Volunteer at The Nathaniel Mission
Join Our Team...
We would love to have you partner with us in reaching out in love to our neighbors at the Nathaniel Mission. It's our goal to match your unique passions and skills with an opportunity to serve that makes a difference in our community. Individuals and groups can express their interest in volunteering using the form below.
We look forward to working with you!
Poverty Intervention & Prevention: Offering a Hand Up
Mission Market: We provide residents of Fayette County access to our food pantry (Mission Market) on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 1-2 pm. We need a team of four people for our market to function well. One person who takes time to listen and to pray for our neighbors. Another is checking IDs and inputting data into the computer; two others help neighbors shop for items. This is a commitment of 12:45-2:15 pm either Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.
Food Donation Pick-Ups:
Leestown Rd. Kroger: We pick up from Kroger on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Pick up time is 10:30 am. Supplies have to be picked up at the Mission beforehand. Volunteers must access the store through the back door receiving, picking up donations throughout the store (Bakery, Produce, Deli, Bread, Meat, Frozen food), checking out with the Back Door Receiver, and loading the vehicle before returning to The Mission. We are looking for volunteers to help weekly, monthly, or a last-minute sub.
Starbucks: We pick up from Nicholasville Road and Boston Road. Supplies have to be picked up at the Mission beforehand. The volunteer connects with a staff person and fills up the thermal bags. Once at The Mission, items are counted, stored, and labeled. This is a weekly commitment or a last-minute sub.
Educational Programs:
Monthly Lunch & Learn Life Skills: We want neighbors to have the skills and knowledge to use their resources well. On the first Tuesday of the month, we invite neighbors to lunch to explore and discuss finance, budgeting, banking, home energy, and housing rights and issues. Community partners like Thivant Finance, Bluegrass Green Source, and Lexington-Fayette Urban County Human Rights Commission will lead the workshop. We are looking for a class host to help sign people in and connect with our neighbors by initiating conversation and eating lunch with them. We also need groups to prepare, serve, and clean up lunch. We are serving 15-20 people each month.
Class Host: We are strategically planning a finance and job training class to address our neighbors' issues. We are looking for volunteers who will complete training to teach classes and mentor class participants. These classes would be an 8—to 12-week session with a weekly or biweekly commitment.
Health & Wellness: Filling Gaps in HealthCare
Clinics: We run at least three different clinics a month. Volunteers help pull paperwork, get clients signed in, make sure doctors have everything they need, and keep records of clients we have seen and vouchers that were handed out. Clinics happen at different times throughout the month, but it is a commitment of 3-4 hours.
Educational Program:
Monthly Lunch & Learn: Health & Wellness: These are monthly programs for neighbors surrounding health and wellness topics on the 3rd Tuesday of the month. In partnering with community organizations such as the Health Department, UK extension office, Glean KY, and Food Chain, we want our neighbors to be equipped with a wealth of information and experiences. We will also serve our neighbors who participate in a healthy lunch. We are looking for a host for the class to help sign people in and connect with our neighbors by initiating conversation and eating lunch with them. We need help with lunch - preparing, serving, and cleaning up and greeters who intentionally form relationships.
Class Host: We are strategically planning nutrition, diabetes support group, and garden club classes to address our neighbors' issues. We will utilize community partners to teach these weekly classes, but we need a volunteer to host the class. This is a weekly commitment of 6-8 weeks to help recruit the class, create an atmosphere of hospitality, connect with neighbors, and keep a record of participation. These classes would be 8 to 12-week sessions with a weekly or biweekly commitment.
Children & Youth Development: Raising a Generation of Leaders
Esperanza Club - After-School Program: We provide social, emotional, academic, and spiritual support to neighborhood children. Our time together includes a healthy snack, physical activity, mentoring, spiritual development, and homework/tutoring help. Cardinal Valley students meet at Calvary Church of the Nazarene on Mondays-Thursdays from 2:30-5:30 pm.
One-To-One Harrison Mentoring : We pair students from Harrison Elementary who live in the neighborhoods we serve with mentors to meet once a week with students at lunches (25 min lunch between 10:30-12:30). During this time, adult mentors will spend time talking and sharing their lives with their student to build a friendship, do activities & games, and get to know the student better to serve as a role model in the lives of the student. We are looking for mentors who would commit to one day a week!
Family Nights: A critical part of our ministry is connecting and empowering parents to be involved in their children’s education. Every other month, each site will have a Family Night as a space to connect with Nathaniel Mission volunteers and staff and other parents, eat together as a family, and participate in an educational program. We are looking for groups to provide the meals and individuals to connect with parents and other volunteers to lead games and activities for the kids.
Summer Day Camp:
We host 4 weeks of summer camp for neighborhood children in two locations: Valley Park and Nathaniel Mission. We are looking for small group leaders to be with the kids for the whole day and activities leaders who would lead activities such as Bible time, health and physical activity, STEM, and Reading lessons.
2024 Dates: June 10-13; June 17-20; July 8-11; July 15-18; Monday -Thursday 12 pm - 4 pm