Arbor House  

Arbor House is a residential program for women 18 years and older who need assistance during and after crisis pregnancies.   

Website: http://arborhouse.org/get-involved/volunteer/

Contact: (352) 371-2229, arborhouse2005@yahoo.com 

Who they are: Arbor House Christian Maternity Home is a residential program for women who need assistance during and after crisis pregnancies.  Arbor House emphasizes Christian values, support, and love, regardless of financial status, religion, or race.   Their mission is to break the cycle of poverty and to empower adult single and expectant mothers.   

What they do: Arbor House offers programs for single and expectant mothers as they look for successful plans for their own lives and their children’s lives.  They provide emergency shelter, family counseling and support, transitional housing, educational resources, instruction in nutrition and childbirth preparation, and weekly Bible studies.   

What YOU can do to help: Volunteers are needed for the following tasks: 

Help in the office:  Assist with visitors, answer the phone, coordinate other volunteers, coordinate volunteer projects, and other office tasks. 

Conduct community outreach surveys: Take surveys of prospective clients at non-profits in the Gainesville area. 

Help with our home business: Assist residents in quilting, card making, baking, soap-making, etc.  Volunteers attend craft fairs on weekends and help with selling on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoons from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. 

Bring dinner: Share a meal with residents Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday evening. 

Plan a service project: Plan a house cleaning event or yard work with your group.  Hold a “diaper drive” to raise donations for the Arbor House. Help plan a holiday or birthday party with your group. 

Help with babysitting: Babysitters are needed who have extensive babysitting experience and who are willing to submit to a criminal background check.  Babysitters are needed Mondays through Fridays from 9:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. or Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoons from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.  Weekend babysitters are also needed (a 3 month commitment is required). 

Help with transportation: At various times during the week on a needed basis, volunteers are needed to provide transportation for residents and their children.  To provide transportation, volunteers need to have a valid driver’s license and space for a child’s car seat. 

Help with organizing and cleaning: Help organize and clean the Arbor House during the morning or afternoon Mondays through Fridays.  

Donations: Donations are needed at Arbor House.  They need infant wipes and diapers (sizes 3, 4); small portable file boxes; infant OTC Tylenol, cough medicine, and saline; household paper products such as paper towels, trash bags, tissues, toilet paper, and napkins; storage tubs with lids; laundry soap; gas stove for Mom’s Place; gift cards for Wal-Mart, Albertson’s, Citgo Gas; someone to steam clean carpet; laundry baskets and hampers; household cleaning supplies such as windex, bleach, dish soap, and disinfectant spray; new computer monitors