HSHM FACTS
Home Sweet Home Ministries was founded in 1917 by Billy Shelper, a local candy store owner and former alcoholic. Billy accepted Christ at a tent revival meeting held at the McLean County Jail and immediately started serving people in need in the community. Ten years later, he founded the Home Sweet Home City Rescue Mission.
Hospitality Services provides meals for our clients and those in need in the community and coordinates the Bread For Life Food Co-op. We serve between 10-12 thousand meals each month and have 360+ people participating in our Bread for Life Food Co-op.
Home Sweet Home provides over 31,000 nights of shelter each year.
Emergency Services and other life transformational programming are operated from the Billy Shelper Center at 303 E. Oakland Avenue in Bloomington, IL. These programs, ranging from overnight to several months, provide case management services, residential services, daily meals, recovery referral, vocational training, and child care.
Home Sweet Home operates the Mission Mart Thrift store here in Bloomington. 100% of net proceeds from the store benefits the people served by Home Sweet Home Ministries. Mission Mart provides items to individuals who cannot afford to pay through the clothing voucher program. For more information, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator.
Our Warehouse Operations team recycles over 2,000,000 pounds of textiles, housewares, electronics, and other household goods each year.
Whether you are volunteering on a regular basis or for a one-time project or event, arrive early so there is time for communication and direction. Also, be sure to let the staff member or volunteer team leader who is supervising your work know when your schedule changes or if you cannot volunteer when you are expected.
Any information relating to a client, as well as anticipated changes in the management or conduct of the affairs of this organization, shall be held in strictest of confidence. If you need to discuss any such information, do so inside the organization and only with those who need to know. Outside the organization, discuss with no one at all unless a clear and compelling reason to do so exists.
Volunteers are not authorized to identify themselves with HSHM outside of their assigned role or attempt to use their position for profit or illicit personal gain. Any fundraising or solicitation efforts must be approved by the CEO.
Volunteers give HSHM the right to print and/or publish pictures of any HSHM activities in which they participate. Volunteers should not take pictures of any other person who may be at HSHM unless instructed by staff to do so for Photography Classes.
Please make sure to sign in and out at the appropriate computer kiosk as this allows us to accurately reflect and document your volunteer hours for the volunteer and HSHM benefit.
To experience job satisfaction and to inform the volunteer coordinator if an assignment is unsatisfactory.
To receive initial and on-going training as needed.
To ask for a new assignment when ready for a new challenge.
To feel free to consult the Volunteer Coordinator, COO, and CEO regarding suggestions or complaints.
To have a safe work environment.
To have a workplace free of harassment.
To know to whom they are accountable and to have clearly defined channels of communication.
Wearing modest, practical and comfortable clothing when you volunteer is important. Dress appropriate for the task you will be performing. Please refrain from wearing clothing that promotes alcohol, drugs or a lifestyle contrary to Christian beliefs. Remember you are a representative of HSHM when you volunteer with us.
You help to make it possible for the homeless to receive shelter, the hungry to be fed, and the lost to be saved. Thank you for the important role you play in reaching out to our brothers and sisters in need.