Lutheran Episcopal Services in Mississippi

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers do make a difference, and they are needed now as much as ever!

Volunteers are essential to LESM’s work by enabling us to carry out our mission of serving those at risk, responding to their needs and rebuilding and restoring family and community.

Recovery Management Camps

Currently, LESM manages two volunteer construction camps that collectively can accommodate 500 persons. Volunteer services have been and remain the “fuel” for cost effective housing reconstruction and other recovery work.

With the more than 35,000 volunteers contributing more than 1.4 million service hours, valued at more than $25 million, LESM has rebuilt/constructed 534 houses and provided case management services to more than 3,200 persons.

The level of devastation continues to be tremendous, and full recovery is expected to take years. You can help by offering support and/or volunteering your time. Plan a trip to the Mississippi Gulf Coast with your family, friends, church or organization and help to rebuild homes, assist with the case management, and/or work in the camp site - office, kitchen, etc.

Please go to the Recovery Camps website - www.futuresforfamilies.org  for more information.

The Storybook Project facilitates the connection of inmates with their children through the provision of books and readings from the inmates to their children.
More detailed program information available at the Restorative Justice link on this website

• Assist inmates in selecting books at projects
• Operate the digital recorder as the inmates read books
• Burn CDs at projects
• Wrap, weigh and affix postage to packages for the children at projects
• Donate books
• Donate packing supplies and stamps
• Provide snacks and drinks for the projects
• Donate  financially
• Invite Storybook staff to make presentations to church groups and civic organizations

Please contact: Catherine Sullivan,  Storybook Project Coordinator 601-352-7125 to volunteer or complete our contact form.

Restorative Justice-Double Time

Double Time  is a family support group for free world families who have loved ones incarcerated. 
More detailed program information available at the Restorative Justice link on this website

• Mentor Double Time children through LESM's Mentoring Children for Tomorrow.
• Attend Double Time speaker meetings to support families and become educated on issues related to incarceration.
• Sponsor a child to Camp Caritas, an annual, week-long camp for children with incarcerated parents.
• Sponsor/serve supper for a monthly First Thursday meeting.
• Provide game prizes for a monthly First Thursday meeting.
• Make reminder calls to members for First Thursday and speaker meetings.
• Make wire and bead crosses to be sold for commissary funds provided to indigent inmates who do not have family support.
• Sell the wire and bead crosses as fundraiser projects in church or civic clubs.
• Make financial contributions.
• Invite Double Time staff to make presentations to church groups and civic organizations.

Please contact: Sally Fran Ross, Double Time Project Coordinator 601-352-7125  to volunteer or complete our contact form.

Childrens Education Enrichment Services

ENRICH volunteers help academically at-risk children by helping staff prepare for and assist during the ENRICH program.  Volunteers may also provide encouragement and support to the children following the Program.

• Assemble Reading A-Z books for the summer program.
• Provide items on the school supply list for back packs.
• Volunteer at a site near you to help serve meals; read a book to a class; individualized tutoring; go on a field trip.
• Become a mentor to an ENRICH participant by sending a child a birthday card, a Christmas card, a “happy note”, four times a year.
• Become a Campbell’s Labels for Education coordinator in your congregation.

Please contact: Karen Quay, Chief Policy Officer, at 601-352-7125 to volunteer or complete our contact form.

Disaster Preparedness and Response Volunteers have an opportunity to prepare for and respond to disasters in these ways

• Help develop a “Disaster Plan” for your congregation.
• Collect and assemble “Flood Buckets” for those affected by hurricanes, tropical storms, or floods.
• Participate in workshops and/or trainings.
• Participate in National Preparedness Sunday.
• Work at one of the three recovery camps on the Gulf Coast.
• Volunteer time at the LESM office for disaster preparedness.

Please contact: Sandra Braasch, Director Disaster Preparedness and Response, at 601-352-7125 to volunteer or complete our contact form.