Organization Policies
Our Vision: We transform lives through relationships that build resiliency and thriving communities.
Our Key Values: Trust - Love - Service - Solidarity - Boldness - Grit
It is the policy of Catholic Charities to staff volunteer positions with the best-qualified people regardless of race, color, national origin, age, gender, disability or veteran status.
Please note the minimum age to volunteer at Catholic Charities is 13 years old on weekdays and 14 years old on weekends.
Current Greatest Volunteer Needs(a complete listing of volunteer opportunities are detailed further on in the application):
Family Connections needs volunteers Sept. 11 from 9am to 12pm and Sept. 12-14 for 9am to 12pm or1pm to 4pm shifts to sort and process a large donation of children's clothing from the Just Between Friends sale. One shift or multiple will be of great help. These clothes help many kids!
Catholic Charities Castle Rock is launching a Parent's Café in September to be held on the first and third Tuesdays of every month from 6 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Childcare volunteers are needed to look after and care for the children’s safety while the parents attend the café. The Parent's Café offers a time for families to connect with each other, build relationships and offer support in a safe space. Volunteers will not do any toileting but will lead activities or provide a bottle or snack. Minimum age to volunteer is 18 years old or . Background check required.
The Digital Literacy Program volunteer positions listed below will have some evening and Saturday volunteer needs.
Digital Literacy Workshop Facilitator: With the support of the Digital Equity Program Manager, prepare and lead a lesson plan within the guidelines of Catholic Charities curriculum for one-time workshops. Topics may include workshops on accessing affordable internet access and internet-capable devices, signing up for and using email, how to access benefit applications, job searches, and other topics that will support participants in their achievement of important milestones in their stability. Workshops may be located at Hanifen Employment Center, Helen Hunt Campus, and/or other community partner locations in Southeast Colorado Springs. *Bilingual Volunteers Needed*
Technology Support Specialist: Support the mobile lab in reaching areas of Southeast Colorado Springs that face barriers to accessing internet-connected devices. Will also be available for technical support for participants with their devices or the mobile lab, including answering questions about how to reset passwords, instructions on how to access/navigate a specific resource online, and other basic computer and internet skills. Mobile lab and drop-in hours may be located at Hanifen Employment Center, Helen Hunt Campus, and/or other community partner locations in Southeast Colorado Springs. *Bilingual Volunteers Needed*
Digital Literacy Instructor: With the support of the Digital Equity Program Manager, prepare and lead lesson plans within guidelines of Catholic Charities curriculum guidelines for a 7-9 week digital literacy course. Courses will include topics of basic computer skills, basic internet skills, Google Suite, and email and may be located at Hanifen Employment Center, Helen Hunt Campus, and/or other community partner locations in Southeast Colorado Springs. *Bilingual Volunteers Needed*
Marian House Kitchen is seeking volunteers to greet and check guests in for the meal. Volunteers must be comfortable with computers. Weekends are in most need for this 10:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. shift.
Marian House Marketplace, a shopping format food pantry, needs Bi-lingual Spanish speaking Shopping Assistant volunteers from 1:15pm to 3:15pm or 3:00pm to 5:15pm. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and Tuesdays and Thursdays 2:45pm to 5:15pm to guide shoppers through the Marketplace. If interested, please ask us for more details!
Family Connections is seeking Site Coordinator volunteers to welcome families and assist them in obtaining basic needs. The Site Coordinator also assists with checking voicemails and scheduling appointments for showers, laundry, computers, and the clothing closet. Bilingual English-Spanish preferred but not required. Shifts are 8:45 am to 3 pm with Monday through Friday possibilities. 8:45 am to 12 pm and 12 pm to 3 pm shifts are also possible. Please join us in making a difference for families today!
