Community
Join volunteers from around the world as we beautify monasteries, rebuild churches, create greenhouses and gardens.
Humanitarian
For over 30 years with thousands of volunteers we’ve built safe and secure homes for hundreds of families.
Recovery
After the reporters have left and the disaster has faded from the public, families are still in need in hard hit areas.
St Innocent Service Works (SISW) is the premier volunteer service-learning program that provides community, humanitarian and recovery support for non-profit organizations in North America.
Our program offers a one-day to two-week practicum in service-learning as a community group from your parish, youth group, college OCF chapter, or team. As a volunteer or group leader, we will prepare you to organize, train, fundraise and lead your group on your trip. We provide leadership and programming throughout your service experience through our pastoral and service leaders and on-site interns.
We will guide the experience and programming on-site, focused on understanding the intrinsic value in the Other, how to serve Christ in the Other, and how to integrate this transformative intensive immersion into your parish and volunteers’ life of service when they return. We teach service based on our experiential service-learning model, by doing, reflecting on that experience, and then serving together again.
Immersive service experiences are transformative and we help your group to integrate that experience so that you can take what is learned and apply it upon your return.
We are partnering with non-profit organizations to provide volunteers for field work.
Our partners:
Focus North America
Habitat for Humanity
Techos Pa Mi Gente
COVID Protocols
The health and safety of SISW volunteers, families and staff is our number one priority.
We have established guidelines that will be updated as needed to reflect the most recent CDC and health officials’ recommendations.
To ensure safety during Covid-19, we will likely have only one group per location per week. We will follow COVID protocols as required in each location. All trips will include contingency planning for potential COVID spikes with alternate site and virtual components planned in the event of a restrictions being in place at the time of the trip.
You will commit to a time to serve; We will prepare you and your Group to serve; and your team will serve during that week wherever possible, (you will go where called to serve and able to serve to redeem the time). Thus you are committing to the time and we are committing to the program and the location will be modified if needed, but your participants will still have the opportunity to serve, and we will offer our program to your group no matter what the location.
Locations
Greater Boston, Massachusettes – Habitat for Humanity
Our partners are dedicated to building simple low-cost homes by forming partnerships with low-income families in need of decent and affordable housing. They believe homeownership is a vital step to help families break the cycle of poverty and contributes to pride in families and communities.
Volunteers both skilled and non-skilled will aid build teams on residential construction sites. Must be 16 years of age or older.
Service: Humanitarian, Community
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Neighborhood Resiliency Project
Rooted in the Gospel and teaching of the Orthodox Church, inspired by the Civil Rights Movement (American 1950s-1960s), the mission of the Neighborhood Resilience Project is to support the transformation of neighborhoods from Trauma Affected Communities to Resilient Healing and Healthy Communities through Trauma Informed Community Development.
Volunteers will assist in community outreach, food distribution, landscaping, painting.
Service: Community, Recovery
Tallahassee Creek, Colorado – St Laurence Monastery
Located in the wilderness at Tallahassee Creek in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, the St Laurence Monastery is a refuge of unspoiled nature to witness the majesty of God’s creation.
Volunteers will help beautify the grounds, landscaping, painting, monastery building projects, renovation of interior spaces and prepare the site for seasonal maintenance while enjoying the solitude and glory of the natural setting.
Service: Community
Cleveland, Ohio – St Herman House (FOCUS)
An Orthodox Christian house of hospitality with the mission to shelter and support homeless men on the path to well-being and independence and meet the basic needs of people in our community.
Volunteers will aid in the building of exterior structures on their farm to support the food program.
Service: Humanitarian, Community
Detroit, Michigan – FOCUS
As an expression of Christ’s love, FOCUS Detroit exists to bring together Orthodox Christian churches, along with other communities and partners to help children experiencing poverty to succeed in school.
Volunteers will assist in community outreach and emergency relief. Build and community beautification projects such as murals, community gardens, landscaping.
Service: Community, Humanitarian
St Paul, Minnesota – FOCUS
We are a charitable outreach of the Orthodox Church community in the Twin Cities, providing basic-needs assistance to those who come to our doors in need. Volunteers will assist in food distribution, community outreach, and assistance to the Ojibwe.
Service: Community
Orange County, California – FOCUS
FOCUS is providing opportunities for Orthodox Christian communities to engage in meaningful opportunities to reduce food insecurity and hunger in Orange County. Local food banks report over 450,000 people in Orange County are at risk of going hungry every month. Through the support of the Orthodox Church, local volunteers and partnerships with other like-minded nonprofit agencies, we have served over 180,000 people since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.
Volunteers will assist in community outreach such as food distribution and community beautification projects such as murals, community gardens, landscaping.
Service: Community, Humanitarian
Puerto Rico – Techos Pa Mi Gente
Service Teams will aid in the ongoing recovery of Puerto Rico after devastating hurricanes. Our on the ground partner is Techos Pa Mi Gente “Roofs for my People”, a nonprofit organizational with the mission of rebuilding damaged roofs in underserved communities throughout the island.
Both skilled and non-skilled volunteers will spend their time rebuilding homes and roofs for those in need living in the community while enjoying the beautiful culture and beaches of Puerto Rico.
Service: Recovery, Humanitarian
Garrison, NY – St Basils Academy
Saint Basil Academy is the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese home for children in need. The academy provides a loving Christian environment where resident children are nurtured to adulthood. St Basil Academy is located on the shores of the Hudson River, overlooking West Point Academy.
Build and community beautification projects such as murals, community gardens, landscaping and interior and exterior painting projects.
Service: Humanitarian
Santa Paula, CA – St. Barbara Monastery
St. Barbara Orthodox Monastery is an Orthodox women’s monastery committed to living out the Gospel of Christ in a monastic community.
Volunteers will help beautify the grounds, landscaping, painting, monastery building projects, renovation of interior spaces and prepare the site for seasonal maintenance while enjoying the solitude and glory of the natural setting.
Service: Community
Calistoga, CA – Holy Assumption Monastery
Holy Assumption Monastery embraces its ministry of serving and sharing in the life of its neighbors. Many of the sisters have tutored children at the local elementary school; regularly visit the ill and infirm; take in shelter animals as space allows; and provide support to individuals and families in crisis with temporary housing, food, gas, and additional resources.
Volunteers will help beautify the grounds, landscaping, painting, monastery building projects, renovation of interior spaces and prepare the site for seasonal maintenance while enjoying the solitude and glory of the natural setting.
Service: Community
Baja California, Tijuana Mexico – Project Mexico
Project Mexico provides safe, secure, permanent homes for poor families in Baja, California. Our mission provides sturdy structures and a foundation for families to build a better future. With the help of thousands of volunteers, we have made a difference.
Volunteers build homes for families in need in the Tijuana region.
CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE DUE TO INTERNATIONAL BORDER CLOSURE
DETAILS
• $100 non-refundable security deposit at time of registration
• Trip Fee: $650 total (5 days), due 30 days before trip (discounts available for early payment)
Or $150 per day.
CHOOSE YOUR DATE(S) and Length of Time
One-day up to two-weeks are available from June to August 2021 (more dates available in the Fall)
Scholarships Available for members of Greek Orthodox Archdiocese (GOA)
*Proceeds benefit St Innocent Orphanage and underwrite the cost of building materials, training and support.