A Place Called Hope honors the spirit through a confidential and compassionate outreach ministry, grounded in hope to be a service to hose infected and affected by HIEV/AIDS, regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, background, or religious affiliation.
We are motivated by a desire for learning, social justice, and commitment to action to promote the inherent rights of all people to live life responsibly, more fully, and peacefully. We want to help explore the development of a more integrated self-concept, a healthier self-esteem, and a positive self-acceptance.
This can be accomplished through empowerment, independence, increasing social contact, developing positive and healthy coping strategies, and a positive reframing of the illness, leaving behind the stigma, loneliness, and isolation, as well as striving for “coming to terms with the illness, finding ways of letting go responsibly, and moving on with life and “living it to the fullest.”
We are committed to reaching those in time of need for practical help and support, emotional support, and holistic spiritual support. We are not committed to enabling, supporting, or providing a means to validate unhealthy unsafe, destructive, irresponsible, and/or addictive practices, behaviors, words or actions. We are a non-profit, HIV/AIDS service organizations, helping to “light the way” and to compliment the work of other existing agencies and service organizations. Anything connected with A Place Called Hope is on a volunteer basis.
It is our honor and privilege to serve those in need, to respect the dignity and rights of everyone to be who they are, and to celebrate everyone regardless of where they may be in their individual lives.
A Place Called Hope will serve its place in the community through a “Companioning” volunteer support program. Volunteer opportunities are based on levels of “heart and time commitment.”
*Category one volunteers may be willing to provide a specific service relating to their particular field of expertise.
*Category two volunteers may be willing to help our organization but do not want to do direct services for our care receivers. This may involve helping to raise funds, preparing meals, or being an active part of the running of the organization.
*Category three volunteers may be willing to give one to five hours per seek and may be able to occasionally “pitch in” at the last minute. This may involve running errands, providing transportation to the doctor, or taking someone to do their grocery shopping.
*Category four volunteers may be willing to five an unspecified but helpful amount of time to serve as a personal companion support person to our care receivers. This may involve social interaction by going to the movies or out to lunch, inviting them to church, and providing practical and emotions support, as a friend.
Category five volunteers may be willing to give any amount of time to be in direct service to our care receivers. This may involve helping them to navigate the social service system, volunteer closely with persons who have significant life issues in addition to be infected by HIV/AIDS, and be willing to provide respite and support for caregivers or others affected by HIV/AIDS within their support system. Some of our care receivers may have little to no support system.
As a volunteer of A Place Called Hope, your time and efforts will be greatly appreciated. It will be our hope that you will gain a sense of well being through positive volunteer social interaction, sharing, and learning with others and/or from the physical activity that volunteering may entail. You will be able to use your skills, knowledge, and expertise to benefit the community. Hopefully, you will acquire new skills and experiences for personal benefit and development. You can be a confidant, and advocate, a friend, a companion. You will make a difference in someone else’s life and in the community.
Thank your for your support and interest in the mission of A Place Called Hope.
Russ Ramsey, Director
