The Volunteer Program’s mission statement is to be the hands and feet of Jesus by helping the staff at Keystone Mission to provide life-transforming opportunities.
We believe that volunteers are the “BACKBONE” of our organization because your partnership is essential on the frontlines with the men and women we serve daily. Our pursuit at Keystone Mission is to transform lives and build community through the hope of the gospel. The organization carries out the mission and rebuilds hope with the help of our volunteers.
THE PROCESS
We use MissionTracker which is an online database for volunteers. You’ll be asked to enter your first, last name, and e-mail address to access the application. Once you do, it is a simple application of general information and then specific as far as which program or department area and your availability.
To get started, click on VOLUNTEER either on the banner up top of the page or under the menu Volunteer and then Volunteer Application.
Within 48 hours, the volunteer coordinator will contact you by phone to let you know your application was received and to schedule your shadow day.
What is a shadow day? A shadow day is when you visit our facility and the program of your choice to see how it works and decide if this is the best fit for you. This will give you a sense of what we do and allow us to answer any of your questions.
WHAT TO EXPECT ON YOUR SHADOW DAY
When you arrive to your shadow day, you’ll be assigned to the program/department and the supervisor of that program or department area. They will begin to build a relationship with you and talk through the objective of the job you will be doing. You may be partnered with another volunteer or employee to learn or be trained.
Remember, this is the day that you get to see if the program/department you selected is the right fight for you. If not, that is fine, we’ll place you in another area.
After your shadow day, you’ll sit with the volunteer coordinator or another mission employee and talk about your experience. Ask questions, seek clarity, and be honest. We love to hear what you enjoyed or didn’t enjoy about the experience. Then the supervisor of the program area or department will place you on the schedule to come back and help on a regular basis. We ask that you be honest about your availability.
Keystone Mission provides a variety of volunteer opportuntieis throughout Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Our short-term opportunities include assisting in the seasonal Emergency Shelter-Code Blue, Community Service, Court Order “Community Service”, and seasonal/group volunteer. Our on-going opportunities include help with the Innovation Center for Homeless & Poverty, Agape Mobile Outreach, Weekend Meal Outreach, and the Transformation Center.
Whether we get to know you for a season or a lifetime, we want to create an impact with you, because every interaction with our guests/residents is a chance to show love.
This individual is fully engaged with the mission of the organization and is working on the frontlines with staff in one of the five program areas or administrative offices on a consistent basis.
Please use the Volunteer Application to apply opportunities at the organization. See below.
This individual is ordered by a court of law to give their time in a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to fulfil a number of hours. The individual will be required to fill-out all necessary documents: Application, Background Check Agreement, Confidentiality Agreement, Mission Statement & Statement of Faith, and Emergency Contact Form. It is important the individual knows the process and that as an organization, we will help fulfil their court-order requirements.
*NOTE: Please allow one to two weeks to process the Background check with the State of PA before you can start your community service with our organization. In some cases, it may take longer to get a background check completed by the state.
Please use the Court Order Application to apply for community service opportunities at the organization. See below.
This individual may be seeking to serve in the organization to fulfil a requirement for school or social function. The individual will be required to complete a portion of information based on age. See below for details:
Age 12–17
• Application
• Emergency Contact
• Minor Waiver
• Mission Statement & Statement of Faith
Age 18+
• Application
• Background Check Agreement
• Emergency Contact
• Confidentiality Agreement
• Mission Statement & Statement of Faith
Please use the Volunteer Application to apply opportunities at the organization. See below.
These types of volunteers may come in to help with a project sporadically during the year. The group or seasonal volunteers will only need to complete a portion of the application: Application, Emergency Contact, and Mission Statement & Statement of Faith. Background check is not necessary because of the nature of their work and limited interaction with guests/residents.
Please use the Volunteer Application to apply opportunities at the organization. See below.
The goal of this program is to provide direct relief from the brutal cold winters of NEPA. Folks are given a warm place to sleep, where they may have access to showers. Here, relationships are built with guests. This program is available in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre from November to March.
Responsibilities:
• Check-in guests
• Build relationship with guests
• Stay overnight in the facilities to monitor the guests
The point of this program is to hit the streets, build relationships and provide real-time critical intervention. From there, access is provided for guests to obtain government IDs, they are introduced to weekend meals in Scranton or Wilkes-Barre, and they are directed to additional support.
Responsibilities:
• Travel with the team to provide real-time critical intervention
• Assist in obtaining photo IDs, clothing, etc
• Provide a cooked or prepared meal
• Stay and serve the meal, pray, and build relationships with guests
• Serve meals on the go in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre Friday–Monday
Formerly known as the Day Center, this program is essentially an educational and hands-on training facility for guests. Breakfast and lunch are also available to guests. The Innovation Center will include vocational therapy, housing, agency collaboration, life skills training, job readiness training, spiritual training, and basic relief.
Responsibilities:
• Assist staff with serving breakfast and lunch
• Help guests with scheduling appointments
• Transport guests to appointments as needed
• Build relationships and motivate the men and women to better themselves
• Clean and fix things around the facility
• Other tasks as needed
This is a 15-bed facility available to men across NEPA. The new center is built on a 5-Pillar program structure that will holistically transform lives and build back hurting individuals into contributing members of society.
*No available opportunities at this time.
These documents are required to be completed as a volunteer at the organization. You’ll complete these as you fill-out the NEW ONLINE APPLICATION.
Find the volunteer application under VOLUNTEER and begin the process of filling out the needed information as well as where you would like to volunteer. Our staff will be in contact with you in 48 hours to confirm your application has been received.
We have opportunities in both Scranton and Wilkes-Barre from Monday through Friday from 8am-4pm with a few select options of weekends in the evenings. Please contact for more information on the weekend opportunities.
Judy Swigart will be your initial contact in the volunteer application process. From there, she will put you in contact with the supervisor of the program area in which you are interested in working.
Please refer to the volunteer handbook. Handbook is coming shortly.
Yes, however fill out the court-ordered application under VOLUNTEER. Our staff will contact you after 48 hours to discuss the opportunities available to complete your court ordered community service.
At Keystone Mission, we are in the business of transforming lives through relationships. Our standards are set high for volunteers because of the nature of our work.
Therefore, volunteers who have a past offense (please refer to the volunteer handbook, which is under review) may not initially be allowed to work or volunteer in any of our programs or offices; however, the leadership of our organization will review backgrounds and offenses on a case-by-case scenario.
Any additional questions regarding criminal history, please contact Ryan Buchanan, Development Director at (570) 871–4795 ext. 400
P.O. Box 470
Scranton, PA 18504
Phone: (570) 871–4795
EIN # 34–2042921
Keystone Mission is an award-winning, local faith-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Our mission is to be a catalyst for the community, to provide help and hope to the homeless, hungry, and hurting people in Northeast PA.
