How to Help - Volunteer
Whether you are looking to help out on your own or as part of a group, Porchlight has a number of meaningful one-time and ongoing opportunities for you support Madison's homeless population.
Opportunities for groups
Shelter help: Thanks to the support of a great many community groups
we are able to provide a warm evening and morning meal to people who
stay in our Drop-In Shelter at Grace Episcopal Church. Each group signs
up for preparation of food and service for either a breakfast shift (4:30 to 7:00 am) or dinner (7:30 to 9:00 pm), and typically one shift each month
or every other month. We have a limited number of morning shifts open currently. If your group is interested in helping at the Shelter, please call Steve Schooler @ 257-2534 ext. 18.
Cleanup days: Another ongoing group activity is to "adopt" one of Porchlight's properties, to cover routine types of outdoor chores roughly
once per month. We have our own maintenance department and lawn mowing, but bush and tree trimming, planting, outside painting and other minor projects are regularly needed.
If your group would like to explore this opportunity or a one-time clean-up event, please call Brad Hinkfuss @ 257-2534 ext. 26.
Opportunities for individuals
Porchlight Partners: The Porchlight Partners program connects Porchlight clients who are mentally ill with adult volunteers in the community. The hope is that these partnerships will provide clients social connection and opportunities for fun, companionship and support, assistance with adjusting to independent living, and help with integrating into community life. Partners generally meet once per week, for activities like seeing a movie, playing a game, or simply having coffee. Partners must make a minimum one-year commitment and must possess personal mental and emotional stability. Each partner will go through a 3 hour professional training and
will receive on-going support from the program coordinators Peg Davey
and Tom Zanzig. If you are interested in learning more about this program, contact Peg and Tom @ 233-3286 or mcdavey@wisc.edu.
Van driver: Volunteers are needed to drive a 15 passenger shuttle van daily from Grace Episcopal Church at 116 West Washington Avenue, to the new location of Hospitality House at 1490 Martin Street. The shuttle van will also run to the Job Center on Aberg Avenue and Safe Haven on Roth Street. Each shift consists of approximately six trips and lasts about 90 minutes. Driver needs to be at least 21, have a good driving record, and know how to drive a 14-seat Suburban Van. No special license is needed and Porchlight covers all insurance for the driver's van usage. For more information, please call Brad Hinkfuss @ 257-2534 ext. 26.
Hospitality House support: Hospitality House, at 1490 Martin St., is a day-time resource center for homeless and low-income Madison residents, providing employment resources, housing resources, phone voicemail, mail box, a bus ticket program and a place to hang out during the day. Volunteers at Hospitality House can choose from clerical-type work (phones, sorting mail, database entries), or people related (such as helping clients with job and housing applications.) For more information on these activities, call Hasan Mohr @ 255-4401.
Kitchen help: The Brooks St. Kitchen Program welcomes volunteers to help prepare and serve its meals. Five community meals are served per week: lunch on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and dinner on Thursday. Volunteer shifts are from 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. for lunch or 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for dinner. No more than two volunteers are needed for any given meal. For more information, contact Jennifer Martell @ 257-2534 ext. 35.
Delivery: Volunteer needed two times per week to pick up food at the University and deliver it to our administrative offices at 306 N. Brooks St.. The days of the week are Wednesday and Friday and pick up can be any time after 10:00 a.m., taking no more than 2-3 hours per week. Requires own car to transport the donated food items. Please call Jennifer Martell @ 257-2534 ext. 35 for specific details.
Join our mailing list
We'd love for you to know what we're up to. Joining our mailing list is the easiest way to stay informed about the successes and challenges of our agency, and we'll immediately honor your request if at any time you decide you no longer want to receive our mailings. To be added to our list, simply email your name and address to kdavey@porchlightinc.org and include "add to mailing list" in the subject line. Or, you can call us at 257-2534.