Habitat for Humanity (Buffalo)

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Contact: Kevin Scherf
   995 Kensington Avenue
   Buffalo, NY 14215
Phone:  716.204.0740
E-mail: execdirector@habitatbuffalo.org 
Website:  www.habitatbuffalo.org

Habitat for Humanity of Buffalo establishes partnerships among God's people to give a helping hand to families who otherwise would be unable to achieve their dream of ownership of a simple decent house in a safe environment.

Project/Focus:  Construction of rehab sites in the city of Buffalo, in partnership with lower income families.  Volunteers will be assigned interior or exterior tasks depending on the stage of the building process, weather and other factors.  Tasks can range from gutting and general carpentry tasks, to drywall installation, drywall finishing, painting and trim work.  Vinyl siding occurs as well.

Educational/Advocacy Components:  Project provides orientation, local information, site supervision, materials and supplies. Group leaders provide own programming.  Habitat for Humanity Youth Advocacy Toolkit related to poverty and affordable housing available at www.habitat.org/youthprograms/ages_14_25/YouthAdvocacyToolkit.pdf. 

Time:  Work times are available year round.  Book early to get the week that best suits your group.  Weeks in June, July, or August are suggested.

Group Size:  Up to 20-25.

Minimum Age:  16 years

Adult to Youth Ratio:  1:5

Accommodations: Low cost housing is available at a local college in the summer and year round at two retreat centers.  These accommodations need to be booked as early as possible.  Project provides orientation, local information, site supervision, materials and supplies.

Cost:  A suggested donation of $100 per person/week will assist in this housing ministry.

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Cluster 13, Inc. (Camden)

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Cluster 13 helps people maintain safe, warm and dry homes and to avoid displacement by old age, disability or major economic problems.  Cluster 13 is a group of small rural churches.

Project/Focus: Building, renovation, and repair of homes for those with unmet housing needs—mostly rural or county areas. Roofing, electrical, plumbing, and structural work on projects we select and supervise.  Participants with some construction skills are helpful.

Educational/Advocacy Components:  Group leaders responsible for own programming.

Idea:  Use DVD and study guide for documentary "Strong Roots, Fragile Farms" narrated by Willie Nelson.  The documentary explores the effect of globalization on family farms.  Available for purchase from UCC Resources.  800.537.3394; code:  JWSRD.

Time: Work is June–August. Housing for groups is available late June through August.

Group Size: 10–35 per group.

Minimum Age:  16 years preferred.  Junior high school aged participants will have more limited work projects available. 
 
Adult to Youth Ratio:  1:5 Adult supervision required.

Accommodations: Groups are housed in a school gymnasium with showers or at a local church.  Group brings own sleeping bags. Church services are available at sponsoring churches.

Cost: Donation of at least $100 per person in the group helps pay for the project materials.  Cluster 13 provides welcome dinner and one evening picnic.  Groups are responsible for other meals.

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Project Hospitality, Inc. (Staten Island)

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Contact: Demmis Reanda
   100 Park Avenue
   Staten Island, NY 10302
Phone: 718.448.1544, ext. 115
Fax:  718.720.5476
Web site: www.projecthospitality.org

Project Hospitality is an interfaith effort to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless and care for people with HIV/AIDS.  Faith in Action is the educational mission program of Project Hospitality.

Project/Focus: Groups will have the opportunity to serve in a soup kitchen and food pantry, assist with cleaning, repair, and painting of homes, prepare meals and help in the clothing pantry at our outreach center.  Groups help in many ways at our emergency, transitional, and family shelters, and meet and talk with people who have experienced homelessness and hunger.

Educational/Advocacy Components: The orientation program includes a history of poverty, homelessness and HIV/AIDS in New York City and the community’s response to it.  There is conversation about current issues and solutions in which Project Hospitality is involved.  Throughout the week groups participate in two educational seminars, one on homelessness and the other on HIV/AIDS.  Clients having dealt with these issues share personal testimonies.  Participants are encouraged to ask questions and continue the discussion upon returning home. Resources and ideas for follow-up on hunger, homelessness, mental illness, living with HIV/AIDS at www.projecthospitality.org under "Issues and Public Policy."  Worship, scripture sharing and theological reflection are integral to the on-site and follow-up experience.

Time: Weeklong mission programs are available year-round. The program runs from Sunday evening until Saturday morning. Please call for a registration packet.

Group Size: Maximum of 20 people per group.

Minimum Age:  Youth must have completed ninth grade. High school, college, adult, and intergenerational groups welcome. 

