Serve Opportunities
Making a difference in the life of one person begins with one person— you.
For the full calendar and specific details of all our volunteer opportunities, the Dream Center utilizes an online portal called VicNet. Sign up to serve by creating your VicNet Account or logging into your existing account below. Learn more about these specific roles and duties within each team by signing into the online portal below or by reaching out to our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@desotodreamcenter.org.
Elementary Education Champions (3-5th grades)
Our Elementary Program serves Title 1 students in 3rd-5th grade and their families. We provide educational assistance through game-based activities, build confidence in our students and equip them in the light of God’s Word by teaching values that will transform their daily lives. Champions (tutors) interact with at-risk students and their families through innovative educational activities, games and participatory learning strategies on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week during the school year from 5:30-7:30 pm. Serve once a semester, once a month, or every day the kids are at the Dream Center. Prepare materials, lessons, and games during the day, so that everything is ready when the students arrive in the evening. We believe that every child deserves a champion! Learn more about the specific roles and duties within this team by registering below or reaching out to our Education Coordinator at education@desotodreamcenter.org.
Leadership Education Champions (6-12th Grades)
Our Leadership Program serves Title 1 students in 6th-12th grade and their families. We do this by equipping students in the light of God’s Word by teaching values that will transform their daily lives and skills on how they can overcome challenges in middle school and high school. Leadership students meet every Monday evening throughout the school year and Champions (mentors) commit to building long-term relationships through their time facilitating small group discussions and participating in the larger group gathering and character-building activities. Invest in the lives of our youth by playing a support role and helping prepare materials, lessons, and activities or through building intentional relational connections. Learn more about the specific roles and duties within this team by registering below or reaching out to our Education Coordinator at education@desotodreamcenter.org.
Emergency Needs Team
Our Emergency Needs Closet covers immediate needs for food and clothing. We get to know our neighbors, listen to their situation and provide resources for a more permanent solution by connecting them with other nonprofits in our county who can assist them further. Help create a welcoming environment by keeping this area stocked and cleaned, and sorting new items as they come in during the week. Support and connect with families on Wednesdays from 11 - 1:00 pm as they choose the items they need during this difficult time. Learn about other ways you can support this vital ministry by registering below or reaching out to our Emergency Needs Coordinator at support@desotodreamcenter.org.
Adopt-A-Block Team
Each month we host a block party for different underserved neighborhoods in the Hernando, Olive Branch and Southaven communities. The goal of Adopt-A-Block (AAB) is to build relationships and the key to success is consistency! When AAB launches at a specific location, it is a promise to the community that we will be here to serve for years to come. Being present and meeting immediate needs of the community is the fastest way to build relationships and gain influence to speak into someone's potential. Immediate needs may include: food, clothing, activities for children, painting graffiti and picking up trash. There are many ways to get involved in this important outreach by helping prepare and load supplies prior to the gathering, grilling or serving food, leading a game with children, or much more. Join us as we go out together and serve our neighbors! Learn more by registering below or reaching out to our Volunteer Coordinator at support@desotodreamcenter.org.
School Care Team
The Dream Center has adopted Magnolia School, DeSoto County Alternative Center, and the Juvenile Detention School. We will be acting as their PTO for the staff all school year since they do not have parental support like so many other schools. We provide supplies, lunches, and birthday gifts, as well as meet other needs. You can be a part by signing up to prepare and deliver gifts, food, and supplies to these fantastic schools on an ongoing basis or schools throughout the county by helping prepare gift bags for our Teacher Appreciation initiative. It is our hope and prayer that by putting time and support into our local schools, we are helping students and their families to Dream Again! Learn more about the specific roles and duties within this team by registering below or reaching out to our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@desotodreamcenter.org.
