Summer Volunteering Opportunities
Supervising at Durham Bulls. Each year Urban Hope contracts to "man" a concession stand for 12 - 16 games during the summer months. Approximately 8 - 10 people are needed for each game. Since we require a 1:1 ratio of adult to teen, we are seeking 4 - 5 adults to attend each game. This provides our Walltown teens the opportunity to be "coached" in customer relations and related job skills while earning some money. Your group could either accept a block of 4 games or sign up for the entire season!
Furnishing Counselor Houses. Each summer, Urban Hope rents 2 homes in Walltown to house our 8 - 10 camp counselors. These houses are unfurnished and need to be provided with the basics (e.g., beds, dressers, lamps, sofa/chairs, TV, kitchen table & chairs, linens & kitchen items). Your group could choose to furnish one or both of the houses with used items.
Provide Raffle Prizes. Some parents/guardians are hard-pressed to pay for their child's subsidized camp cost. UH gives them the opportunity to sell raffle tickets and subtract off their camp bill (dollar-for-dollar) each ticket they sell. We need individuals/groups to donate one of the three large-ticket items for the raffle prizes.
Providing Meals. There are several opportunities to provide meals during the summer camp & beyond:
- Lunch for 15 during the 5-day counselor orientation
- Lunch for 15 during the 3-day counselor de-briefing
- Boxed lunches for 52 for the 7 field trips (every Friday during the camp)
- Lunches for 52 during days that the Durham Public Schools does not provide lunches (schedule yet to be determined by DPS)
- Frozen casseroles (serving 8 - 12) for special Urban Hope events
Hosting Campers at a Wilderness Camp. Each summer, our goal is to bring the campers out of the city by providing a short wilderness experience. We are seeking a group or church that is willing to fund-raise and host this opportunity.
Sponsoring a Camp Counselor. We are seeking churches that would identify and sponsor one of their mature college youth (or recent graduate) to be an Urban Hope Camp Counselor for eight weeks. Our staff is committed to training and developing each counselor so that they will be able to serve their neighborhood when they return home.
Identifying Job Club Employers. The 14 - 17 year-old Walltown teens who are able to obtain work permits are seeking gainful summer employment located conveniently along bus lines. You could help us identify and recruit potential employers.
Writing Friends/Family to Seek Scholarships for Campers. Every year we have some campers whose guardians can not afford to pay even the heavily-subsidized fee. We will provide packets of info so you can recruit others to be sponsors. OR, you can help us by walking/running in the Great Human Race and recruiting sponsors. All monies go toward scholarships.
Grant Research & Proposal Writing. We are looking for an individual or individuals to help research and identify appropriate grant applications and to assist in writing grants for Urban Hope funding.
Group Opportunities. We greatly appreciate groups willing to volunteer their time, especially if they have a particular project they would like to tackle.
If you are interested in any of these opportunities or have a group interested in volunteering, please contact Urban Hope directly to discuss appropriate opportunities.