Volunteering With SAFE

For the past several years, Christine Messina has served as the owner of The Candy Jar in Austin, Texas. Dedicated to helping her community, Christine Messina supports SafePlace, the Austin Children's Shelter, and SAFE Alliance, a charitable organization that resulted from the merging of SafePlace and Austin Children’s Shelter.

To continue its work toward creating a community without child abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence, SAFE relies on the support of individuals in the area. While the organization welcomes donations, volunteering is the best way to provide hands-on support. Dedicated individuals can volunteer with SAFE as an individual or within a group.

Individual volunteers have the option to interact with clients by providing support to survivors when they undergo sexual assault forensic examinations and when they are in court or at the organization’s shelter. This interaction is also possible by working in SAFE’s Strong Start therapeutic classroom, interacting with children at the organization’s residential cottages, and helping at various after-school programs. Individuals can also spend their time helping at staffing booths or providing life skills workshops. These areas involve more limited client interactions.

Meanwhile, group volunteers can donate their time on either an ongoing or one-time basis. Most group volunteer projects are held at either Austin Children’s Shelter or SafePlace and are needed with and without a project budget.