Opportunities to Serve

Check this page periodically for opportunities to serve others. We will list all sorts of ways that you can serve others from ACTC food collections to Habitat for Humanity work days to needs at other local organizations. If you have something we didn't list, feel free to let us know.

Seasonal | Mailing List | Regular | At Central | Other Organizations | Other links

Financial Support of Various Ministries

As of late there have been many appeals in the bulletin for worthy ministries inside or outside of Central that need financial support. This congregation is extremely generous, but we don't want to over-burden you. Before giving to any of these appeals please pray for the Lord's direction. You shouldn't, and are not expected to, give to everything. We trust that by making the congregation aware of some worthy needs out there, the Lord will lead the right people to give to these good causes. Let your money follow where your prayers lead you.

Current & Seasonal Opportunities

"The design of giving is to produce joy and satisfaction in the heart of the donor, and wonder and appreciation in the soul of the recipient. It's ultimate aim is to bring glory to the One from whom every good and perfect gift comes. Joyful giving is no un-thinking, pity response of a too soft or too busy heart. Rather it is a mindful, careful investment that ignites and affirms the dignity of the human spirit. The unadulterated joy of a quiet unexpected gift, well given, is still its own rich reward."

• Mercy Ships General Teams Vicki Niebel, who Central helps to support in her ministry with Mercy Ships, writes that there are available positions on General Teams going to Jamaica June 2-26, June 16-26 and June 30-July 10; Honduras June 16-26 and August 4-14. Health Teams are going to Honduras August 10-17, October 3-10 and December 12-19. Contact Vicki if you are interested in any of these opportunities. Posted 5/20/07.

• Handymen (& Women) Needed
  Baltimore Christian School located in North Baltimore City is one of the most affordable private schools in the city which allows many lower to middle income families to experience the benefits of a quality private school. Without the help of volunteers we would not be able to provide this experience for local families. Please consider helping us paint, make small repairs and build shelves in order to provide a safe and attractive building. Please contact Kevin Good if you are interested in helping. Carpentry and electrical skills are helpful, but not essential. Just a couple hours of your time sharing your skills can make a big difference at our school. Posted 5/20/2007.

• Christian Community Center
  The Christian Community Center can use women's summer clothes (larger sizes too) and summer clothes and swim suits for children of all ages, including high school. Please check your closets and if you have things that you could donate, leave them under the table by the bathrooms at the end of the Concourse, clearly marked CCC. If you have any questions, call Gail Seward. Posted 5/20/2007.

• Sarah's Hope Outreach Center
  Pick up a flyer in the Concourse for a list of needed donations to Sarah's Hope. Items requested include trial size toiletries, personal care items and non-perishable food and kitchen items. Contact Maria Wetherington for more information. Posted 6/26/05.

• Blood Donations
  Note: Maryland is currently experiencing a severe ON-GOING shortage of blood, so PLEASE donate!!! Please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule a donation at one of the area centers.

• Old Cell Phones? Empty Printer Cartridges
  Genesis Jobs, Inc., a ministry supported by Central Presbyterian Church which counsels persons needing jobs, is collecting old or unused cell phones and empty printer cartridges. Place these items in the marked boxes found in the Concourse on the counter to the right of the entrance to the Sanctuary. Genesis Jobs will complete the process. Monies generated by the collection will help to fund the work of Genesis Jobs in the Baltimore area. If you have any questions contact Dick Williams.

Regular Opportunities

• Our Daily Bread
  Members of Central often volunteer help serve at ODB. (See also needs)

• Habitat for Humanity
  Each month Central sends a group of volunteers to help work on a house in Sandtown under Habitat for Humanity on the 2nd and 3rd saturday's. Habitat is a Christian ministry which is committed to providing quality affordable housing to low-income families. Habitat does this by building or renovating homes together with families in need. Even those without a lot of construction know-how can learn some skills and help out in many areas. Each summer there are week-long short-term missions teams that go as well. Would you like to be part of His army in Sandtown? Join now! Make the difference in an old house, an historic neighborhood, and in the lives of thousands. For more information call, Dick Wallace, Al Finch or Scott Corey.
  • Sandtown Habitat for Humanity
  • Centinel article: You Won't Believe This...

