Connect Palmer seeking volunteers

WASILLA — Connect Palmer is currently seeking volunteers to help in various positions to aid their efforts helping locals find work and get back on their feet.

Executive Director Sherry Carrington said they’re looking for people to fulfill a number of roles ranging from transportation to teaching sewing and life skill classes. She said their volunteers numbers have been down due to the pandemic.

“We’re looking for different volunteers to fill in some of those niches. We have a full house and just have all kinds of needs in all kinds of areas in their lives,” Carrington said.

Carrington said that they have a small staff, and having dedicated volunteers — particularly those that fill mentorship positions for their clients — makes a drastic difference to their overall efforts.

“Just having that person that will come along and be their cheerleader, and remind them of all that they can do, and encourage them along the way,” Carrington said.

Connect Palmer is a faith-based nonprofit organization that provides a number of back to work and life skill programs. They also provide temporary housing for women called Sarah’s House. Women seeking employment can stay in their housing unit above their main office in downtown Palmer as they make their way through the various phases of their programs.

Connect Palmer was established in 2004, according to Carrington. She said Sarah’s House resulted from the realization that about 80 percent of their women clients were homeless.

Carrington said they’re currently working with six clients and the Sarah’s House is full, save two emergency beds.

“Our core mission, our little tagline is connecting Palmer to the love of God, one need at a time. It’s just addressing practical needs in a way that really allows people to change and move in a different direction. It’s just giving them some tools… and connecting people to resources,” Carrington said.

According to Carrington, they’re going to offer the God’s Work Design quarterly over the course of 2021. The work ready programs Sarah’s House residents prepare to join the workforce with workshops, activities, volunteering, and job shadowing opportunities.

“That’s a real important part I think; and it helps them too. It gives back, but they get current work experience that can kind of show where they’re at; and get them back in the pubic and get in them in a work environment, and get a good reference, even if it’s just for a few weeks. We really try to start getting them volunteering early on in the program,” Carrington said.

Women in the God’s Work Design program clock in from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday to work on their resumes, cover letters, and interview skills with mock interviews.

Carrington said the clients are encouraged to apply for at least 30 jobs during that time. She said they ask their clients to treat their program like a job, encouraging professionalism, punctuality and self-discipline.

“Their job every day is to focus on getting work,” Carrington said.

Carrington encourages anyone who needs help finding work to reach out. She noted that they’re also hiring a part time position to help organize the God’s Work Design program.

For more information about Connect Palmer, call 907-746-9675 or visit connectpalmer.org.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com