In Colorado Springs, there are many wonderful opportunities to volunteer. Depending on your passion, you can volunteer at any number of specialty social organizations. Here is my favorite place to volunteer.
The Gospel Shelter For Women Thrift Store is a local Colorado Springs business that operates as a non-profit and provides support to Liza’s Place. Liza’s Place is inspired by the life and death of Liza Chavez.Liza was 39 years old and suffered from alcoholism. After serving time in jail for several non-violent crimes, she found herself living in parks and under bridges in Colorado Springs. She wanted to be ok and to make her life work, per the normal standards of our society. Unfortunately, Liza was killed on the streets, she was forced to live on, before that could become a reality.
There were no available “women specific” shelters located in Colorado Springs, at the time. That was 10 years ago, this September. Her last phone call was to Marilyn Vyzourek. Her desperation reverberated through Marilyn’s mind loud and clear afterwards.
“If you don’t have a women’s home for me to go to and get off of these streets, I would just a soon go to be with Jesus.” Liza’s Place was the good that came of the tragedy, that was Liza Chavez’s life. A safe, supportive home would be available for women like Liza Chavez through the efforts of Marilyn and others who saw the great need that Colorado Springs faced.
For a woman, down and out, homeless and involved in legal issues, life can be a nightmare. There are no quick fixes and often just struggling on their own to get out of the mess, is a futile effort. Liza’s Place is the answer to that struggle, for many in Colorado Springs.
What Hope House and Liza’s Place Offer is assistance, guidance, support and living arrangements for women who have suffered abuse, have been involved in drugs or incarcerated and are willing to do the work required to get back up on their feet.They offer:
In-House Programs:
Classes and groups are help twice daily.These sessions range from 1 to 1-1/2 hours duration
based on group needs. Some examples of classes are:
12 classes and Bible Studies a week 12-Step meetings Spiritual Counseling & Mentoring Church Attendance Apartment Hunting Case Management Organized Bible Study Job Placement Living Skills Classes
The Woman’s Residential Program consists of:
Approximate duration of the program is six months, unless special circumstances dictate longer. Our residents live in a home like environment. During their stay with us, women will:
Find and maintain full-time employment Become an active member of a church of their choice Develop money management and budgeting skills. Begin establishing new and healthy personal relationships and a viable support system.
Part of finding work, is getting experience at the Gospel Shelter For Women Thrift Store. Many women who come through Liza’s Place don’t have marketable job skills. Working at the shelter, helps to have an entry on their resumes that counts. In December of 2008 the Director of Gospel Shelters for Women, Rev. Marilyn Vyzourek, decided that more was needed to help the women at Liza’s Place learn those all important, marketable skills.
In need of financial resources as well, the idea of opening a thrift store seemed a perfect fit. Since opening the store the 2nd of January ’09, these goals have been realized in a myriad of ways. The training program, overseen by Nancy Dace, teaches the women to work in several areas of retail, including cashier, merchandizing, pricing, dressing for success, sorting, processing and more. Located at: 2441 E Platte Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80909. It is open 9:00 to 6:00 Mon-Thurs | 9:00 to 8:00 Friday and Saturday | 12:-6:00 on Sundays.
These two places combined, assist many women, who otherwise might not make it to see their children grow up or have any hope of a career. Their needs are many. Though the Thrift Store helps, there are many opportunities to volunteer or help with the needs they have at Liza’s Place. I have done some volunteer work helping with Internet SEO stuff and have assisted in working in the Thrift Store. Seeing these ladies try so hard to get their lives in order makes me want to do more to help them.
They can use a helping hand with jobs and training and opportunities. They need supplies for the ladies. They need cash donations. They need people to offer, to come and train these ladies at the shelter. These ladies want to get up, but need a hand up first. None of them want a handout. They need people who want to volunteer both time and the things that will give them that hand up. They need Mentors, who will offer support in their efforts.
I love being able to do whatever I can for Liza’s Place and Gospel Shelter For Women Thrift Store in Colorado Springs. I only recently just found this worthwhile organization and I am totally hooked for as long as they will allow me to be. Their dedication, to truly make a remarkable difference in the community, makes them tops on my listings for Volunteer opportunities in Colorado Springs. Call them and see how you can help! Their website has more info: Check them out! http://www.gospel-home-cs.org.