Volunteer Opportunities

Client Advocates: These individuals work directly with clients who are in crisis due to unplanned pregnancy situations.  They use helping skills taught through the Volunteer Training Seminar to reduce anxiety and focus on the issues relevant to the individual client.  For those with negative tests, they encourage the client to begin practicing abstinence; for those with positive pregnancy tests, they explore the options the client is considering, providing accurate information/education on each.  Client Advocates work closely with Bella nurses as pregnancy testing and ultrasounds are provided.  Generally Client Advocates commit to one five-hour shift each week.  Typically these individuals are also available to assist clients with the Earn While You Learn program. Completion of the Volunteer Training Seminar is required.

Earn While You Learn Educators: These individuals work directly with clients who have already made a decision to carry to term and parent, although some of these clients may be considering adoption.  With the client, they determine which lessons are relevant to her/his situation, set-up lessons and review completed worksheets with the client after the lesson is completed.  EWYL Educators also review homework and answer any questions the client may have in regard to the lessons.  Typically, these individuals are also available for crisis intervention should a need arise.  Generally EWYL Educators commit to one five-hour shift at Bella each week.  Completion of the Volunteer Training Seminar is required.

Nurses: Nurses perform the pregnancy tests and ultrasounds, and provide quality patient care to all clients in need of Bella’s limited medical services.  They also educate on pregnancy related issues and provide crisis intervention when necessary.  Volunteer nurses generally commit to one five-hour shift per week or PRN.  A nursing license is required.  Sonography training is provided by Bella and it is required that nurses complete the Volunteer Training Seminar.

Helpline Workers: These individuals answer Bella’s helpline during the hours the Center is closed.  Some crisis intervention may be required over the phone, but generally, counseling does not take place during the call.  Rather, clients are encouraged to come to Bella for services and appointments are scheduled to facilitate the needed assistance.  Helpline workers generally answer the helpline from home using their cell phone or house phone.  Shifts vary between 3-6 hours per day.  Completion of the Volunteer Training Seminar is required.

Receptionist: These individuals answer the phone at Bella, assisting clients with scheduling and directing business related calls to the proper person.  They also greet and check in clients coming into Bella.  Receptionists provide smooth office operations by also helping with filing, making copies, and assisting with light clerical work.  Completion of the Volunteer Training Seminar is required.

Post-Abortion Counseling: These individuals assist women through the healing process in the aftermath of abortion.  This may involve leading or co-leading a Post-Abortion Bible Study group or working one-on-one with clients suffering grief or guilt after an abortion.  Along with completion of the Volunteer Training, these individuals would need to commit to training specifically for post-abortion help.

Life-Skills Coordinator: This individual plans, organizes, oversees and helps to teach life-skill classes for groups of expectant or new moms and dads.  Classes generally meet bi-annually, once a week for 6-8 weeks.  Length of each class is approximately 2 hours.  Completion of the Volunteer Training Seminar is required.

Life-Skill Instructors: These individuals bring their expertise on a particular topic (such as budgeting, Bible Study, planning and cooking a meal, etc.) to Bella’s Life-skill group by teaching a class once or twice a year.  Length of each class is approximately 2-2 ½ hours including time for a meal and a project.  Actual teaching length will vary but is approximately 30-90 minutes.

Project/Craft Instructors: Works with the Life-skills group each week (during a 6-8 week period of time), teaching a craft or project such as scrapbooking, sewing, knitting, etc.  Actual time spent on crafts/projects during each Life-skills class is approximately 30 minutes.

Administrative Helpers: Tasks may include preparing mailings (such as newsletters, donor letters, thank you letters, etc.), filing, cataloging books, videos, and DVDs, copying and restocking client and information sheets, writing thank you cards, etc.   Administrative Helpers are needed for one 3-5 hour shift per week.

Data Entry/Computer Keyboarders: Tasks may include entering donor and client information into central databases, entering and tracking fundraising data, typing miscellaneous forms and information.  Data entry people are generally needed for one 3-5 hour shift per week.

Computer Graphic Designers: Bella welcomes both professional and novice individuals with expertise in computer graphic design.  Newsletters, event materials, promotional materials, Bella informational brochures, and educational materials are all areas where Bella needs the help of creative people with good computer graphic skills.  Bella needs help with newsletters on a quarterly basis, with fundraising material semi-annually, and with other materials, off and on through-out the year.

Board of Directors: The Board of Directors is responsible for governing the ministry and giving guidance and oversight to the Executive Director.  Board meetings are generally once-a-month.  Members are also required to serve on board committees (which meet as needed) and attend events such as Vision Tours, Open Houses and fundraising events.  Prior board experience is helpful but not necessary.  Time commitment is approximately 6-15 hours per month.  Board Training (by video) is required.  The Volunteer Training Seminar is highly encouraged.

Church Liaisons: These people represent the Bella ministry to their church body for special events, needs or concerns of the ministry.  Specifically, liaisons provide the contact to the church for the annual Walk for Life, Dessert Gala, Baby Bottle Boomerang Campaign and Volunteer Training Seminar.

Boutique Manager: This person works with other volunteers to keep the Baby & Me Boutique up-to-date, organized, and well-stocked.  This person provides instructions for current boutique helpers and helps recruit new helpers as needed.  This is a weekly commitment with a flexible schedule.

Boutique Helpers: These helpers sort and launder clothing; check cribs, strollers, and other baby equipment and assures it is up-to-date and has all parts; re-donates or disposes of items that are not usable in the Bella Baby & Me Boutique;  hangs or displays clothing and other maternity and baby items.  This is a weekly or bi-weekly commitment with a flexible schedule.

Janitorial Duties: This person or people are responsible for dusting, vacuuming, moping and other cleaning requirements. This is a weekly commitment.

Handy-man Duties: This person or people are on call to assist with carpentry or plumbing issues as they arise.  They also help with painting and maintenance of the building.  This is a year-round commitment but services will only be required as needed.

Maintenance Men/Women: These individuals help with painting needs, lawn care, cleaning out rain gutters, and/or snow removal as needed.  Commitment varies as needs vary.

Fundraising Committee Members: Members plan and execute all fundraising activities and events including the Walk for Life, Dessert Gala, Baby Bottle Campaign and others as needed.  The committee meets throughout the year and members generally help with all events.  However, even short-term help and participation is greatly appreciated.  Meeting times vary; usually bi-weekly in months leading up to events but may be more often or less often depending on the need.  Meetings generally run 1-1 ½ hours in length.

Professionals Expertise: Bella could use professional advisors on an as-needed basis.  Medical doctors, lawyers, financial advisors, accountants, building contractors, and web-designers are among those whose help Bella has called upon in the past.  If you are a professional with expertise in an area you think would benefit the ministry, please give the Bella center a call.

Prayer Chain: These people receive regular updates via email of prayer needs for Bella and the clients we serve.  They commit to pray immediately for specific requests and on a regular basis for general needs.

Cooks/Bakers: These individuals volunteer to bring in meals for Life-skill classes and/or snacks and refreshments for Vision Tours, Volunteer Training and other important meetings.  Bella also needs people willing to provide baked goods for the Walk for Life and desserts for the Dessert Gala.

Other: As new needs and challenges arise for Bella and their cliental; the need for additional help also arises.  Please call Bella if you think of any area where you may be of assistance.