DREAM Backpack & Closets Crew
We have several exciting ways the Dream Center is supporting schools within DeSoto County as part of our mission to share the love of Christ with Title 1 school students (schools with a majority of students and families living below the poverty line). Through our DREAM Backpack and DREAM Closets outreach is embedded within the schools. Strategic partnerships with school staff help us identify needs, allowing students to focus on learning as we provide clean clothing, school supplies and weekend meals for those students and families facing challenges. Help inventory, sort, and organize items to be distributed through these programs. Commit to cleaning a school closet out, constructing shelving, organizing and keeping a DREAM Closet in a specific school stocked throughout the year. Learn more about these roles and ways to support this important work by registering below or reaching out to our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@desotodreamcenter.org.
Drivers/Pickup Team
Many families in our county are without basic furniture and appliances such as beds, couches, and refrigerators. You can be a part of the team that will help pick up and deliver these items to those in need.We also have a need for those who are qualified to drive our DC truck and forklift. We partner with businesses such as Amazon, Lays and Niagara and also need drivers to pick up pallets from these locations. These serve opportunities are on an as-needed basis. Learn more by registering below or reaching out to our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@desotodreamcenter.org.
Trinity Healthcare Team
Trinity Healthcare Center exists within the DeSoto County Dream Center to provide quality healthcare for the uninsured. These services are provided by qualified nursing, lab techs, CMA’s and doctor volunteers who work in collaboration with the clinic physicians and nurse practitioners to see patients as efficiently as possible and to provide nursing care. Duties include obtaining vital signs, patient health history, basic laboratory procedures, and patient education. Nurses maintain complete documentation in the patient medical record and have a current nursing license or previously have been a Registered Nurse. Learn more by registering below or reaching out to our Trinity Operations Manager at operations@trinityhealthcenter.org.
Storytelling Team
We love to share stories of God's faithfulness in the lives of others and in our community! We need volunteers to help share these stories by being present at events and programs, taking photos, capturing footage, or helping with video editing or graphic design on an as needed basis. These stories will be used on our social media sites, website and in our newsletter. Learn more by registering below or reaching out to our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@desotodreamcenter.org.
Events Support Team
We love to cultivate community at the DeSoto County Dream Center, and one of the ways we do this is through events such as Christmas Dreamland, Dreamsgiving Turkey Dinner Giveaway, Backpack Giveaway, DeSoto Wings and Ribs Competition and Festival and others. Join our Events Support Team where you can help make these incredible gatherings possible by helping with everything from setup and security, to relationship building, turkey frying and more. Use your valuable skill sets to help families dream again! Learn more about each specific event by following the hotlinks above, registering below, or contact our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@desotodreamcenter.org. If you are interested in having a small or large group serve at one of these events, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator.
Spanish Interpreters
Spanish-English Interpreters help our Limited-English-Proficient patients at Trinity Health Center, parents connected to our education programs, staff and volunteers communicate with each other. Interpreters must be sensitive to our neighbors’ personal circumstances and culture, as well as be able to maintain confidentiality and ethical standards in a professional setting. This is a crucial role on the volunteer team that helps staff promote dignity and care for those with limited-English-proficiency. A language screening is required. Learn more by registering below or reaching out to our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@desotodreamcenter.org.
Sign up to Serve Today!
*The Dream Center uses the online portal, VicNet, to communicate with our volunteers, especially about service opportunities. Through VicNet you can keep your personal information up-to-date, review your volunteer history and see volunteer opportunities.
There’s now a free mobile app in the Google Play Store and Apple App Store called VicNet. It uses an orange icon with a white “V”. The app will keep you logged in so you don’t need to log in every time you want to use it.
If you have multiple profiles (a volunteer and a Coordinator profile with us, or volunteer for multiple organizations that use VicNet) you’ll be able to login to each user separately. If each profile has the same email and password, you’ll be able to switch between users easily from the user menu in the top right corner.
The desktop version changed as well and can be accessed at www.volgistics.com/vicnet in a web browser.
You can find a guide, including a video tutorial, showing how to use the new update here: https://www.volgistics.com/ex/help.dll?ACT=11&TOPIC=4010