Bethany Community Church

In January of 2006 Tabitha Place opened for the first night as an emergency satellite shelter for Noel House. The shelter hosts up to 12 homeless women each night we are open and there are four teams who help run this ministry four nights a week.  Both men and women are welcome to volunteer on all teams:

1. Overnight Team. Two volunteers stay each night from 8:30pm to 7am. Lights are out at 10:15pm each evening. Overnight Team volunteers are able to sleep through the night and then serve a small breakfast and coffee the following morning before our guests leave for the day.
2. Hospitality Team. Volunteers arrive at 8:30pm and set up the shelter space with beds and lighting; they also manage the Clothing Closet and Book Cart. The Clothing Closet provides up to three articles of clean, warm clothing to each guest per night, and the Book Cart provides guests with access to various reading materials.  The hospitality team hours are 8:30pm-10pm.
3. Nutrition Team. Two volunteers prepare a light meal in the evening and a small breakfast to be served by the Overnight Team the next morning. Because we are committed to serving nutritious and delicious dishes, volunteers also pick up fresh produce from local farmers markets each week for the Nutrition Team to use in preparing meals.  We encourage nutrition volunteers to obtain a Washington State Food Handlers Permit.  It is $10 and a 1-1/2 hour class. The nutrition team hours are 8:15pm-10:15pm.
4. Transportation Team. One volunteer picks up our overnight guests from Noel House downtown with the bus from Bethany Community Church, and a second volunteer returns them the following morning by 6:45am.  Evening driver hours are 8:30pm-9:30pm and morning driver hours are 6:15am-7am.

Contact: Hilary Dameron
Online Application
Downloadable Volunteer Application

The Food Bank has a long history at Bethany, but in January 2009, it began partnering with Tabitha Ministries and holding open hours each week. The Tabitha Food Bank is committed to providing emergency food to families and individuals in our community.  We are currently open every Monday evening from 6-7pm. We also provide bags of food for pastors to give out during the week. The Tabitha Food Bank has three teams:

1. Open Hours Team. Monday nights from 5:45-7pm, volunteers prepare the CE Building as a place of hospitality to welcome our neighbors and hand out food.
2. Restocking Team. Put together bags of food so they are ready to be passed out.
3. Shopping Team. Volunteers take inventory of current food supplies and head to the grocery store to supplement current donations.

You may also get involved by donating food items. We currently have two programs:

1. Food of the Month. The focus of this program is on collecting one item each month.  February is peanut butter.
2. One-2-One.  The Tabitha Food Bank is not only committed to providing food for the local community, but also to providing ways for Bethany families to get involved!  The One-2-One program allows one Bethany family to contribute to one local family through collecting the following items in a brown, double-bagged grocery bag: 1 box of cereal, 2 cans of tuna, 1 can of chili, 1 can of pork ‘n bean or baked beans, 3 cans of vegetables, 1 box of mac ‘n cheese or 1 box of spaghetti pasta and 1 jar of spaghetti sauce, 3 cans of fruit, 2 cans of soup, 1 jar of peanut butter, 2 boxes of crackers, 2 packages of instant noodles.

Drop your Food of the Month or One-2-One items in Tabitha’s wooden donation bins—one is located in the Sanctuary foyer (across the hall from the restrooms), and the other is in the Chapel (to the right of the door that leads to the Overflow Cafe).  Donations of brown grocery bags can always be used as well.

Contact: Nathan Korpela
Online Application
Downloadable Volunteer Application

Through providing a hot, nutritious meal for our neighbors on the second and last Monday evening of every month, we seek to create a space where connection can happen between the church and the surrounding neighborhood. This ministry has four teams who work together to pull off each meal:

1. Meal Prep Team. Five to seven volunteers prep and coordinate the cooking of the meal for the evening.
2. Set-up Team. Volunteers set up table decorations and prepare the space for our neighbors and community.
3. Serving Team. Volunteers greet our guests and serve them food.
4. Clean-up Team. Five to six volunteers wash dishes, take down decorations, wipe down tables, and clean the kitchen.

Check out dates for these community meals. 

We were also featured in the Spring 2011 issue of The Communicator!

Contact: Susanna Kron
Online Application
Downloadable Volunteer Application

Utilizing Bethany soil to grow vegetables, we provide healthy produce for our Food Bank, Shelter and Community Meals.

Contact: Hilary Dameron
Online Application
Downloadable Volunteer Application

A vital part of our ministry, this team commits to praying for the direction of the ministry as well as responding to prayer requests received throughout the month on our Tabitha Shelter and Tabitha Food Bank prayer walls. By joining this team, you will receive monthly prayer updates to pray for as your schedule allows.

Contact: Joseph Cramer
Online Application
Downloadable Volunteer Application

The newest Tabitha Ministry will begin in the late spring/early summer 2012, building bridges as we meet the need for free holistic medical and spiritual care by connecting Bethany with the local Aurora community.

1. Health Care Team. Medical professionals provide care for patients at the clinic.  Includes nurses, doctors, medical assistants, nurse practitioners, PAs, therapists and pharmacists.
2. On-site Welcome Team. Centered around clinic set-up and creating a hospitable environment for patients. Includes receptionists, drivers, food arrangements, and spiritual care providers.
3. Clinic Management Team. Provides leadership for running the clinic.  Includes volunteer recruitment and training, patient and volunteer scheduling, case management, and site coordination.

Contact: Alison Mejeur, Rachel Gough
Online Application
Downloadable Volunteer Application