October 2018
The Incredible Win-Win of Volunteering, and How
UAServe Can Help

With the pressing demands of busy day-do-day schedules, the idea of volunteering can be pushed aside and given little priority. After all, how can a person whose plate is already full find time to do one more thing?

But, what if lending a helping hand could help reduce stress and combat depression, provide skill-building opportunities, and create avenues to meet new friends, make connections in the community?

Here's the good news: it can.

While volunteering helps meet critical needs in our community, the benefits expand to include both the people being served and volunteers.

Volunteering can counteract the effects of stress, anger and anxiety through the social, meaningful connections that are established by helping others. Researchers have discovered that being helpful to other delivers immense pleasure. Volunteering promotes self-confidence by providing a sense of accomplishment. And, studies have shown that those who volunteer have a lower mortality rate than those who do not.

While it's true that the more a person volunteers, the more benefits they'll experience, volunteering doesn't have to equate to an overwhelming commitment of time.

In fact, Urban Alliance's volunteer program, UAServe , provides an easy on-ramp for people of all ages and abilities to find a place to serve that matches with their interests and schedule. Since the program launched in 2013, hundreds of UAServe volunteers have contributed nearly 17,000 hours of service through a broad range of opportunities.

"Urban Alliance matches volunteers with a number of host sites in the Urban Alliance network," explained Sarah Thompson , UA's Director of Communications and Volunteer Mobilization. "What makes this unique is that a volunteer can try out multiple volunteer opportunities to see where they fit in best, before making a commitment."

"Our goal is to help volunteers find opportunities to serve that excite them and where they can dig in an build relationships over time," she added.

Research shows that volunteer just a few hours a week—or about 100 hours a year—can result in the most benefits for you and your host site. UAServe is here to help you find an opportunity that is a comfortable fit for you.

There are currently more than 50 opportunities to make a difference through UAServe, with critical needs for administrative assistants , after-school program tutors , delivery driver assistants , food pantry inventory assistants and in-school mentors/tutors .

Interested in learning more? The next two UAServe orientations will be held on November 7 and November 20 at Urban Alliance. Registration is required. If you are unable to attend an upcoming orientation due to a scheduling conflict but are still interested in volunteering, please contact Rosa McGuire , Urban Alliance's Volunteer Manager.
We're Hiring a Full-Time
Senior Accountant!

This role is responsible for overseeing all accounting and related administrative functions of Urban Alliance . Major responsibilities include:

  • Invoice vouchering and check preparation
  • Payroll management
  • Data entry into QuickBooks accounting software
  • Preparation of monthly financial statements
  • Preparation of annual financial budget, including ongoing monitoring against actual results
  • Financial analysis and reporting
  • Oversight of various administrative functions such as insurance, employee benefits, etc.
  • Database management

Click the button for full details or to apply.
Gifted and Called: Children and Youth Leaders Gather for 2018 Next Generation Summit

This past weekend, nearly 100 youth and youth leaders gathered for the Next Generation Children and Youth Leaders Summit , where they worshipped together, networked, and learned about ways to increase their program's capacity to impact children and youth so they develop the character, relationships and skills needed to succeed in their schools and communities and grow in their faith.

A variety of workshops were provided during the Summit, with topics including intentional discipleship, nurturing strong children and youth leaders, effective conflict resolution, and identifying the unique qualities and God-given gifts children and youth have and the meaningful ways they can serve others through those gifts.

For more information about Next Generation, click below or contact Rosaicela Rodriguez , Urban Alliance's Director of Implementation, Children & Youth Initiatives .
$7 Million Facebook Match on #UAGivingTuesday!

Did you know? This year on #UAGivingTuesday, Facebook is boasting a $7 million match for Facebook fundraisers!

When you donate to UA's Facebook fundraiser on November 27, Facebook and PayPal will match your gift AND if you create your own fundraiser for Urban Alliance, Facebook and PayPal will match what you raise!

So, bookmark our Facebook page, mark your calendar and get ready to help thousands of people in our local community by giving or creating a Facebook fundraiser for UA.

Contact Jaleith Gary , UA's Director of Philanthropy, to learn more about this opportunity or other ways to support our work.
Team Forming to Engage in the Re-entry Process for Previously-Incarcerated Individuals

A diverse group of senior pastors have been meeting together monthly at Urban Alliance to build deeper ministry relationships and consider ways to have a greater impact in our community.

A team is forming with the desire to engage in a ministry opportunity around the re-entry process for previously-incarcerated individuals.

While the team is praying and beginning to formulate a proposed plan, they are seeking the help of local churches to identify people that would like to participate in this ministry opportunity.

Please click the button below for more details and contact Pastor Frank Termine at 860.986.4643 or pastorfrank@calvaryct.org with questions or to get involved.