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| Clayton Miller (left) serves with the YMCA in Raleigh, N.C. Photo: Susan Nisly |
Welcome to the Piedmont of North Carolina! North Carolina’s capital, the city Raleigh is situated in the north-central part of the state and is the political center of North Carolina. Two hours from the coast and three hours from the Blue Ridge Mountains, Raleigh is a vibrant and culturally diverse city of 350,000 residents with over 150 parks and museums. The city is also a part of the "Triangle" formed by Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. These three cities form a triangle on the map and are known for their many biotech and technology related research companies. The "Triangle" is also home to over a dozen colleges and universities. Most well known of these universities are Duke, the University of North Carolina and North Carolina State University, which is located only a couple of miles from our unit house. Also in Raleigh are Meredith College, Shaw University, St. Augustine’s College, and Peace College. These learning institutions add to the diverse culture of the area and provide numerous opportunities to attend cultural, sporting, arts, and academic events. Our Service Adventure house is located in the Mordecai Historic District, a small community only two blocks from Raleigh Mennonite Church and 8-10 blocks from downtown Raleigh. Since its founding in 1997, Service Adventure has become an active and vital part of Raleigh Mennonite Church (RMC), which is a vibrant congregation of approximately 75 members, including several church members who also live in the neighborhood.
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Purple Elephant is a non-profit faith-based organization that recycles and refurbishes donated computers to provide low-cost, internet-ready personal computers to children of needy families. http://www.purpleelephant.org/
- Technical Assistant
The participant would serve in all aspects of the organization’s work, including sorting donated computers, testing and diagnosing computer components, installing hardware and updating software, rearranging stock shelves, and cleaning the work space.
Arts Together is a non-profit community organization that seeks to provide opportunities for art education, creative expression, and personal development through art, drama, and dance to a broad range of the local community, from young to old. Arts Together operates a preschool with an arts-based curriculum, available for children from the community regardless of financial means. http://www.artstogether.org/
- Educational Associate
The participant could serve in any area of the Arts Together program, including assisting teachers in the Multi-Arts Preschool with instruction in art, dance, and drama classes, assisting arts activities with senior citizens, and assisting with administrative tasks.
Growing Together Preschool is a free half-day early childhood education program for three and four year olds living in the Walnut Terrace public housing community in Raleigh, N.C. Its goal is to assist preschoolers in developing appropriate social skills and reading readiness skills in order to prepare them for success in kindergarten.
- Teacher Assistant
The assistant helps the teacher in the classroom, on the playground, and on field trips. Specific in-class tasks include setting up the room, reading to the children, supervising learning centers, leading circle time activities, and serving lunch.
The participant has the option of combining the following Habitat assignments.
- Construction Assistant
Participant works with the local Habitat construction crews to build new affordable housing for qualifying people with low incomes. Some construction experience is helpful.
- Deconstruction Assistant
Participant works on a deconstruction team to salvage usable materials from homes slated for demolition to be reused or sold at the ReUse Center. No previous construction experience is required.
- ReUse Center Assistant
Participant works at the Habitat warehouse recycling used construction materials for sale to the public. Responsibilities include unloading, stocking, and cutting lumber.
Methodist Home for Children operates preschool and foster care programs for children.
- Jordan Center Preschool — Teacher Assistant
This is a main streaming preschool for children, infants through four years, and their families of varied income and needs. Responsibilities include assisting in the classrooms, recess and play, and other activities.
The Ten Thousand Villages store is a non-profit, fair trade, retail store that sells crafts from around the world providing a market and fair prices to the artisans. Ten Thousand Villages works with over 35 developing countries to help improve the quality of life for the artisans, their families, and their communities.
- Sales Associate
Responsibilities include greeting customers, explaining the mission of fair trade, ability to tell the stories of our products and the artisans who make the items, help customers find the items they need, and checking out customers through the register. Other responsibilities include stocking, straightening up displays and light cleaning. Customer relations and self initiative skills are a must.
Urban Ministries is a network of services that includes a health clinic, crisis intervention, food pantry, and homeless shelter. Service opportunities are numerous and can be combined. They include:
- Pharmacy Assistant
Open Door Clinic. This clinic service provides medications to homeless and lower income people. Responsibilities include working with the pharmacist, organizing the pharmacy, keeping medication inventory current, maintaining records, and providing medications to the clients. Certification as a pharmacist assistant can be earned through this placement.
- Medical Assistant
Open Door Clinic. This clinic program provides medical care to homeless and lower income people. Responsibilities include working in the clinic pharmacy, assisting medical personnel, eligibility interviewing, keeping medical records, scheduling appointments, and other administrative tasks.
- Intake Assistant
Crisis Intervention. Program provides basic services to people in crisis. Responsibilities include interviewing and assessing patients needs for financial and food assistance.
- Food Pantry Assistant
The food pantry stocks and distributes food to persons in need and works closely with crisis intervention services. Responsibilities include working with others to organize and maintain the food inventory and its distribution to the clients.
- Resource Development Assistant
This department recruits and orients volunteers, plans and coordinates special events, promotes the agency, and makes community contacts. Responsibilities include assisting the staff as needed in these tasks. Communication and computer skills are an asset.
- Homeless Services Aide — Helen Wright Center for Women
The Helen Wright Center for Women provides emergency and transitional housing, meals and support for women. Responsibilities in client services include managing the front desk, checking in residents, interacting with residents, and helping prepare the meal, serve and cleanup. This is an evening placement as the shelter opens at 4:00 pm.
The YMCA program of Raleigh offers after school care at several local elementary schools. Responsibilities include working with a team to provide recreation, homework assistance, and other activities.
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