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 Thank you for your interest in becoming a volunteer at Northwest Assistance Ministries. NAM relies on volunteers who perform a wide range of tasks - from delivering hot lunches during the week, to entering important client, volunteer and donor information into computer databases. In its last fiscal year, NAM was able to serve more than 100,000 people, due to the generous and dedicated donation of time and energy from its 2,000 plus volunteers. With your help as well, NAM will continue its mission of "neighbors helping neighbors."
NAM asks that all potential volunteers attend a Volunteer Orientation which is led by the Volunteer Coordinator. Orientation takes place from 8:45 a.m. to approximately 11 a.m. on the first and third Thursday of each month (except in July and December). The class meets in the second floor conference room at NAM's main building at 15555 Kuykendahl in North Houston. Orientation reservations are not required, but are appreciated.
Please call the NAM Volunteer Coordinator at 281-885-4609 if you are planning to attend an orientation or need additional information. You may also call 281-885-4565 to hear a recorded message.
NAM's Volunteer Coordinator will provide materials and show a video during orientations. At the morning orientations, the Coordinator will take participants on a guided tour of NAM's four-story facility, where they will hear about current volunteer opportunities from NAM staff members in each department.
Participants conclude orientation by selecting their areas of volunteer interest and consenting to a background check. Copies of driver's licenses or school identification cards will also be made.
After NAM staff conducts the background check*, the Volunteer Coordinator will forward the participants' volunteer requests to the applicable areas. Directors of those areas will then contact the participants to schedule volunteer dates and times. *For the safety of NAM clients, employees and other volunteers, only those with satisfactory background checks will be allowed to volunteer.
NAM Clients/Volunteer Eligibility
If you have been a NAM client in the following programs: Assistance, Food Pantry, Shelter/Energy Assistance, Family Violence Center, Interfaith Hospitality Network/FIT, Meals on Wheels, Children's Clinic and/or Rotary Learning/Workforce Development Program, you will be eligible to volunteer 12 months after your last assistance is received.
Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age to work independently on NAM property. Volunteers under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or appointed guardian if working on NAM property.
Court Ordered Community Service
Those who need to perform court ordered community service are not required to attend a NAM volunteer orientation. Instead, they should contact NAM's Resale Shop and Donation Center at 281-885-9000. Certain restrictions apply and you must be at least 18 or older to participate in the program.
Assistance Program »
Assistance Counselors are needed to interview and assist families facing temporary emergencies. No experience is necessary; a training class and on-the-job training are provided. Counselors are asked to commit to one day a week from 9:45 a.m. - 3 p.m. Bilingual skills are always needed but not required. Computer data entry is also needed; training is provided. For more information, call 281-583-5600.
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NAM has several general maintenance projects in and around the building including painting, carpet laying, playground maintenance, etc. For more information call 281-885-4580.
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Children's Clinic »
Volunteers in the Children's Clinic assist with medical records retrieval, filing, confidential document analysis, patient eligibility verification using the Internet, computer data entry and/or document filing and shredding. Bilingual skills a plus! For more information call 281-885-4630 or visit Clinic@namonline.org.
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Development/Business Office
Office assistance may include follow-up phone calling, making appointments by phone, filing, addressing envelopes/postcards, etc. A fill-in lobby receptionist is needed occasionally for phones and giving directions and information to clients. Newspaper/church bulletin scrapbooking may also be available. For more information call 281-885-4585.
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Family Violence Center »
The Family Violence Center seeks primarily female adults who want to act as peer advocates for clients and/or receive hotline telephone calls. Volunteers commit to working one day per week. Training is provided.
For more information, call 281-885-4673, 1-888-750-4673 or visit FVC@namonline.org.
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Fifty Plus Senior Center »
Fifty Plus needs volunteers to staff the front reception desk and drive the NAM bus to pick up clients for M-W-F bingo. Volunteers who have experience with crafts can assist with the Helping Hands project. Senior Wheels always needs volunteer drivers to transport seniors to doctor's appointments, pharmacies and errands, weekdays and sometimes on weekends. For more information call 281-885-4601 or visit SeniorServices@namonline.org.
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Food Pantry »
Pantry volunteers participate in picking up food donations, sorting items, stocking shelves and/or assembling grocery sacks for clients. There are two shifts available daily: 9:30 a.m. - noon and noon - 3:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. For more information call 281-885-4589.
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Interfaith Hospitality Network/Families in Transition »
IHN/FIT volunteers are needed to provide companionship, supervision and mentoring for families in transition. Volunteers may also act as an office assistant, special outings/events coordinator and/or tutor for children and adults. For more information call 281-885-4567.
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Information Technology - IT »
IT needs data base entry volunteers for various NAM departments. Training is provided. Volunteers with some hardware/software experience are needed to assist with repair and maintenance of workstations, laptops and printers. No time requirement. Flexible office hours are 9 a.m - 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information call 281-885-4598.
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Meals on Wheels »
Drivers are needed to deliver hot lunches on weekdays from NAM at 15555 Kuykendahl, or Prince of Peace Catholic Community at Highway 249 and Perry Road. Drivers must be at least 21, have a valid Texas driver's license, proof of insurance and provide their own car and gas. Drivers are also needed on Saturdays to deliver frozen meals or groceries from the NAM location. Substitute drivers are always needed! Two hours per month is the minimum time requirement, although volunteers may drive as often as they like. For more information call 281-885-4622.
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Rotary Learning Center/Workforce Development Program »
The RLC/WDP needs adult tutors for basic literacy, ESL (English as a second language), math and computer skills. The RLC is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Friday. For more information call 281-885-4616.
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Resale Shops »
The NAM Resale Shop and Donation Center at 3645 FM 1960 West needs volunteers to help sort, stock and price clothing, furniture, household items, books, linens, sports equipment and other donated items. Salespeople with friendly smiles are also needed to help customers and clients. Bilingual a plus! Volunteer hours are 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday - Thursday and 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information call 281-880-9000. The NAM Resale Shop at Jones Road and Fallbrook opens in June 2008. Volunteer hours will be the same although volunteers will primarily assist on the sales floor cleaning, straightening, sizing and merchandizing items for sale. For more information call 281-897-8952.
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Saturday Volunteers
NAM's Saturday volunteer opportunities are with Meals on Wheels, NAM's Second Chance Resale Shop and NAM Resale Shop. For information on MOW call 281-885-4622. For information on Second Chance Resale Shop call 281-880-9000. For information on NAM Resale Shop call 281-897-8952.
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Scout Projects »
NAM has opportunities available to assist Boy and Girl Scouts seeking Eagle and Gold Award status. For more information call 281-885-4609.
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Shelter and Energy Assistance - SEA»
Volunteers in the SEA office may help with filing, copying, computer data entry, supply room organization or other duties as needed. Volunteers are needed especially from March - August to complete applications for elderly and/or disabled clients. Mandatory training for this effort is offered in February. For more information call 281-885-4531. For infomation regarding the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), call 281-885-4526.
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Special Holiday Projects - November and December 2007 »
Beginning Nov. 1, 2007, individuals and groups can contact NAM's Holiday Volunteer Hotline at 281-885-4555, ext. 3914. Starting on this date, Holiday Coordinators will begin filling positions and time slots for a variety of holiday-related projects.
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