• Sarah's Hope Opportunities
  If you, your small group or circle are looking for a meaningful serving opportunity, join a group that visits Sarah's Hope Day Resource Center on the 3rd Thursday of each month to serve lunch for 35-50 homeless women and children. Central provides recipes and money to purchase ingredients. While there, help is offered in the laundry room and kids' craft room as well as the kitchen. Call Maria Wetherington, if you are interested or need more information. Jean Politt goes every Thursday, providing activities for the children at the center. She would be glad to have you join her. (posted 4/26/2005)

• Assistance Center for Towson Churches (ACTC)
  March and september are Central's months to stock the shelves at the Assistance Center of Towson Churches. Bags can be left under the coat rack. Your support is part of what makes this Christian service possible. (See a list of needs and NV: ACTC Volunteers!)

• Care Teams
  More information soon. In the meantime, see a deacon for info.

• Hospital Visitation: If you are interested and willing to be called upon visit and encourage people in the hospital, please call the Church Office.

Volunteering at Central

• Children's Ministry. Contact the CM office for an application.

• Diaconate Ministries, volunteers needed to help with Coffee Time ministry once a month; Greeters; Drivers; Visitation Ministry; Arranging flowers.

• Drivers Needed: Drivers are needed for rides to and from the church, doctors, dentists, pharmacies, grocery stores, the airport, etc. For more information, please call Barbara Ellingson or Sally Guiles.

• Trustee Work Days around the Church. Contact Art Moorshead.

• Ushering. Contact Gerry Espey

• In the Church Office. Contact Janice Chubski.

• Central's Student Ministry Needs Your Help. It has been exciting to see the ways in which our middle and high school youth programs are growing. However, we now have a greater need for more youth advisors and Sunday school teachers. If you think that the Lord might be calling you to work with our young people, please get in touch with Bill Pitts.

• If you are interested and willing to be called upon to visit and encourage people in the hospital, please call the Church Office (410-823-6145).

• Join the Worship Arts Team!
  Have you ever wondered what it takes to make Sunday morning services happen? Are you interested in eq's and jpegs? Major 5ths and downstage cues? Lighting and hosting artists? Praying for the 30+ current team members and pastors? The Worship Arts Team is looking for creative and committed servants to join our team in the areas of sound and visual arts, music and drama, and hosting and prayer. Training is available for those with a basic understanding of their area of interest. Please email Eileen Gathman (Eileen@centralpc.org) to find out more about getting involved. (posted 8/2006)

• Music Ministry Volunteer Opportunities Abound!
  Contact Eileen Gathman (Mosaic Worship Team) or Tom Brantigan (10am/Traditional/Choir) . Short term as well as long term volunteer opportunities are available. Non-musical help in areas such as tech needs, music library support, sound operators and projection/multimedia support is also needed. Training will be provided if needed.

Other Organizations Seeking Volunteers

We often hear of other opportunities or other organizations seeking volunteers. The contact at CPC for local area ministries is Phyllis DeSmit, missions@centralpc.org or 410-823-6145 ext. 223.

• The Pickersgill Retirement Community, 615 Chestnut Avenue, is seeking adult volunteers to serve as friendly visitors for our residents and help with other tasks. If you are interested, please contact Peggy Castagna. Posted 3/14/04.

• Shepherd's Clinic - Interested in volunteering? How about at the Shepherd's Clinic on Saint Paul Street. Call if you are interested in ministering to the uninsured in need of quality healthcare. They need:
  • Physical therapists
  • Physicians, nurses, physician assistants
  • Clerical workers to answer phones, etc.
  • Drivers to deliver specimens
  Posted 1/26/03.

• Genesis Jobs needs some volunteers now!
  We are looking for a retiree or someone in transition who desires to help others. It's hard to top helping someone with challenges find a job. There are several open volunteer positions:
  • Greeter - Greet the clients, help them be prepared to meet with a Job Counselor.
  • Job Counselor - Help clients to plan and execute their job search. Coach them to improve their search. Work with full-time staff and volunteers to identify appropriate job opportunities.
  • Follow-up Counselor - Contact clients in first year of job to support them through the transitions and challenges of a new job.
  The Greeter and Job Counselor positions are either morning or afternoon once a week. Follow-up Counselors work evenings. Contact Scott Corey for more information. Posted 6/18/06.

