Volunteers

Anyone and everyone is invited to participate in COV. There are many different ways to be involved with COV, and so it is designed to meet the varying needs and commitment levels of those interested in participating. On the most general level, people are invited to volunteer with one of COV’s partners at any point. There is no commitment requirement, and no application to become involved. Simply visit the Campus Ministry COV Sign Up Board in the basement of Campus Ministry and add your name to the sign-up sheet for the experience you’d like to attend. This option provides flexibility in timing and type of service work, so that volunteers can find what’s most meaningful for them at the time.

Fellows

COV Fellows commit to serving with the same partner organization for an entire semester, thereby making a deeper commitment to those they are serving. The Fellowship allows volunteers to build relationships over time, learning more about the individuals, experiences, and social forces that shape the communities in which they serve. It also enables Fellows to take more of a mentorship role in relation to the other COV volunteers who may be newer to the experience. In addition to weekly service, Fellows also commit to attending one Social Justice Forum per semester and a monthly community reflection on a different component of service in order to better process their experience and to learn more about the social, economic, and political factors which create a need for service in the first place.

Leaders

COV Leaders are volunteers who have worked with a particular community partner for a long time, and want to guide other volunteers in becoming a part of that community as well. Leader responsibilities include both logistical and formational aspects. Leaders maintain close relationships with the community partners throughout the year, and are the primary contact with the organization on service days. In addition to heading the groups, leaders are also responsible for providing transportation to and from the service experience. However, leaders also take a more formational role as well. Leaders are responsible for providing a brief orientation to the community partner’s history and mission before every service experience, for leading volunteers through the service experience, and for facilitating reflection and helping groups process the experience on the way home from service in the van. Additionally, leaders serve as mentors and resources for their groups during the Social Justice Forum and monthly COV Community Reflections.

COV Core

The Core is comprised of a small group of dedicated participants, fellows, and leaders who work to strategically develop the future direction of the programs and partnerships of COV. The Core seeks to intentionally develop COV in light of its cornerstones of Simple Hospitality, Relational Service, Friendship & Community, and Personal Growth. To this end, the Core consists of three roles that work interdependently: Logistics, Formation, and Advocacy & Education.