Shop for Food Pantry-
Use your own vehicle to pick up goods for free meals and/or food pantries.
Where: St. Vincent de Paul, Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC), Local Food Pantries
Time Needed: 2 hours
Contact information:
- CMC: Steve Maurice, 608-661-3512
- St. Vincent de Paul-Madison: 608-278-2920
- Local pantries in your area
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Food Pantry Distribution/Stocking
Assist area food pantries to distribute food and to stock shelves.
Where: Catholic Multicultural Center, St. Vincent de Paul, Local Food Pantries
Time Needed: 2-3 hours
Contact Information:
- CMC: Steve Maurice, 608-661-3512
- St. Vincent de Paul-Madison: 608-278-2920
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Food Pantry Receptionist
Greet visitors, provide intake forms to customers requesting assistance, answer phone calls, enter customer information into a computer database.
Where: St. Vincent de Paul- Madison
Time Needed: 4 hours
Contact Information
- St. Vincent de Paul- Madison, 608-278-2920
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Food Pantry Closer
Assist in the cleaning and reorganizing of the facility after daily operation.
Where: t. Vincent de Paul- Madison
Time Needed: 2 hours
Contact Information:
- St. Vincent de Paul- Madison: 608-278-2920
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Meal Program Volunteer
Prepare or serve a free meal to those in need.
Where: Catholic Multicultural Center
Time Needed: 3 hours
Contact Information:
- Steve Maurice 608-661-3512
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St. Vincent de Paul Stores
Volunteers are needed to clean, sort merchandise, and general labor projects.
Where: St. Vincent de Paul stores
Time Needed: 2 hours
Contact Information:
- Your Local St. Vincent de Paul store
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Childcare Volunteers
Help take care of children during regularly scheduled English as a Second Language class times.
Where: Catholic Multicultural Center
Time Needed: 2-4 hours
Contact Information:
- Steve Maurice 608-661-3512
Catholic Social Teaching: Call to Family, Community, and Participation
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Gardening
Keep the CMC or your local parish grounds looking beautiful.
Where: Catholic Multicultural Center;Local parish or school
Time Needed: 1 hour/week
Contact Information:
- CMC: Andy Russell 608-661-3512
- Your local parish or school
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English as a Second Language Classes
Prepare lessons for classes to teach English to adults. *Training is necessary
Where: Catholic Multicultural Center
Time Needed: 3 hours/week
Contact Information:
- Andy Russell 608-661-3512 (prior teaching a plus)
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Host Volunteers
Assist in the daily operations of the CMC, greeting people, cleaning, monitoring the computer lab, organizing the pantry, helping people look for employment, and acting as a “goodwill ambassador.”
Where: Catholic Multicultural Center
Time Needed: 3-6 hours/week
Contact Information:
- Andy Russell 608-661-3512 (Spanish knowledge is a plus)
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Homework Club Volunteers
Help needed from 4:00-5:30 Monday through Friday to help tutor children with homework in all subjects.
Where: Catholic Multicultural Center
Time Needed: 1.5-2 hours/week
Contact Information:
- Andy Russell 608-661-3512
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Work of Human Hands Sale or Fair Trade Coffee and/or Chocolate Sale
Sell handcrafts from developing countries or fair trade coffee and/or chocolate after Masses, at bazaars, etc.
Where: Local Parish
Time Needed: 5-10 hours/sale
Contact Information:
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Greeting or Holiday Cards
Make cards to cheer someone up: children in hospitals, the elderly in nursing homes, etc.
Where: Create at home with friends then visit and distribute or send them to the location
Time Needed: 1-2 hours
Contact Information:
- Your local nursing homes, hospitals, etc.
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Visit Residents in Nursing Homes
Form individual or group relationships through visits and activities with residents.
Where: Various Nursing Homes
Time Needed: 1-2 hours/week/month
Contact Information:
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Working With Adults With Developmental Disabilities
Assist program participants with daily community integration or with leisure skills.
Where: Community Connections in Janesville
Time Needed: 1-2 hours
Contact Information:
- Dione Heath, 608-758-8180
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Special Olympics
Help with Special Olympics events.
