Charitable Helpers
Charitable Helpers
Charity Begins at Home
What Is Charitable Helpers?
Charitable Helpers is an extension of Charitable Constructors, only Charitable Helpers uses teen volunteers rather than adult volunteers. Projects are matched to skills and interests of teen volunteers. Just as Charitable Constructors is an organization of adults helping parishioners with home repairs that require varied levels of skills, Charitable Helpers is an organization of teens assisting parishioners with some of the home projects that require less skill and experience.
The work that will be completed by Charitable Helpers is very important in that much of it is the more visible part of improving a home for those unable to do so for themselves. Charitable Helpers projects are the projects that the homeowners see everyday and appreciate. These projects will include painting, leaf raking, leaf bagging, weed pulling, mulching and minimal hedge trimming, planting shrubs, trees and flowers, and other things to beautify someone’s home. Charitable Helpers will also work with members of Charitable Constructors on some of their projects completing jobs that meet the Safety Program requirements including removing damaged building products and removing debris from job sites.
Who Benefits?
Both the parishioner and the volunteers will benefit. Generally, the projects will be completed for parishioner and the parish. Each project will be approved by the Charitable Constructors committee. The parishioners are typically elderly or handicapped who can no longer complete these more strenuous projects themselves. The home owners can see the immediate beautification of their home.
Young adults experience the joy of helping their neighbors, especially those that are unable to help themselves, and gain an understanding that neighbors helping neighbors is a life long mission. Time spent on these projects can also be used to meet service hour requirements from many of the Catholic and private schools.
Hopefully the young adults will make a connection with the older parishioners, and this connection will carry over to communication at parish functions and when they see one another in the neighborhood.
Who can assist Charitable Helpers?
This ministry is open to eight graders, high school students and college students. It includes children of all parishioners, including those who may not be students of one of the catholic schools. It also strongly encourages parents to be involved working side by side with the teens and young adults. As always, anyone can assist by donating money and materials needed to complete the projects.
What Skills do I need to be involved?
A good attitude and a willingness to help. There will always be a job uniquely suited for your skill level, from using a broom, to a paint brush, to a shovel.
Will any of the jobs have a risk of being injured?
There is always some risk in injuries when working around the house, and this is slightly increased when working around a home that is not familiar to you. The jobs that will be completed by Charitable Helpers will not typically require participants to use any power tools. Exceptions to this may be leaf blowers of battery powered drills or screwdrivers. The volunteers may be asked to use manual trimmers, saws or cutters. The volunteers are always welcome to decline any job that they do not feel capable of carrying out.
There is also a complete safety program that can also be found on the website. Parental Permission slips are required for all volunteers under 18 years old. These can also be found on the website.
How will I know when a project is being planned?
Announcements will be included in the bulletin, on the website and sometimes announced at the local schools.
How long will each project take?
Most projects will be limited to 3 to 4 hours depending on the number of volunteers. However, you may come for any period of time that you can participate.
Parents
Please fill out the consent form linked here. This form must be completed prior to your child participating in any Charitable Helpers project.
Click here for a copy of the safety outline.
Thank you for teaching your children the importance of serving their neighbor!
Charitable Helpers Team