Volunteer Positions
Volunteering is a great way to get involved at House of Ruth Maryland!
Individual Positions
There are many individual volunteer positions available at House of Ruth Maryland. For information on these volunteer opportunities and more, please contact Cassie Kelly at volunteers@hruthmd.org or at 410-554-8449.
Front Desk Assistants will provide coverage at our front desk from 4-7 pm, Monday through Thursday evenings. Positioned at the front desk of our administrative offices, this person will be responsible for answering the main telephone number, greeting guests, directing clients to appropriate meeting locations and providing other administrative assistance as needed. You can volunteer for one night each week or more.
B-More Bags Volunteers design, make and hand-finish a line of unique and stylish fabric bags: totes, hand bags, market bags, dressy bags, wine bottle bags, and more. Working out of a shop at the House of Ruth’s administrative building, volunteers sew using machines and by hand. Shop sessions are one or two evenings each week and once or twice a month on Saturday. Volunteers should know how to sew by hand or machine (limited experience needed). Proceeds from the sale of B-More Bags support and sustain the House of Ruth’s Emergency Transportation Fund for battered women and their children.
Child Care Assistants work in our shelter providing childcare to infants, toddlers, preschool & school age children. They supervise structured activities, supervise field trips or special events, and assist with light paperwork. This position requires a criminal background check and fingerprinting.
Gateway Project Assistants work in our Abuse Intervention program. They call victims of Gateway Project’s program participants to inform of House of Ruth services and do basic safety planning (This is NOT a counseling position). Answer phone calls in Gateway Project (predominantly talking with men court ordered to attend Gateway Project), enter information into database, and distribute participant status letters and other clerical duties as assigned.
Ruth’s Closet Associates. Ruth’s Closet Associates are involved in every aspect of the operation of Ruth’s Closet, the House of Ruth’s Maryland’s first social enterprise, featuring fashionable, gently used and new women’s clothing and accessories. Supported by our Store Manager, Associates provide retail sales assistance to customers, help with stock room operations, assist donors in moving boxes and bags of donations into the shop, help with donation pick up from drop off sites, help to plan and implement promotional and sales events, and set up and take down merchandise displays. Ruth’s Closet Associates are asked to commit to a minimum of 2, 3-4 hour shifts a month.
Donation Center Volunteers. The House of Ruth Maryland Donation Center is operated exclusively by volunteers who receive, sort, process, and distribute donated items that are dropped off on a daily basis. Donations are given to women living in our Emergency Shelter, other House of Ruth clients, or are sent to Ruth’s Closet for resale. Training is provided for properly assessing items and sorting for various programs. Volunteers are also needed to pickup donations from drop-off locations and events sponsoring Ruth’s Closet and to drop off donations to other non-profit organizations. Volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of 2, 3-4 hour shifts a month.
Clothes Closet “Personal Shoppers”. The Clothes Closet, opened in September 2010, is located at House of Ruth’s Emergency Shelter. The Clothes Closet is available to women who are receiving services from the House of Ruth Maryland, including but not limited to women residing in shelter. Staffed entirely by volunteers who create a “personalized shopping” experience for clients, volunteers keep the Clothes Closet organized and stocked with clothing, plan and staff special activities and events, and create a calm and welcoming environment for clients. Volunteers are asked to commit to a minimum of 2, 2-4 hour shifts a month.
Speakers’ Bureau Members act as agency representatives at community fairs by providing general information about House of Ruth Maryland and intimate partner violence.
Pro Bono Attorneys provide free legal assistance in civil protective order hearings, and custody and divorce cases. The legal clinic conducts domestic violence and family law training regularly. Legal clinic staff attorneys serve as mentors and assist in monitoring open cases. Pro bono attorneys are needed throughout all jurisdictions in Maryland. Participants are requested to represent one client per year.
Crabaret
One of the highlights of the summer season. Held at Gertrude’s and the Sculpture Garden of the BMA, guests enjoy live music, drinks and crab dishes prepared by nationally renowned chef, John Shields, while watching the sun set over Baltimore.
Other Ways to Give
Financial
Volunteer
Wish List
Bmore Bags
