Volunteer News | June 2025

Volunteer Opportunities and Announcements

Hello Tracy,

School's out, sun's out- let's get together for some summer volunteer time!

There is SO MUCH progress being made at our ADC Family Campus. While we still don't know exact move-in dates, we do know that two cohorts will be starting their journeys at Saranam this summer. That means there will be LOTS of ways to help soon. We will send out an updated list of opportunities when we have definitive dates.

For now, please see the opportunities we have to get involved this summer until decorating season begins!

If you have any questions about any of these opportunities, please contact Sunny Holmes, Community Engagement Coordinator, at (505) 377-5086 or sholmes@saranamabq.org.

Special Announcement

We're going digital! We have a new volunteer management system that allows us to digitize all our volunteer applications and schedules. Pretty cool, huh?!

The first step to make this system sing for us is to ensure everyone has an up-to-date volunteer profile. If you have previously filled out a volunteer application, you will receive an email this week with instructions on how to log in to your profile.

Nothing is perfect, so if you do not receive an email, please fill out a new online application -link here on our website-and a profile will be created.

We will continue to send out this newsletter to give descriptions of our volunteer opportunities and for now, scheduling will continue through Sign-Up Genius. In the fall, we will transfer scheduling to the new system and will send out further instructions at that time.

Housing/Administration

Decorating season is just around the corner! In the meantime, we have several ways to connect as summer gets rolling.

Monthly Supply Sorting (FTA Campus, Eastside)

Date(s): Wednesday June 25

Time: 9:30-11:30am

Location: Eastside-Saranam Classroom (1100 Eubank Blvd. NE, Suite A)

Details: Help us sort and fulfill each family's monthly supply orders. Families order from a set list and we gather and organize them for pick-up.

Requirements: none

Monthly Supply Sorting (ADC Family Campus- Westside)

Date(s): Wednesday June 11

Time: 9:30-11:30am

Location: Westside- Saranam ADC Family Campus Office (4651 Montano Blvd. NW-Home #1)

Details: Help us sort and fulfill each family's monthly supply orders. Families order from a set list and we gather and organize them for pick-up.

Requirements: none

Campus Cleanup (ADC Family Campus- Westside)

Date(s):

Saturday, June 7 (Westside): 11am-1pm

Location:

Westside- Saranam ADC Family Campus Office (4651 Montano Blvd. NW-Home #1)

Details: We are tackling some landscaping and prepping for a large painting project that will be completed later in the month. Help us prep for big impact!

Requirements: None

Campus Cleanup (FTA Campus- Eastside)

Date(s):

Saturday, June 21 (Eastside): 10am-12pm

Location:

Eastside: Saranam Weil Family Center (10400 San Jacinto Ave. NE)

Details: Join us for our monthly campus cleanup! Our projects change every month but could include simple repairs, painting, landscaping or organizing. This is a great opportunity for families!

Requirements: None

Garden Box Sealing

Date(s): Thursday, June 26

Time: 9am-11am

Location: Eastside: Saranam Weil Family Center (10400 San Jacinto Ave. NE)

Details: We need 2-4 volunteers to apply a coat of sealant to garden boxes at our FoxRidge Apartments. Light sanding may also be needed.

Requirements: none

Welcome Kits (ADC Family Campus, Westside)

Due by: June 18

Details: Each of our apartments is equipped with welcome kits that include all of the supplies families will need to get started in their new homes.

See welcome kit contents here.

Project Managers

Date(s):

June 10, 8:30am-12:00pm: Eastside FTA Campus

June 14, 10:00am-1:00pm: Westside ADC Campus

June 17, 8:30am-12:30pm; Eastside FTA Campus

June 24, 8:30am-12:30pm; Location TBD

July 1, 8:30am-12:30pm; Location TBD

July 15, 8:30am-12:00pm: Location TBD

Details: Every summer we have teen youth groups join us from around the country to serve in our community. We need 1-3 project managers each date to help us facilitate planned activities, answer questions, and provide logistics help. We have several dates available- sign up for as many as you would like!

Requirements: none

Landscaping Upkeep

Date: June 12

Time: 8:30-10:00am

Location: Westside- Saranam ADC Family Campus Office (4651 Montano Blvd. NW-Home #1)

Details: We are doing some upkeep of our landscaping at our Westside campus. We are planning on trimming, light weeding and other maintenance.

Requirements: none

New Decorator Meeting

Date(s): Wednesday, July 9

Time: 12pm

Location: Zoom

Details: Do you want to learn more about the decorating process? Join us for an informational session designed for NEW decorators. We'll tell you what to expect and how to prepare for this exciting opportunity.

Requirements: none

Planter Box Build

Date(s): flexible

Time: Flexible

Location: flexible

Details: We are looking for between 2 and 6 people to help us build a few planter boxes for our campuses. We have the wood and the build plans but need some handypeople to put them together. You can pick up materials and do this remotely, or schedule a time to do it at either of our facilities.

Requirements: Tools such as a saw would be helpful in this job.

Click below to sign up via Sign-Up Genius or contact Sunny Holmes at:

sholmes@saranamabq.org; (505) 377-5086.

Education

Parents continue with school through the summer and meet for fun and literacy activities during family nights. We have a couple of ways to support their learning goals this month.

Share a Meal

Date: Wednesday, July 2

Time: 5:00pm

Location: Saranam temporary classroom at Mesa View United Methodist Church

Details: Do you love cooking? We like to start out each month by sharing a meal in our family nights. We need someone to provide a meal for about 30 people.

Requirements: none

School Supplies

Date(s): flexible

Time: Flexible

Location: flexible

Details: Yes! You read that correctly- learning is still going, even over the summer. We added some school supplies for our adults to our Walmart wishlist to help them prepare for classes. Contact us for more ideas if all of these are spoken for.

See our Wishlist

Click below to sign up via Sign-Up Genius or contact Sunny Holmes at:

sholmes@saranamabq.org; (505) 377-5086.

Group Projects

These are the PERFECT projects for groups. Whether you have a book club, church group or a close group of friends, there are some a fun ways to give back together.

Painting Projects

Date: Last 2 weeks of June

Location: Saranam Eastside FTA Campus

Details: We have several painting projects to do around campus, including:

Painting refresh: Volunteers will apply coat of paint on apartment facades that have been damaged by the sun.
Number of volunteers needed: between 4 and 8
Painting repair: Volunteers will help sand, scrape and repaint support pillars at our FoxRidge apartments.
Number of volunteers needed: between 4 and 8

Note- these are GROUP projects. Please only sign up if you have a group already assembled.

Requirements: none

Click below to sign up via Sign-Up Genius or contact Sunny Holmes at:

sholmes@saranamabq.org; (505) 377-5086.

Special Announcements

Pictures of Hope

Several of the kids at Saranam recently participated in the national "Pictures of Hope" program, where they got the chance to capture and showcase their hopes and dreams through photography.

Their works of heart are available as cards for $25/pack of 12.

Learn more and order

Volunteer Training

If you would like to work with families directly, join us for a volunteer training. We cover the ins and outs of our program, trauma informed care, and child abuse prevention.

Saturday, August 9 9:00-12:30 Saranam Weil Family Center, 10400 San Jacinto Ave. NE

RSVP to Sunny Holmes at sholmes@saranamabq.org to secure your spot!