Adult to Youth Ratio:  1:5, entire group must include 2 adults

Accommodations: Housing at a local church or home and food for your meals will be provided by Project Hospitality. Each participant should bring a sleeping bag, clothing for work and play, and an open mind!

Cost: Total cost is $150 per person for a weeklong trip.  From this amount, a $150 registration deposit for the group (nonrefundable) is required in advance.

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Youth Service Opportunities Project [YSOP] (New York)

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  Check out the video by the Twin Maps Project!

Contact: Lisa Gesson, National Program Director
   15 Rutherford Place
   New York, NY 10003
E-Mail:  lgesson@ysop.org
Phone: 212.598.0973
Web site: www.ysop.org and www.ysop.org/photogallery.htm

YSOP is committed to helping young people become part of the solution to societal problems by showing them how even their smallest actions can make a difference in the lives of others.  YSOP has been a pioneer in the field of service, encouraging community participation and engaged citizenship through direct service to homeless and hungry people.

Project/Focus: Volunteers work with a variety of organizations in the city.  Sites include direct and indirect service at soup kitchens, food and clothing banks, transitional shelters, and other agencies serving people in need.

Educational/Advocacy Components: By combining meaningful volunteer work with a communal living and learning program, YSOPers provide vital services to people in need and at the same time are able to reflect on their experience and broaden their perspectives.  YSOP staff provide an orientation at the beginning of the program and reflections after each period of service.  During weeklong and overnight programs, volunteers cook, serve and share in a meal with homeless and hungry guests one evening during week.  Guest speakers offered during weeklong and overnight programs and upon request.

Time: Daylong, overnight and weeklong mission trips are available year round.

Group Size: 12-20; group size varies depending on program.  Maximum number in a group:  100 (for large groups, please allow up to one year for planning).

Minimum Age:  13 years

Adult to Youth Ratio:  1:5

Accommodations: Simple accommodations in the Friends Meeting House are provided (bring own sleeping bags).  Food, supervision by YSOP staff, orientation, and education/reflection programs are included.  No TVs, radios, music players, alcohol, nonprescription drugs, or smoking.  Weeklong mission trips include time for recreation and sightseeing.

Cost: Depends on program type.  Please call for fees.

See also YSOP in District of Columbia and Philadelphia

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Metro Baptist Church & Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries (New York)

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Contact: Robert Brunson
   410 West 40th Street
   New York, NY 10018
E-Mail:  volunteer@RMMnyc.org
Phone: 212.594.4464
Fax:  212.594.7494
Web site:  www.MBCnyc.org and www.RMMnyc.org 

Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries serves as the social ministry arm of Metro Baptist Church.  Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries coordinates twelve on-going community programs, including among others:  after-school program, Summer day camp, teen center, food pantry, English-as-a-Second-Language classes, and winter clothes closet.  Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries (RMM) seeks to uplift and empower the neighborhood of "Hells' Kitchen" by offering direct services and educational opportunities, which encourage and enable both personal and community growth.  RMM seeks to initiate a renewal of cooperative vision for social ministry in New York City and in urban centers throughout the United States.  Metro Baptist Church is part of the Alliance of Baptists.

Project/Focus:  The service opportunities in the urban immersion program include volunteering at area soup kitchen, food pantries and after-school programs, learning about gang interventions in Brooklyn and touring some of America's oldest churches.

Educational/Advocacy Components: The Urban Immersion program offers the opportunity to learn, listen and serve alongside one another in the heart of New York City.  The goal is to challenge participants to ask difficult questions and explore together how faith fits into this experience.  RMM and Metro staff lead all sessions and debriefing during the group's stay.  Group leaders are welcome to take part in leading these sessions.  RMM coordinates volunteer opportunities and informational sessions with other organizations taking part in justice work in the city.

Time: One week trips booked January - June; August - December

Group Size: 15-25.

Minimum Age:  15 years

Adult to Youth Ratio:  1:10

Accommodations: Fourth floor of the church.  A large dorm room has 18 beds and a small dorm room has 10 beds.  Groups bring their own bed linens.  Housing space includes a communal shower room and bathroom.  Groups have access to the kitchen in the basement fellowship hall.  A mission team lounge includes couches and a computer for the group's use.  be advised that there is no elevator.

Cost: One week:  $3,750 for 15 participants or less with $250 for each additional participant.  The cost for trips of other lengths can be negotiated.

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UCC Disaster Recovery in Up-State New York (Binghamton)

with Broome County Long-Term Recovery Committee and Housing in local UCC church

Your group can help people rebuild lives and properties.

