Volunteering
Volunteers play an integral role at WSI. Volunteers offer their services in a variety of ways.
- Supportive counseling for victims of domestic violence and other crises residing in our shelter.
- Hotline coverage.
- Advocacy and accompaniment.
- Children's group activities.
- Co-facilitating adult support groups for domestic/sexual violence.
- Education in area schools.
- Clerical, technical, or maintenance assistance.
- Board of Directors.
- Fundraising.
Volunteers who work directly with service recipients are required to complete a 60 hour training sponsored by Women's Services. The training begins the last week of September and runs for eight weeks. Sessions are held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:15 to 9:30. Two Saturday sessions are also included and go from 10:00 to 4:30 pm. Act 33 and 34 Clearances are required. Over twenty trainers donate their time to familiarize volunteers with the background of domestic/sexual violence and related issues. This is not an accredited training and does not give participants the right to counsel victims outside the auspices of Women's Services, Inc.
Men Against Sexual Violence (MASV)
Men play an equally important role in the fight against sexual violence. The MASV initiative began in 2001 and is a project of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape. Men can participate by pledging to speak out against sexual violence and to not condone it when they hear about it. For information on how to join your local MASV chapter, call the Women's Services Inc. business office at (814) 724-4637, or PCAR at (800)692-7445.