• Greater Baltimore Crisis Pregnancy Center - If you would like to make a difference in the lives of young women who are facing a crisis pregnancy, prayerfully consider becoming a volunteer at one of the Greater Baltimore Crisis Pregnancy Center's three locations. The ministry is especially in need of morning and afternoon counselors, receptionists and hotliners to serve 3-4 hours per week. No experience is necessary. Hotliners can serve from home. Please call for an information packet. Please base your decision on availability, not ability!!

• MEDBANK Volunteers Needed MEDBANK of Maryland, Inc is a non-profit agency with an office located in Towson that helps low-income, chronically ill and uninsured patients get free medicine. We are looking for volunteers to help patients apply to drug companies to get their needed medicines for free. Possible opportunities include: calling patients to verify information, updating patient files and checking scanned documents for accuracy. Computer and communication skills are a plus. Contact us by phone and email (410-821-9262, ext. 127 or aharris AT medbankmd.org). Posted 6/30/04.

• Helping Up Mission - Volunteers are needed in building repairs, painting, kitchen, Thrift store, event planning, basic education, GED, computer literacy, and lots more! Donations of clothing, household items, and vehicles are accepted. Call: Helping Up Mission, Development Office (410-327-5296).

• Greater Baltimore Medical Center
  • GBMC Spiritual Support Services - Looking for a deeper purpose in your life? GBMC is seeking members of the faith communities to share in offering support to our patient population. If you have a listening ear, a willing heart for others, and a few hours to give each week, please contact Joe Hart Hospital Chaplain in Spiritual Support Services at GBMC (443-849-2056) to learn more about being a member of our volunteer team. Posted 2/2005.

  • GBMC is looking for members of the community who are interested in assisting us as volunteers. If you are willing to contribute four hours per week, have a caring heart and a listening ear; we have a volunteer position for you. For more information, contact the Volunteer Services office at GBMC (410-828-2050).

• Joseph Richey Hospice seeks patient care, kitchen, laundry, garden and administrative volunteers. Posted 3/21/2001.
  

• The Hospice of Baltimore, a non-profit hospice serving patients throughout the Baltimore area, provides support to patients and families during the end stages of a terminal illness. We are currently seeking volunteers to work in a variety of capacities from emotional support to families to administrative support in our office. We have volunteer training available. If you are interested in volunteering or in learning more about our programs, please contact Alicia Corson, Director of Volunteer Services, Hospice of Baltimore (410/512-8200).

• Stella Maris Hospice is currently recruiting Hospice volunteers for an Inpatient Unit at Mercy Medical Center. Volunteers provide personal care and emotional support to our terminally ill patients and their families. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please call Yvonne Vojik for an application and an interview.

• Stella Maris!
  Stella Maris is seeking volunteers to be feeders for elderly residents. Feeders are responsible for feeding long-term residents who cannot feed themselves. Mandatory training is provided. Volunteers are needed every day of the week, but especially during the evenings and weekends. Stella Maris is located at 2300 Dulaney Valley Road in Timonium, Maryland. For more information, please call John McLoughlin, Director of Volunteer Services (410-252-4500, ext. 7315). (posted 1/1/2006)

• VolunteerMatch: Baltimore provides an online database for matching volunteers with local opportunities and organizations. Contributing organizations post their own opportunities, giving volunteers easy access to an accurate and diverse source of one-time and ongoing activities.

• Volunteer Central Hands on Baltimore Transformed; Another network specializing in matching volunteers with needs in baltimore.

See Also:

• Diaconate and Care Teams
• Social Action Ministries at CPC
• Assistance Center of Towson Churches (ACTC) (Needs)
• ACTC: helping stranded or homeless individuals
• Christian Community Center (Needs)
• Genesis Jobs
• Greater Baltimore Crisis Pregnancy Center
• Habitat for Humanity
• Helping Up Mission
• MEDBANK of Maryland
• Our Daily Bread (Needs)
• Catholic Charities of Md
• Shepherd's Clinic
• Paraclete Ministry
• Organizations Supported by Central Presbyterian Missions
• Links to Christian Organizations