[If you are looking for court ordered community service hours, click here]
Policy and Wavier:
Catholic Charities of Central Colorado screens to provide a safe environment for children participating in our programs and/ or on our premises. A signed release will be required for all volunteers directly interacting with children. This release will provide Catholic Charities the authority to conduct a background check and talk to past supervisors where applicant work/ volunteered with children's organizations and programs. Abuse of children is taken very seriously, and all outcries or reports of abuse are reported to police or Child Protective Services (CPS), and we fully comply with requests from authorities investigating child abuse. Catholic Charities has adopted policies/ procedures specifically created to safeguard children in its programs. Contact/ interaction with children in all program contexts will be randomly monitored.
Volunteering with Catholic Charities of Central Colorado is at-will. Volunteers have the right to end their volunteer relationship with the agency, with or without advance notice, for any reason. The agency has the same right.
The undersigned acknowledges and understands that accidents resulting in injury occasionally occur during such activities as the undersigned will be engaging in. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned hereby agrees to fully assume any and all risk of harm or injury which may occur to the undersigned during any activity, and to release and hold harmless Catholic Charities and its officers, agents, employees, and other volunteers from any claims or causes of action as set forth above. Finally, it is understood and agreed that this waiver, release, and assumption of risk is binding on the heirs, successors, and assigns of the undersigned.
Harassment:
Harassment is prohibited and includes:
- Abusive language, derogatory statements, gossip and disrespectful comments, slurs, and innuendos;
- Assault, battery, bullying, unwanted touching, rude gestures, and sexual advances;
- Inappropriate posters, drawings, electronic images, text messages, e-mails, and social media postings.
Every volunteer who witnesses or is a victim of harassment should immediately report the matter to management. All complaints of harassment will be investigated. Volunteers must cooperate with any investigation.
Volunteers must comply with The Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and all provisions of the Diocese Sexual Misconduct Policy presented further on in this application.
Some people have medical conditions where touch is painful; also, some of our clients may have life experiences that make unsolicited touch distressful. For your safety and the safety of the people we serve and volunteer with, please request a client’s permission before providing supportive physical contact of any kind to assist a person who appears to need it. You can offer or accept a handshake at your own discretion. Both physical contact with a client who has expressed a reservation, or inappropriate physical contact of any kind regardless of client consent, are unacceptable.
Proselytizing:
This can be defined as efforts to induce someone to convert to one's faith or to recruit someone to join one’s party, institution, or cause. Volunteers for Catholic Charities of Central Colorado are prohibited from proselytizing in any capacity. Our services are not contingent on individuals participating in our faith or any faith. However, this does not prohibit productive or helpful spiritual discussion, especially when invited to do so by the people you meet. Do not argue with people about the faith. Rather, find a compassionate way to share the truth.
Dress Code at All Locations:
Volunteers are expected to be neat, clean, and professional, consistent with their work situation and applicable safety concerns. In general, the following are not appropriate:
- Visible tattoos that are violent, discriminatory, abusive, offensive, or demeaning in nature
Clothing with graphics that reflect any form of violent, discriminatory, abusive, offensive, demeaning, or otherwise unprofessional message
- Clothing which is revealing, tight-fitting, sheer or provocative. No yoga pants/leggings.
- Clothing which is torn, dirty, worn or contains holes.
- Shorts, halter tops, crop tops, tube tops.
- Mini-skirts or skirts with high slits.
- Flip flops, slippers, or beach footwear.
- Poor hygiene.
- Strong fragrances.
- Additional Requirements at the Marian House Kitchen: Shoes must be closed-toed, closed-heeled, and slip-resistant. Skirts will be permitted if religious practice dictates; however, job duties may be modified to accommodate compliance with existing health codes and Marian House safety practices. The wearing of jewelry is discouraged. If you wear a watch, it must be covered by a glove (provided by Marian House) or removed. No headphones or cell phone use while working. If hair is below the chin or touches the shoulder, it must be tied back. If you have an open wound, management must be notified upon your arrival. A complete listing of Soup Kitchen dress code requirements will be provided in an orientation document.
