Doorways

I have been volunteering with Doorways for over two years & it has made a significant impact on my life. I worked with a women's shelter while in college so I was instantly drawn to Doorways mission, however the volunteer opportunities here are substantially different. There are various tracks you can decide upon whether you prefer to work with children, adults, admin support, etc. there's something for everyone. I selected a very unique track called SARA or Sexual Assault Response Advocate. In this position I am on call & if called I report to the local hospital to meet a survivor of sexual assault. As an advocate your most important role is to remind the survivor that they are not alone. Additionally, you are there to provide them with resources to help them get through this difficult time. This is not an easy thing to do, but Doorway's prepares you with a solid training program. I'm so proud to be part of an organization that have given me the opportunity to provide this service.

I have been volunteering with Doorways for Women and Families for about two years now. The organization is wonderful, and does so much for the community. Not only that, they make the volunteer experience meaningful, and are very organized, making the process to remain engaged easy. My volunteer experience has been in two areas: the Sexual Assault Response Advocate (SARA) program and as a Domestic Violence Shelter volunteer. I find both opportunities to be incredibly rewarding. Doorways does a great job of helping people from crisis to stability, and it's wonderful to be a part of that.

If you are looking for a way to truly be involved within your community, then Doorways is it. This organization allows you to be a part of the process, and as said in a previous review, you aren't just stuffing envelopes. I can't begin to explain how much I've learned since volunteering with Doorways. You really couldn't find a better group of individuals to learn and grow with. If you are interested in advocating/volunteering for survivors of domestic violence and homelessness- this is where you need to be!!!

I have been volunteering with Doorways for almost two years and it has been an incredible experience. I work in the Domestic Violence portion of Doorways and volunteering in their Safehouse and answering calls on the 24 hour hotline have allowed me to be a small part of addressing the huge problem of domestic violence in this country. I was a bit concerned about being accepted as a guy in this type of environment, but both the Doorways staff and the clients have been amazing and supportive. I feel like I have been absolutely privileged to be one of the men who volunteers in this amazing organization and I hope that I can encourage more men to do so as well.

Great organization that strengthens the community

Although I have only been volunteering with the organization for a few months, Doorways has already proved to offer a great work environment. I am a Family Home coverage volunteer, as well as a Children's Program volunteer. My role as a coverage volunteer entails answering the Family Home hotline along with providing anything to clients staying at the home may need throughout my shift. As a children's volunteer, we offer respite childcare to parents in the home for about an hour a few times each week, allowing them to attend meetings or get various tasks completed around the house. The relationships with clients are quick to form, and everyone on staff at the house is more than willing to help you whenever a question may come up. If you work well with others - especially children! - I absolutely recommend Doorways as an organization to volunteer with in the DC metro area.

I highly recommend volunteering with Doorways for Women and Families. I'm a Coverage Volunteer for the Family Home, which means I help keep the family shelter and the hotline running when staff aren't available. Where Doorways excels relative to other organizations is investing in training volunteers to be handle 'high-level' tasks so you're not just stuffing envelopes! Doorways provides holistic services to shelter residents -- it is great being a part of a family's journey from crisis and homelessness to stable housing and a better life. Although the shelter's clients have significant barriers/challenges, the atmosphere/mood at the shelter is positive/uplifting -- with lots of kids! Doorways has a variety of opportunities to reflect a range of possible commitment levels.

Doorways is a great organization to be a part of. I am a proud volunteer for Doorways because it gives me the chance to work with people in need and to work/ play with children. Doorways gives you all the training you need get through any unfamilar situation and motivates you to help out any way you can. Clients are understanding to your position and the staff is amazing. They work with your schedule, maintain communication with volunteers, and they will help you any way that they can. If you are a person who loves to help people and wants to get more involved within the community you should check out Doorways for Women and Families.