spiritual environment, volunteers gather for prayer and reflection after weekday dinners.
