Our Baptismal Covenant calls every Christ follower to “seek and serve Christ in all persons,” loving our neighbors as ourselves. In addition to being good stewards of financial resources by supporting local organizations monetarily, we lend our time and skill as volunteers. Outreach at Good Shepherd falls into three main categories: Hillside Early Childhood Center, Homelessness prevention and resource support, and Flock, those initiatives that support our neighbors through every age and stage of life. For more information, contact the Rev. Ryan Boettcher, Priest for Pastoral Care and Outreach or Helen Heard, Mission and Outreach Ministry Group Leader.
If you’re interested in volunteering with our outreach ministries at Good Shepherd, please add your name to our contact list and a member of the Mission and Outreach ministry group will be in touch with you.
We have the following ongoing monthly volunteer opportunities:
Hillside Early Childhood Center is located at Good Shepherd on the Hill, our southeast Austin campus, and enrolls over 90 students ages 6 weeks–5 years. Hillside’s mission is to deliver a quality, full-day, year-round developmental program that fosters healthy bodies, joyful hearts, curious minds, and engaged families in an inclusive and innovative Episcopal community. Hillside envisions becoming a model for accessible and sustainable early childhood centers and provides scholarships to a growing number of students in addition to participating in the Texas Workforce Commission’s subsidized childcare program. We are looking for volunteers who would like to provide weekly or monthly support to teachers in the classroom during play, reading, lunch, and rest times. For more information, please contact Mary Ann Frishman.
The Hillside Vegetable Garden is managed by Good Shepherd on the Hill parishioners and create an opportunity to put down roots in the neighborhood (both physically and figuratively) through the planting of herbs, fruits, and vegetables. We always welcome volunteers to help with the gardens. For more information, please contact Ron Tamaru.
Mobile Loaves & Fishes serves those living on the streets in Austin through food preparation and delivery, literally meeting them where they are. Good Shepherd provides volunteers for truck runs to serve our brothers and sisters on the streets. Good Shepherd’s volunteer teams meet at the MLF commissary (at St. John Neumann Catholic Church on Bee Caves) to prepare meals and load them into a food truck. Volunteers then drive the food truck to different sites in Austin to serve the meals. This ministry offers an opportunity for parents to serve with older elementary and teenage children. For more information, please contact Scott Ferguson or sign up to volunteer.
Community First! Village is a 51-acre master planned community that provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive community for men and women coming out of chronic homelessness. Good Shepherd partners with CF!V to furnish and make homes ready for first-time residents. Volunteers are needed to help set up furniture for the homes, bring meals for their gatherings, movie nights, and so many more opportunities. These are great outreach opportunities for individuals and families. For more information, please contact Jack Wolfe, or sign up to volunteer.
Trinity Streets is a ministry in downtown Austin that regularly serves meals to those experiencing homelessness and provides a space for worship. This ministry feeds 40 people each week. Once a month on Sunday afternoon, volunteers from Good Shepherd prepare and serve meals at Trinity Center downtown. A priest offers a service which includes the Eucharist. This is a wonderful outreach opportunity for individuals and families. 6-8 volunteers are needed each month and slots fill up quickly! For more information, please contact Ashley Hollmig, or sign up to volunteer.
Driven by a mission to invite our unhoused neighbors into an engaged community, The Other Ones Foundation has been offering humanitarian aid, case management, and extremely low-barrier employment opportunities to people experiencing homelessness since 2018. Good Shepherd is a longtime financial supporter of the Esperanza Community, which provides physical shelter, a safe environment, and a growing list of wellness services. From deck builds to neighborhood lunches, we continue to grow our partnership with Esperanza, and hope you’ll join us. For more information, please contact Jeff Mucci or Gene Shepherd.
An extension of Casa Marianella, Go and Do Likewise ensures that those who have fled violence in their home countries can find secure and sustainable housing as they rebuild their lives. A recurring donation of $20/ month helps fund these efforts. Learn more here or by contacting Sarah Sarahan.
This multi-church effort run by Austin City Lutherans and housed in Faith Presbyterian Church (314 E Oltorf St) distributes food, diapers, and other household supplies to hundreds of families in the Hill’s neighborhood and surrounding areas every month. Sign up to help with distribution using the link below, noting that Good Shepherd aims to assist as a group on the 4th Monday of each month. With questions, contact Alicia Reinmund-Martinez or sign up to volunteer.
During Advent Good Shepherd parishioners provide gifts for children and families in Austin who would otherwise not have a gift to open on Christmas morning. Parishioners–either by themselves or together with others–adopt families from the giving tree and receive information on the particular needs of the family. This ministry arranges the tree and receives and organizes the gifts. For information, please contact Trey Shepherd.
Founded in 1985, Drive a Senior is a community-based volunteer service supported by congregations in West Austin and North Central Austin—including Good Shepherd, a founding congregation. The program responds to the needs of the increasing number of seniors who are living alone and can no longer drive. While lack of transportation is one of the challenges to our aging community, research shows that loneliness and social isolation have a serious impact on older people’s longevity, physical and mental health and quality of life. We successfully address these issues through our dedicated and compassionate volunteers and a personalized approach to connecting with those in need through in-home visits, phone calls, and social gatherings. For flexible volunteer opportunities and for more information, please click here or contact Louis Wade.
El Buen Samaritano is an Episcopal organization that works to help Austin families access health, workforce development, youth education, and essential needs. On the third Sunday of every month Good Shepherd parishioners are invited to bring diapers, wipes, and formula to support El Buen’s supply pantry. With questions, or if you would like to collect and take supplies to El Buen, please contact Trey Shepherd.
Our Family Outreach Ministry works to provide opportunities for all ages to serve together. This committee connects youth seeking service hours with meaningful experiences that also help those in need, such as the Thanksgiving Food Drive and Rise Against Hunger. For more information, please contact Helen Heard or Christine Jarrett. Please click here to join the ministry.
“…I was in prison and you came to me.” — MT. 25: 36
Every weekday, volunteers meet with offenders, separate from the general population, in a faith-based dorm where the offenders have committed to live for six months in a community of love and Christian discipleship devoted to studying the Bible and actively participating in classes, discipleship groups and life coaching. The volunteers typically go in once a week for 1-1 ½ hours and can choose to meet one-on-one, in small groups of 4-5 or teach 20-24 with the full dorm. This program allows its members to grow closer to God to change for the better. The opportunity to work with these men & women is Spirit-filled and powerful. For more information, click here or contact Hale Umstattd.
This ministry serves students at elementary schools in the neighborhood of the Hill. Throughout the school year, Good Shepherd parishioners serve as reading buddies, mentors, and helpers at school events. Additionally, we run seasonal supply drives, contributing to classroom success by providing clothing, food, school supplies, teacher appreciation gifts, and more. For more information, please contact Susie Piaget or Donna White.
Meals on Wheels of Central Texas seeks to nourish and enrich the lives of homebound and other people in need through programs that promote dignity and independent living. Our volunteers work with Meals on Wheels to help them fulfill their mission and remind them that they are created in the image of God. For more information, please contact Alice Scarbrough.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness in Central Texas holds an annual 5K walk in October to raise support and awareness. Members of Good Shepherd love to participate in this event as it is for both a good cause and a wonderful opportunity for fellowship between our two campuses. For more information, please contact Nissa Roark.
Both campuses gather in Advent to measure and pack over 35,000 meals for people in developing nations – a much-loved tradition. Volunteers help to set up the packing equipment and supplies the day before the pack and help to clean up afterwards. For more information, please contact Kelly Molak.