Where: Various locations throughout Diocese
Time Needed: 2-6 hours
Contact Information :
- Special Olympics, 608-221-2900 or 800-679-6751
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Special Olympics Coaching
Volunteer as a coach for a variety of sports. Must commit 6-10 week session.
Where: Various locations throughout Diocese
Time Needed: 2-6 hours
Contact Information:
- Special Olympics, 608-221-2900 or 800-679-6751
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United Way of Dane County
Various volunteer activities, some ongoing, some one at a time, various times and degree of experience needed.
Where: Various locations throughout the Diocese
Time Needed: Varies
Contact Information:
- United Way of Dane County 608-246-4380
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Advocacy
People interested in helping to give politicians direction on state and national policies can become more informed and better able to work as an advocate by utilizing the tools supplied by Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS).
Where: Local parish or community
Time Needed: 1-2 hours/week
Contact Information:
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Catholic Campaign for Human Development
People interested in structural change on poverty issues. *For more info visit: www.usccb.org/cchd
Where: Various locations throughout Diocese
Time Needed: Varies
Contact Information:
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Rural Advocacy
People interested in improving conditions in rural areas.
Where: National Catholic Rural Life Conference
Contact Information:
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Respect Life Advocacy
People interested in advocating for the sanctity of human life.
Where: Local Community or Office of Justice & Pastoral Outreach
Time Needed: Varies
Contact Information:
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Participate in a 40 Days for Life Vigil
40 Days for Life is a community-based campaign that draws attention to the evil of abortion through the use or prayer and fasting, constant vigil, and community outreach.
Where: Planned Parenthood 3706 Orin Road, Madison
Time Needed: Varies
Contact Information:
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Write a Letter
Write to the Senate or Congress regarding social justice issues such as immigration, war ,and food/other crises.
Where: At home or anywhere!
Time Needed:1 hour
Contact Information:
Catholic Social Teaching: Rights and Responsibilities
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Speak to Elected Officials
Write, call, or email elected officials and tell them that global warming is a religious issue, that the U.S. must participate in strong and fair international agreements and adopt strong national policy.
Where: At home or anywhere!
Time Needed: Varies
Contact Information:
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Organize a Food and/or Clothing Drive
Get the community to donate food and unwanted clothing to benefit the needy.
Where: Local parish or community
Time Needed: Several hours
Contact Information:
- Local food pantries, homeless shelters, etc
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Bake Sale for Poverty
Hold a bake sale to raise awareness for poverty. Donate the profits to Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Where: Local parish or community
Time Needed: 3-4 hours
Contact Information:
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Babies in Need
Make baby supply kits to newborns in need and donate to your local pregnancy center.
Where: Local parish or community
Time Needed: 2-3 hours
Contact Information:
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Habitat for Humanity
Help combat homelessness and poverty housing by volunteering for Habitat for Humanity to help build homes.
Where: Local Habitat for Humanity
Time Needed: Varies
Contact Information:
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Prayer for Solidarity
Organize a prayer service for global solidarity.
Where: Local parish
Time Needed: Varies
Cotnact Information:
Catholic Soical Teaching: Solidarity
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Planting Trees
Help to renew the face of the earth and encourage tree planting in your community, especially near streams. *Don’t forget about your tree after you plant it!
Where: Local parish or community
Time Needed: 1-2 hours
Contact Information:
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Cut Down on Pollution
Find out what types of public transportation options are available in your area and make the information available to your parish or school.
Where: Local community
Time Needed: Varies
Contact Information:
- Local chamber of commerce
- City representative
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Adopt a highway or waterway
Support efforts to clean up litter and make a difference for the environment.
Where: Local community
Time Needed: 1-2 hours
Contact Information:
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Environmental Awareness Day
Suggest and help organize an environmental awareness day at your parish or school.
Where: Local parish or community
Time Needed: Varies
Contact Information:
- Local parish or community
- Check out www.energystar.gov for ideas specific to congregations and schools
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Pro Labore Dei (For the Labour of God)
Help to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and shelter the homeless in the Madison area. Meals are provided to the homeless every Friday and Saturday and currently the group is trying to reach out to the Milwaukee area as well. For more info about the organization visit www.pro-labore-dei.org/About%20US.htm
Where: Madison
Time Needed: 2 hours
Contact: Information:
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