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Basic Information
Volunteers make all the difference!
Full-time residential volunteers are the unique and
essential ingredient that sets Innisfree apart from
any institutions, public or private. Volunteers must
be at least 21 years of age and make a commitment of
at least one year. Our volunteer population consists
of 15 to 20 people, ranging in age from 21 to 70, with
different backgrounds and personal experience. Volunteers
must be interested in living with people with disabilities.
Volunteers must also have patience, common sense, an
ability to empathize, a sense of humor, and an interest
in community process and living in a rural setting.
Volunteers come from around the
world and find us through volunteer organizations such
as SCI-International Voluntary Service, Mennonite Central
Committee, Action Reconciliation Service for Peace,
and Brethren Volunteer Service. Others join us as part
of their schooling, to be in service, to live in community,
as conscientious objectors, to try a career change or
to broaden their experience. Whatever their reasons
for coming to Innisfree, they give generously to our
community and leave with valuable experience and a lifetime
of memories.
Each volunteer has his/her own room
and is entitled to two days off per week. These are
scheduled to ensure adequate house and work coverage.
For instance, one volunteer in a house will have Friday
and Saturday off, while the other volunteer will have
Sunday and Monday off. Volunteers will receive room
and board, a monthly stipend of $250, extra allowance
for 15 days of vacation, medical insurance for non-pre-existing
conditions, and $65 per month accumulating severance
allocation. The repayment of college loans can be deferred
for volunteers at Innisfree. The Innisfree office staff
can assist in the application process for deferment.
Two to four volunteers live
together in a house with three to eight coworkers.
Volunteers are responsible for the running of the
household; cooking, cleaning, shopping and light
maintenance. Coworkers are asked to help with household
chores to the best of their ability. The coworkers
require varying amounts of assistance with personal
care. Most need minimal supervision with personal care
and just a few might need maximum assistance with
toileting. If volunteers have never done personal care
before, we offer a month for hands on learning.
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Application
Process
There is no deadline for receipt
of applications. The application process takes about
one month. For an application, please contact Nancy
Chappell. The first month as a volunteer at Innisfree
is a trial period. This trial period will involve a
week in every workstation as well as time to meet everyone
and learn about the people and the life that is Innisfree.
We also will offer various training programs related
to community caregiving. The serious responsibilities
assumed by each volunteer warrant a thorough assessment
of each candidate's level of maturity, motivation, and
ability to cope with a wide range of challenging problems
before a volunteer commitment is offered or accepted.
This assessment is done formally at the end of the volunteer's
first month in the village. A prospective volunteer
should be aware that while a large measure of self-governance
is encouraged through weekly meetings and committees,
the licensing obligations of Innisfree require the observance
of regulations and the delegation of final authority
in certain areas to Innisfree's Executive Director.
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Visiting Innisfree
Innisfree Village is in a beautiful,
rural valley. Charlottesville, Virginia, home of the
University of Virginia, is only 30 minutes away. This
is where we enjoy movies, plays, dining out, and meeting
friends. The area hosts a lively arts and folk music
scene as well as great natural beauty. The Shenandoah
National Forest, Skyline Drive, and the Appalachian
Trail are all a short hike away. A visit to Innisfree
prior to applying as a volunteer is strongly recommended.
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