Project Transitions
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“Project Transitions is a unique place to volunteer because this agency offers such a wide range of volunteer opportunities as well as commitment levels. We encourage our volunteers to donate their time where they feel most comfortable and to perform the tasks that best match their individual skill sets. Some volunteers enjoy providing direct care to our clients, while others enjoy retail work at our thrift store. Volunteers who are not able to routinely commit their time to Project Transitions often help out at the special events we hold throughout the year. These special events allow volunteers to connect with other supporters and donors in the community that have made Project Transitions’ mission possible. Like KUT, Project Transitions offers services that are one of a kind in Central Texas. Our agency is the only organization in Central Texas that provides hospice care and supportive housing to individuals and families living with HIV and AIDS. No matter where volunteers choose to donate their time in support of our agency, they are contributing to a much-needed resource in our community.”
Project Transitions Mission Statement:
Project Transitions is dedicated to serving people with HIV and AIDS by providing hospice, housing and support in a compassionate and caring environment.
Major Activities and Services:
Project Transitions is the only organization in Central Texas that provides hospice care and supportive housing for individuals and families living with HIV and AIDS. Our hospice alone has served well over 500 clients since 1989. No one is ever turned away from our services due to inability to pay, and the agency is determined to continue offering these services for as long as they are needed in our community.
At the heart of our agency is Doug’s House; a program created by Project Transitions to address the great need for residential hospice care for individuals in the final stages of AIDS. As the HIV/AIDS virus changed from not only a terminal illness but also a chronic disease, the agency adapted to face the new trends by providing a whole continuum of care. Presently, Project Transitions services include, our hospice, our transitional housing programs, and our thrift store. Our hospice, Doug’s House, is 5 beds and provides hospice or respite care to people with AIDS. Our transitional housing programs offer individuals and families with HIV/AIDS various options such as, a 22-unit apartment complex with on-site full time social work services, an 8-unit independent living complex, and subsidized independent living in different apartments throughout the city. Although primarily a fund raising activity, Top Drawer accepts vouchers provided by Project Transitions to the area HIV service providers, allowing persons living with HIV/AIDS to shop free of charge. Finally, Project Transitions holds several special events throughout the year that generate revenue for the agency as well as public interest for our mission and services.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Project Transitions allows for volunteers to follow their own interests by providing them with a list of all of our volunteer opportunities. If the volunteer chooses Doug’s House or Top Drawer Thrift, they are required to attend orientation. These sessions are used to familiarize and prepare the volunteers for the tasks they will likely perform.
Top Drawer Volunteers help with picking up, sorting, pricing, stocking, selling, and delivering donations that come into the store. We need volunteers during store hours, which is Monday-Saturday, 10:00AM-7:00PM. It is the perfect volunteer experience for someone who cannot be tied down to a weekly commitment or someone who is not necessarily interested in direct client care. All volunteers are required to go through a 1 1/2 hour orientation usually on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening from 5:30-7:00pm.
Doug’s House Volunteers provide non-medical support to the residents in our AIDS hospice. This experience is for people who are interested in working with people, but ranges widely in the amount of direct client interaction you will have. Depending on your interest, volunteers have the opportunity to help by providing companionship or cooking meals or directly attending to the resident’s personal care. All volunteers are required to make a weekly commitment and must initially go through a three-part orientation, which will be two evenings occurring during two consecutive weeks and one Saturday afternoon.
Administrative Volunteers help with various tasks at our administrative office. Different jobs may include processing promotional information for our events, as well as help with filing, copying, and running errands. Administrative volunteers are notified when office projects occur and volunteers sign up if available. There is no orientation required for administrative volunteers.
Event Volunteers are the backbone of our events! Project Transitions could not do it without them! Volunteers help set up the event, decorate, run the front door, sell drink tickets, bartend, serve food, pack up, and many other tasks in between. There are events throughout the year that promote and raise money for Project Transitions: Texas Swing in the summer with its two-stepping and barbeque; Holiday Swing, our formal holiday affair with the Sentimental Journey Orchestra, three party rooms and an extensive silent auction; and our newest event, Living City, an indie art and music benefit show. Event volunteers are notified before an event and sign up if available. There is no required orientation for event volunteers.
Contact Information:
Callie Thompson ( cthompson@projecttransitions.org )
Volunteer Coordinator
ptvolunteering.wordpress.com
Phone: 512.454.8646
FAX: 512.454.5039
P.O. Box 4826
Austin, TX 78765
For More Information about Project Transitions, visit their website at www.projecttransitions.org.
