Volunteer
Dear Volunteer,
Welcome To “The House of Esther”
The House of Esther is a “Maternity Care center and home for first-time expectant moms 18 – 25 years of age. The House of Esther is designed to meet multiple needs and concerns of pregnant mom in crisis both with deciding to keep the unborn child due to the immediate crisis of being homeless. We share a real love for family and community, and are willing to make a sacrifice of time and resources to help. Our key focus is to provide continued education and support both during and after pregnancy.
Our vision is to provide a safe and secure home for first time mothers. You are now part of a vision to help create a picture of a bright future for both mother and baby, despite current circumstances. The House of Esther is committed to being “the bridge” that takes a mother from despair to hope.
Why We Are Here
The House of Esther was established in 2014 to provide safe and secure housing for homeless 1st time mothers. We offer residential house, supervision, nutritional meals, and online K-12 education. We will assist our moms with necessary appointments, assessment, referral and follow-up with community resources during pregnancy and after; enrichment life and job skills, parenting education, and spiritual and emotional support.
Our Purpose
The House of Esther’s program will provide free pregnancy tests, free ultrasounds, counseling, support groups, financial management education, diapers, baby clothes, and housing. The House of Esther’s most important strength and core competencies is its supportive staff and our effective educational programs. Our agency’s success is the motivation of genuine needed support to our residents and clients.
It is our purpose to ensure that our moms develop successful independent living and job skills necessary to help them transition back into the community, and become a contributing member of Genesee County.
Life Enrichment program:
Pre-natal care/labor and delivery
Parenting for newborn
Nutritional Education/cooking classes
Real Estate
Career classes/civic responsibility
Spiritual support
Financial Management/personal and household budgets
You are now part of the answer to help these young mothers. Thank you for your interest in joining together with us to change the lives and future of our moms.
Sincerely,
Yvonne Penton
Executive Director
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill
Benefits To Volunteering With The House of Esther
Use your gifts, talents, and abilities with others.
Interaction with women from different backgrounds and cultures.
Opportunity to share how you got out of your own struggles.
Share insight and compassion with staff, other volunteers, and the residents.
Make a difference in the lives of women and their children.
Connect with other volunteers and people from the community.
Be blessed while being a blessing to someone else.
Service Opportunities
Friend and Mentor Team
Develop a friendship with a resident within the guidelines and boundaries that The House of Esther sets.
Provide a support system to the residents.
Office Team
Help answer the phone, take message, keep reception area clean and tidy.
Maintain confidential materials and record files.
Donation Team
Sort and organize donated items.
Help maintain Deborah’s Closet, a store where mothers can get items for their babies.
Put layettes together.
Mailing Team
Assemble, stuff, and label a quarterly newsletter.
Help assemble bulk mailings for special events.
Counseling Team
Gather information for pregnancy testing.
Talk with and provide information to clients from the public and our residents about pregnancy.
Maintenance Team
Light maintenance
Cleaning and simple repairs
Yard work
Occasional moving, lifting, and hauling
Special Events Team
Help coordinate and implement special events or projects.
Serve as extra hands for special events or projects.
Fundraising Team
Coordinate with the Special Events Team members for fundraising events.
Develop fundraising opportunities and different ways of giving.
Find new donors and maintain relationships with committed donors.
Prayer Team
Pray for and with the staff, residents, clients, and other volunteers.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer with The House of Esther, we ask that you email Yvonne, Executive Director, at yvonne@gmail.com and put “Volunteer Application” in the subject line.