Local Service in the
Holland Community

There are many opportunities to serve locally including:

• LAUP
• Teen MoMs
• Jubliee Ministries
• Warm Friend
  
  For more opportunities, please visit the Volunteer Services website.
  
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• LAUP
  Contact Information:
  Bert Jara
  100 N Fairbanks Ave Suite E
  Holland, Mi 49422
  616 392 5058
  www.laup.org
  
  LAUP, Inc. is an agency that serves the Holland community, providing services primarily to the Latino population.  They provide a vast array of services, including: ESL and computer classes, translation services, employment assistance, immigration services, financial guidance, and many others.  Because they provide such a range of services, they also have a large number of needs.
  Mission Statement:
  "To advocate for the acceptance of the Latino community through culture awareness and education of tomorrow's leaders. To open doors of opportunity through the acceptace of differences."
  
  Programs:
  Scholarships
  Informational forums
  Hispanic Cultural Events
  Cultural Training/Information to employers
  
  Basic Services:
  A variety of Human Services
  Immigration Services
  Employment Assistance/Referrals
  Educational services including ESL and computer classes
  Translation services

  Volunteer Opportunities:
  Computer Classes: There currently are classes in the evening, but they are hoping to start day classes for the number of individuals who cannot attend evening classes. Volunteers could help by teaching a day-time class, one day a week.

  Care Closet: This is a service through Good Samaritan Ministries that provides personal care items once a month. Volunteers could help by doing a "personal items" drive to help provide items such as diapers, shampoo, hand soap, dish soap, Kleenex, and many others.

  Fundraising: LAUP does various fundraising throughout the year. Volunteers could help in organizing the fundraising events or participate in the actual money raising.  Currently, LAUP is participating in an event through Younkers and needs help selling coupon booklets.

  Cleaning: There is currently no one to clean the office on a regular basis.  Volunteers could come in once or twice a month and clean the office.  Some supplies may be provided but others may need to be provided by the volunteer.

  Food/Clothing Drive: It is always helpful to have either food or clothing at LAUP for emergency situations.  Volunteers could organize a food or clothing drive.  It could take place at a special time of year, such as a clothing drive right before winter or a food drive before a certain holiday.

  ESL Classes: The classes take place three nights a week and we currently have no snacks provided.  Volunteers could bring food/snacks for the children or adult students according to an established schedule (specifics could be decided later but examples would be cookies, animal crackers, fruit, juice, etc.)
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• Teen Moms (Youth For Christ)
  Contact Information:
  Jody Winstrom
  Youth For Christ
  159 S. River Ave.
  Holland, Mi 49422
  616 392 1479
  jodymwin@sbcglobal.net
  
  Teen MoMs: For pregnant and parenting young women between the ages of 12 and 20. Our calling at Teen MoMs is to see these young women and their children as Jesus does... to love them lavishly, unconditionally, faithfully as Jesus does.
  Our mission at Teen MoMs is to serve pregnant and parenting young women and their children with the heart, hands, and feet of Jesus.
  Our goal at teen MoMs is to support, encourage, and eqip pregnant and parenting young women with the life, parenting, and relationship skills they need in order to become healthy physically, emotionally, and spiritually individuals and families.
  
  Help needed:
  Child care- During the Tuesday night support group meetings, located at Maplewood church, 133 E 34th St, from 6:30-8:30pm.
  Nanny 911- Be available on Tuesday evenings until 7pm for 'emergency call-in' help with child care.
  Tutors- Help a teen mom who is struggling to stay in school because of difficulty with school work.
  Peer Mentors- Big sister/little sister relationship. One year commitment required.
  Teen MoMs Speak- Work with teen moms who are preparing presentations for area schools, churches, and civic groups; help with child care during presentations and speaking preparation.
  Emergency Child Care- Help a teen mom with emergency child care needs (regular caregiver cancellation, doctor's appointments, job interviews, etc.).
  Snack Providers-Occasionally provide cookies, brownies, etc. for a Tuesday night Teen MoMs meeting, 'just home from the hospital' occasion, etc.
  
  *Application, background and reference checks, and training required before volunteering.
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• Jubilee Ministries
  Contact Information:
  Curt Busch
  427 Maple Ave.
  Holland, MI 49423
  616 392- 8191
  jubilee@macatawa.com
  
  Our mission is to help people help themselves. We choose to do this through developmental activities that assist families and individuals to develop their potential and assets. We do not provide any type of emergency services.
  
  Program Areas:
  Employment Program- We offer assistance in career planning/exploration, resume writing, cover letter writing, and interview skills. We help individuals plan a good job search and offer assistance in developing their own personal skills and tools to present themselves well.
  Housing Rehabilitation- We purchase distressed homes in the central city of Holland, rehabilitate them, and then sell them to low-to-moderate income families.
  Small Business/Micro Enterprise- We work with three new individiuals each year who would like to start their own small business. We help them write a business plan, and often enter a two-year covenant to walk along side them to strengthen the plan, implement, and evaluate it.
  Individual Development Accounts- In conjunction with Neighbors Plus, we offer a 12-week Financial Literacy class to low-income families. During this time individuals start a savings account that may only be used for buying a home, starting a business, or attending post secondary school. We have matching funds available to provide incentive with a 3 to 1 match available for each incentive.
  Commercial Revitalization- We seek to improve small commercial areas through collaboration with the merchants and other area partners.
  Liberty Village- Beginning in the summer of 2005, we began the process of purchasing two historical buildings from Holland Public Schools. It is our vision to convert one building into 24 one-two bedroom apartments for affordable senior housing. The other will be utilized as a non-profit center for many agencies/organizations to share space and resources, called the Central City Resource Center.
  
  Volunteer Opportunities:
  Work Crews- Help with painting, demolition, landscaping, cleaning, sorting materials, construction work.
  Office Assistance- Help with data entry (accounting), filing, occasional catering, mailing preparation.
  Internships- Arranged through the Business Department, speak with Steve VanderVeen. Assist small businesses in development, marketing, pricing, and other needs related to business plan implementation.
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• Warm Friend
  Contact Information:
  Margo Horan, Volunteer Coordinator
  Resthaven Care Community
  280 W 40th St
  Holland, MI 49423
  616 796-3604
  volunteers@resthaven.org
  www.resthaven.org
  
  Resthaven Patrons, Inc. is a Christian, not-for-profit, continuing care organization serving seniors in the Holland/Zeeland area since 1945. It remains an independent corporation dedicated to meeting the needs of residents, community members, and employees in the context of the Christian faith.
  Resthaven Care Community's Mission: "To glorify God by providing a continuum or quality care and services that demonstrate the love and compassion of Jesus Christ."
  
  Volunteer Opportunities:
  One-on-One Visitor- Make a new friend-play games, visit, read a book, take a walk.
  Musical Entertainment- Can you play the piano, violin, clarinet, anything?! If so, the residents would enjoy listening to you!
  Resident Grocery Shopping Helpers- Ride our Resthaven bus with the residents and assist them in navigating the store aisles every Tuesday from 1-2:30pm.
  Assistant to the Activity Coordinator- Assist with various resident activities, computer needs, scrapbooking, telephone calls, bulletin boards, and other fun and interesting duties- days available are Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.