Volunteer And
Make a Difference!
CHAT Volunteers Make It Happen!
Our organization is relies on dozens of volunteers in a variety of roles, and it's a great way to get more involved with the Chico community. Volunteers are engaged nearly every aspect of CHAT's work, including mentoring and assisting our residents ("CHAT Helpers"), performing office and administrative tasks, taking pictures and finding articles for our social media posts and newsletters, sorting and packing and distributing our weekly food deliveries, building tiny houses, and lots more!
Currently (April 2022), we're most in need of volunteers for: CHAT helpers for providing house residents' support, distributing and collecting furniture donations, updating and maintaining the CHAT scrapbook and archives, running on-line sales for donated items, delivering newsletters around town, and analyzing our houses' utilities usage.
Click here to apply to be a CHAT Volunteer.
After you apply we'll contact you and work with you to determine how best you can help. Thank you for considering us with your volunteer time. Read below for some of the areas we are currently recruiting volunteers for. If you see something you're interested in, please apply!
Faith-Based Organizations: We are working with faith-based communities in Chico to help with our two "Mercy House" residences for folks with chronic illnesses, and we welcome more faith community congregations to become volunteers. If your faith community is interested in volunteer opportunities with CHAT, please contact our faith-based volunteering coordinator at risdon2@comcast.net.
VOLUNTEER ROLES
CHAT Helpers: Part of our mission is to help connect people with social and medical services and to help them set life goals and then work towards those goals. We have a team of volunteers who work directly with residents on skill building, budgeting, nutrition, conflict resolution, medical issues, gardening, etc. These folks act as supporters, coaches, and mentors, and sometimes just as friends who can give sensible advice or lend an ear. We currently have about 20 such volunteers and would welcome more so we could expand the range of services and support we can offer.
Office and Administrative Help: We would like some help with filing applications, making copies, submitting forms, and various other office and administrative tasks.
Communications: Outreach, Social Media, Research: We are always seeking to reach out to other allied and sympathetic organizations and would welcome those who enjoy that kind of work or those who have contacts with other organizations that may be allied with CHAT's mission. We also produce a constant stream of social media on Facebook and our website and would welcome anyone who wants to help take pictures of staff or who can recommend good articles to highlight for our supporters or do some light research to create interesting posts.
Moving Residents In and Out: We try to keep a moving crew available to help quickly move residents in or out of our residences. Let us know if you have experience with moving or if you're able-bodied and would like to help.
Home Maintenance: CHAT manages nearly 60 residences and all of them require occasional maintenance. We need a team of folks to help with these maintenance projects.
Grant Writing and Administration: CHAT relies heavily on grant funding. We have recently been awarded a couple of significant grants and are always looking for more. If you have experience or just an interest in grant writing or grant administration we could use your help.
ALMOST ANYTHING ELSE! CHAT's work involves so many different kinds of tasks that almost everyone has something they could help with. If you don't see something that fits with what you think you can help with, apply anyway! We'll be glad to try to find a way for you to fit in.