Wednesday, March 10, 2010

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Long-term Volunteering


“I learned that service in its truest sense is not about only volunteering—but about devoting your life and all your work to Christ and putting all of your heart into all you do each day. This is a completely priceless experience and there are indescribable things to learn from it.”—Laura LeCompte, Housing


Long-term CAP volunteers make a commitment of 9-12 months. Most of our long-term volunteers are either recent high school or college graduates engaged in post-graduate volunteering, or retirees who want to continue to make a difference in their “encore careers.” Because of the greater time commitment they are making, long-term volunteers are able to take on more involved service positions that require someone willing to give the time and energy needed to address Appalachia’s most persistent challenges. CAP has rolling admissions, so you may begin your service commitment at any time.

Benefits of Long-term Volunteering

Making a long-term commitment can be a significant financial sacrifice, and CAP offers the following benefits to long-term volunteers to help make volunteering more affordable and to ease the concerns that your family may have:

Requirements

To become a long-term CAP volunteer, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Minimum age of 18 years old
  • Be dependable and flexible
  • Have the willingness to share in community life
  • Have a sense of humor
  • Desire to serve others
  • 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 test upon arrival at CAP.

Please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information about long-term volunteering.

Pillars of CAP Volunteer Life

Volunteers at CAP make an equal commitment to service, community and spirituality. Follow the links below to learn how each element 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 houses 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, and to foster a spiritual environment, volunteers gather for prayer and reflection after weekday dinners.