Volunteer Opportunities
At First Christian Church, we believe everyone has something to offer. Whether you have a little time to spare or a lot, your time can make a big impact. If you’re open to lending a hand when the need arises, we’d love to have your help.
Opportunities vary, from supporting local events to simple acts of kindness. Take a look at our current volunteer needs below.
Sunday Morning Help
We are looking for volunteers who are willing to come early on Sunday mornings to help Matthew get the building and grounds ready for members and visitors to come to worship. We hope to find enough folks to help so that we can create a rotating schedule. We would like you to arrive at the church by 8:30 or earlier if possible.
Please speak to Matthew or Pastor Renee if you are interested and able to help on any given Sunday.
Dining for Dollars
Our typical Dining for Dollars isn’t happening this year.
I would like to have a Concert and we can do a silent auction during the Concert. I need volunteers to help with this program. Temple Beth Israel hired Calvin Orlando Smith to do a concert, and it was very successful. If you would like to help, please contact Patty Osborne.
Interfaith Food Hub
Do you remember that Christ said, “When you feed the hungry, you feed me.”?
We know hundreds of community folks who don’t have enough to eat. As a result, volunteers of our Interfaith Food Hub meet weekly to prepare sack lunches. Several faith community volunteers prepare sack lunches for the hungry six days a week. In May, 8061 lunches were passed out to those in need.
Patty Osborne leads about six volunteers on Monday and Wednesday mornings, and MaryAnn Meyers leads a group on Fridays. Several meet at St. Mary’s Episcopal on Tuesdays to prepare chicken salad and egg salad and bake chocolate cookies.
Verna Tjemsland is the coordinating secretary.
Have you considered helping us prepare these lunches? If you’re interested, please call Patty Osborne at 541-953-5547 or Verna Tjemsland at 541-255-5788.
Local Immigrants Need Rides to Portland
You may have heard that the administration is closing the ICE office in Eugene. As of June 1, all immigrants must travel to Portland to comply with requirements for mandatory check-ins and court hearings. If they miss their appointment, they’ll be put on the list to be deported.
The stakes are high. There are currently just a few volunteers transporting and accompanying people to ICE, and we anticipate the move to Portland will cause a spike in numbers. Local migrants desperately need people to take them to Portland for ICE check-ins and federal court hearings.
We’re thinking of a team of two volunteers for each trip; one driver and one partner who ideally speaks the language of the clients (usually Spanish), or who could share driving. Appointments in Portland are almost always on weekdays and in the morning (it’s perfect for retirees!). Volunteers will sit with the family during the hearing; one will take notes and the other will just be generally supportive. Often it’s an early morning appointment, so the timing could be around 5:30 a.m. to noon.
To do this work, 2.5 hours of training are required, and the Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (IMIRJ) in Portland is willing to conduct that for us as soon as possible. They ask for a 3-month commitment following the training.
If you would like to participate in this program, please contact Pastor Zane or Pastor Renee in the Office.
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