Volunteer Opportunities

The Council of Churches is always looking for volunteers.  Below are some of our programs and their opportunities. You can view our Volunteer Opportunites Flyer here.

Faith In Action Volunteers
Faith in Action Volunteers serves over 400 registered clients with 300 active, trained volunteer caregivers.  Volunteer opportunities include driving clients to medical appointments, assist clients with learning to live healthier, assist clients with grocery shopping and even to help build wheelchair ramps with area youth.  A 90-minute orientation is required for Faith in Action Volunteers.

CHOW Program
The CHOW (Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse) Program offers food assistance to individuals and families in Broome County.  Volunteer opportunities include driving helping the CHOW Warehouse, cleaning, assisting in the referral office, planting the CHOW Farm and assisting in various food drives.

Flood Ministry - Faith Partners in Recovery
‘Faith Partners in Recovery,’ a group of faith-based organizations united by the same goal: “to help families who don’t have adequate resources to get back into their homes and be restored physically and spiritually”, was formed in early 2012 after the flood of 2011. Faith Partners currently include the First Presbyterian Churches of Endicott & Johnson City, the UCC First Congregational Church in Binghamton, UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief), the Broome County Council of Churches, and the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity. We receive sites through Case Management that Catholic Charities does in conjunction with the BCCOAD.

We have worked from complete rebuilds (primarily first floor) to just basements, porches or window replacement. If you are interested in helping rebuild homes (different skill levels required) please email Sharon Early at Sharon@firstpresendicott.org.  For additional information, visit the Faith Partners’ website at www.FaithPartnersInRecovery.org.

Jail Ministry Program
The Jail Ministry team is comprised of two full-time staff persons and nearly 100 volunteers who minister to both the needs of those who are incarcerated or recently released, and their families. The Jail Ministry is a program that has very strict requirements if you are to volunteer in the Broome County Correctional Facility.  They require a Jail ID and Security Clearance.  We do have some volunteer opportunities that occur outside the facility – see the Volunteer Opportunities Flyer below for more detail.

Hospital Ministry Program
A Hospital Ministry Volunteer would offer emotional and/or spiritual support for patients and their families.  The pastoral volunteer needs to be adept in interpersonal listening skills to be open to the diversity of faiths and to be sensitive to the necessity for confidentiality. The Hospital Ministry does have stricter requirements.  You will need the following before becoming a volunteer for this program:

• At least two references
• 50 hours per year minimum commitment
• Vehicle registration
• An interview and a no-cost initial health assessment after the interview which includes a drug test