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Contact:  Pam Small, UCC Disaster Ministries' Registrar
Email:  psmall66@gmail.com
Phone:  (812) 401-0433 (Home) (812) 453-3995 (Cell)

On-line Registration

The Disaster Event:  Tropical Storm Lee of September 2011 caused wind damage and resulted in extensive flooding in Broome County, New York and surrounding areas.

Project/Focus:  Long-Term Disaster recovery from Tropical Storm Lee and flooding in September of 2011.  Projects include home repair and rebuilding.

Education Components:

• Preparation for the trip:  "Mission Trips That Matter" by Don C. Richter, Upper Room Books.
• On-Site Reflection:  "Meeting God in the Ruins:  Devotions for Disaster Volunteers" Free copies may be ordered from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America by calling 800.328.4648 (ISBN 6-0001-6788-1); pay shipping only.
• Follow-Up Action:  Help your local community prepare for possible disaster and response.  be sure your local congregation has a plan in case of local disaster (View sample plan).  get to know your UCC Conference Disaster Coordinator and stay involved.

Time:  Long term recovery work continues in 2013.  Arrive Sunday afternoon and depart Saturday morning.  Work  Monday - Friday.

Accommodations:  Housing provided in local United Church of Christ congregations for groups under 15.  Groups of 15-20 people may be housed in other area churches.  UCC Registrar will make arrangements for your group upon receiving your on-line registration.  bathrooms, showers and access to kitchen facilities and utensils are available.

Cost:  $50 per person per week to the host church providing accommodations to help offset costs of utilities and maintenance.  Costs for building materials and tools, and construction supervision provided through Binghamton local partners.  Your donations to One Great Hour of Sharing® help make possible the local work of the Long-Term Recovery Committee.

Minimum Age:  16 years.  Volunteers under age 16 with parent present on-site may be considered.  Volunteers under age 18 have specific waiver forms requiring parent/guardian signature.

Adult to Youth Ratio:  1:5

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UCC Disaster Recovery in Rockaway, NY (Queens County) New York City 
with New York Cares

Rockaway, NY (Queen's County).  The Rockaway Peninsula, informally known as "The Rockaways," is the name of a peninsula of Long Island, all of which is located with in the New York City borough of Queens.  The Rockaways has been a popular summer resort area since the 1830s and is now a mixture of lower, middle, and upper-income neighborhoods.  The Rockaways was devastated by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012.

Contact:  Judy Moore, UCC Disaster Ministries' Registrar
Email:  jmooreucc@gmail.com
Register On-Line 

Work Needed:  Clean-Up Disaster Recovery Stage #2 - The United Church of Christ is partnering with New York Cares for this opportunity to serve.  New York Cares has coordinated service projects for groups and individuals in New York City since the 1990s.  Current projects include Hurricane Sandy clean-up such as muck-out, mold remediation and donation sorting.  If Hurricane Sandy-related projects are not available, groups may be assigned to non-disaster-related projects with a focus on environmental sustainability or direct social service.  Disaster recovery projects are given priority assignments, but groups at this site CANNOT be guaranteed disaster-related projects.  Other projects aid the on-going wellbeing of the community as a whole.  Volunteers serving through this partnership also will NOT be engaged in home repair/rebuilding.

Time:  April 30, 2013 - October 20, 2013.  Work week is Tuesday through Sunday.  Groups arrive on Monday and depart Sunday evening.

Accommodations:  Housing provided at local UCC Church.  Registrar will arrange housing for your group following your on-line registration.  Groups bring own blankets and/or sleeping bags, towels and food.  Bathrooms, showers, and access to laundry and kitchen facilities and utensils are available.

Cost:  $50 per person per week to the host church providing accommodations to help offset costs of utilities and maintenance.  

Minimum Age:  18 years.

Group Size:  Maximum 15.

Orientation:  Digital Orientation for each individual in group REQUIRED by New York Cares before assignment to project.  Log in information will be provided to group leader by UCC Registrar, Judy Moore.  Digital orientation must be completed at least four weeks before time of service.

Education Components:  

• Preparation for the trip:  "Mission Trips That Matter" by Don C. Richter, Upper Room Books.
• On-Site Reflection:  "Meeting God in the Ruins:  Devotions for Disaster Volunteers" Free copies may be ordered from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America by calling 800.328.4648 (ISBN 6-0001-6788-1); pay shipping only.
• Follow-Up Action:  Help your local community prepare for possible disaster and response.  Be sure your congregation has a plan in case of local disaster (View sample plan).  Get to know your UCC Conference Disaster Coordinator and stay involved.