Opportunities to Serve: Synod of the Northeast

Maine

Rural Community Action Ministry
Address: 81 Church Hill Road, Leeds, ME 04263
Contact: Laura Zimmerman , Volunteer Coordinator and Housing Program Administrator (207) 524-5095; Fax: (207) 524-2202
Nature of Work: Housing construction, repair, rehabilitation, painting and more.
Group Specifications: Groups of 10-20 people. Year round, one week at a time. Youth groups need 1 adult for every 4 youths. Preference to youth 16 and over. Contact office about special opportunities for volunteers under the age of 16. Group provides donation for Housing Program repair costs.
Project Provides: Accommodations for sleeping and eating. Some tools and equipment. Supervision. Housing in area churches. Also information on sightseeing and local adventures.
Additional Information: Groups may also work with other programs at RCAM to assist low income families.

New York

Presbyterian Conference Center at Holmes
Address: 60 Denton Lake Road, Holmes, NY 12531
Contact: Peter Surgenor or Diane Ball (845) 878-6383; Fax: (845) 878-7824
Nature of Work:At the camp and conference center there are many service opportunities. Recent groups have painted buildings, cleared trails, built bridges and also picnic tables and chapel benches.
Group Specifications: Adult/youth ratio: 1/8; we provide housing and will provide meals at a cost of $30/person/day for meals in our dining hall; open to receiving groups year round; group size: up to 50; minimum age: 12.
Project Provides: Beds; food; housing; kitchen; showers; tools; washer; dryer; training; materials and most tools, housing and waterfront in season; option to join summer camp worship when held.
Additional Information: The Presbyterian Center at Holmes serves a diverse population for retreats, conferences and camp experiences. We are 1 hour from New York City by train and can help arrange mission-oriented city visits

Project Hospitality Inc.
Address: 100 Park Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10302
Contact: Gretchen Boeskool (718) 448-1544 ext. 165; Fax: (718) 720-5476
Nature of Work: Serve in a soup kitchen and food pantry; assist with cleaning, repair, and painting of buildings and homes; prepare meals and help in the clothing pantry at our outreach center; help in many ways at our emergency, transitional, and family shelters; meet and talk with people that have experienced homelessness and hunger.
Group Specifications: One group per week with 4-15 participants per group (ratio of 1 adult to 5 youth, but always a minimum of 2 adults) are welcome to join us year-round. High school, college, and adult groups desired. Housing and meals at a cost of $100 per person per week.
Project Provides: Housing, kitchen, beds, bathrooms, showers, tools/materials, food, washer/dryer, training. Groups should bring their own spending money. Project Hospitality is an interfaith effort sheltering the homeless, feeding the hungry and caring for people with AIDS.

Rural Rehab Ministry of Minc (Ministries in the North Country)
Address: 52 Riverside Drive, Norwood, NY 13668
Contact: Pamela Whittet (315) 353-2812
Nature of Work: Housing rehabilitation for low-income homeowners: siding, roofing, painting, repairing windows, insulating, etc. Weeklong work projects from late June through August.
Group Specifications: Group size is 8-30; Minimum age: 12; adult/youth ratio: 1/5; $1,500 minimum for group of 15; additional charge for larger groups; receiving groups June 24-August 18, 2007.
Project Provides: Housing; kitchen; bathrooms; showers; tools. A work supervisor is provided.
Additional Information: Within one hour of Adirondack Mountains, St. Lawrence Seaway and Canada. Numerous lakes and streams are in the area for swimming, fishing and more.

Youth Service Opportunities Project (YSOP)
Address: 15 Rutherford Place, New York, NY 10003
Contact: Lisa Gesson (202) 347-2525
Nature of Work: YSOP offers single day, overnight, and weeklong service workcamps for young people to serve the hungry and homeless of New York City and Washington D.C.
Group Specifications: Minimum age: 13; adult/youth ratio is 1/5; Service Day: $50/person; Overnight: $88 person; Overnight: $120/person; receiving applications all year round--call for availability.
Project Provides: Guided reflection, local transportation, some meals, site placement, YSOP t-shirt.
Additional Information: YSOP is a Quaker-based organization dedicated to giving high school and college students opportunities to help others through voluntary service. Over 3700 people participate as YSOP volunteers, serving over 290,000 homeless people in New York City and Washington D.C.

Vermont

Addison County Community Action Group (ACCAG)
Address: 282 Boardman Street, P.O. Box 165, Middlebury, VT 05740
Contact: Glenn Goodwin (802) 388-3608; Fax: (802) 388-0756
Nature of Work: renovation, repairs and accessibility modifications for low-income, disabled, and elderly persons. Wheel chair ramps, carpentry, painting, wiring plumbing, roofing, and general exterior work.
Group Specifications: Adult/youth ratio: 1/5; group size: 15-30; minimum age: 14; receives groups in July and August; $100 per person would be appreciated to help with cost of materials ($1,500 minimum).
Project Provides: housing; kitchen; showers.
Additional Information: Non-religious-based agency; set in the Champlain Valley of Western Vermont. One hour from Ben & Jerry's Factory.