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Volunteer Opportunities

MSM Outreach

Interact with clientele at four local bars that cater to gay and bisexual men. Talk with them about:

• HIV basics
• HIV testing
• HepC and other STDs
• Safer sex practices
• Healthcare agencies that provide HIV and other STD testing and counseling
• Provide safer sex items (male condoms, lube, female condoms, dental dams) and literature
• Explain/educate on the proper use of safer sex items

This outreach takes place on various nights of the week and usually lasts about two hours. The nights, times, and locations will vary based on factors such as volunteer availability, which locations have been recently visited and what days and times have recently been done.

Clean Works

Interact with individuals from the community that are injection drug users (IDUs) with an emphasis on harm reduction – especially preventing HepC and HIV transmission; exchange needles and distribute other supplies (bleach, sterile water, cookers, etc.)

• Coach/educate on safer injection techniques
• Coach/educate on safer sex practices
• Provide safer sex items (male condoms, lube, female condoms, dental dams) and literature
• Explain/educate on the proper use of safer sex items
• Provide educational literature
• Provide referrals to various local healthcare agencies

We especially need healthcare professionals (LPNs, RNs) and psycho/social trained professionals. One or two nights per week (Monday and/or Thursday) from 5:45pm to 8:15pm each night.

Some training is required before a volunteer is assigned.

Office Support

Opportunities exist for people with various business knowledge and skills. Days and hours are flexible depending on current activities and volunteer availability.

• Inventory control
• Communications/Marketing/PR (ideally someone with a Communications, Marketing and/or PR education and experience)
• Filing
• Envelope stuffing / mailer preparation
• Grant writing (ideally someone with experience in grant writing, or English/technical writing experience)

Events

• Pride Festival (event date in June of every year)
• National HIV Testing Day (event date June 27 of every year)
• Bazaar Bizarre in Eastown (event date in June of every year)
• Eastown Street Fair (event date in September of every year)
• Latino Festival (event date in September of every year)
• World AIDS Day (event date December 1 of every year)

Many opportunities exist for volunteers to represent The Grand Rapids Red Project on committees that organize and host community events. Time commitments vary based on the event and responsibilities accepted by a volunteer. Some events, like Pride Festival, have a one-year planning cycle and require more complex planning (thus, more meetings and more time). Other events, like Latino Festival, can have a short planning cycle (approximately 2 months) if the volunteer is only working to coordinate GR Red Project having a booth at the event.

The range of responsibilities is wide. Sample volunteer jobs on an event might include: fundraising, communications/marketing, volunteer registration and coordination, security, set-up, tear-down, entertainment selection and coordination, vendor registration and coordination, public relations, accounting/financial planning and controls.

Fundraisers

• Auction Against AIDS (event date in April of every year)
• AIDS Walk – Grand Rapids (event date in September of every year)
• Holiday Fest (event date in December of every year)

Many opportunities exist for volunteers to represent The Grand Rapids Red Project on committees that organize and host fundraising events that directly benefit our organization. Time commitments vary based on the fundraiser and responsibilities accepted by a volunteer. Some events, like Auction Against AIDS, have a one-year planning cycle and require more complex planning (thus, more meetings and more time). Other events, like Holiday Fest, can have a short planning cycle and less of a time commitment (approximately 2 months).

The range of responsibilities is wide. Sample volunteer jobs on a fundraiser might include: fundraising, communications/marketing, volunteer registration and coordination, security, set-up, tear-down, entertainment selection and coordination, vendor registration and coordination, public relations, accounting/financial planning and controls.

Board of Directors

Interested individuals may apply for membership on the Board of Directors (a separate application from the general volunteer application), and must be willing to commit to a three-year term.

The Board of Directors currently meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 6:00pm – 7:30pm. Elected Board members also participate in at least one subcommittee (which requires additional time): Budget & Grants, Fundraising & Events, or Planning & Programming.

If elected as a Board Officer, a volunteer will also serve on the Executive Board, which currently meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 5:30pm to 6:00pm.

Miscellaneous

Individuals who apply to volunteer with The Grand Rapids Red Project may bring other talents to the organization which are not listed above.

The Grand Rapids Red Project is a 501(c 3 corporation which independently and collaboratively:

• Improving health
• Preventing HIV
• Reducing risk
• Responds to the prevention needs and perspectives of those infected and affected by HIV and those at risk
• Provides programs to meet those needs
• Dares to explore and learn
• Seeks to challenge the comfortable and teach the willing
• Advocates for effective solutions to identified problems

Due to Michigan privacy laws, and the sensitive nature of HIV/AIDS, individuals interested in volunteering with our agency must complete an application and be interviewed by a designated representative of the agency. Individuals approved for volunteer status are required to complete basic HIV/AIDS training before being placed. The following is a general summary of the types of volunteer positions available with The Grand Rapids Red Project.

Individuals who want to apply to become a volunteer with The Grand Rapids Red Project should stop by our office (343 Atlas SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506) to pick up an application or call (616) 456-9063.