Thanks to our volunteers, we continue to be able to Believe, Serve and Grow
To become one of the “helping hands” at the Retreat Center, contact the office to inquire about an area to help.
Thank you!
Thanks to our volunteers, we continue to not only maintain but also improve the facilities at both locations. Yearly, we have over 100 volunteers serving more than 3,000 hours total. Our volunteers give from 1 hour to over 600 hours per year.
The Retreat Center could not provide all that it does without their devotion and generosity!
We simply ask our helpers to sign the volunteer book located in the main lobby to record their hours. To show our appreciation, each year we have a special dinner for all those who volunteer.
God Bless You!
Volunteer Service Areas
- Housekeeping – washing windows, making beds, vacuuming floors.
- Office – newsletter, mailings, address updates.
- Crafts – make craft items at home or come to Craft Tuesday to be one of the Piecemakers
- Flowerbeds – weeding, planting flowers, trimming.
- Wooded grounds maintenance – help clear paths in the woods, landscaping, raking leaves.
- Miscellaneous – holiday decorating and putting away, wrapping silverware for the kitchen, etc.
We simply ask our helpers to sign the volunteer book located in the main lobby to record their hours. To show our appreciation, each year we have a special dinner for all those who volunteer.
Adopt-A-Flowerbed Program
The “Spiritual Gardens” of the Retreat Center
The Maria Stein Retreat Center appreciates God’s beauty and knows you do too! Many people enjoy the paths throughout the grounds, and many also notice that there are flowerbeds everywhere that get little to no attention. Now is your chance to help make a difference! Consider adopting a flowerbed with your family and loved ones in the new “Adopt-a-Flowerbed” program. This program is a volunteer-based activity that allows a group to maintain a selected bed under the direction of the Retreat Center staff. Thank you for volunteering – we can’t wait to see what you do!
Program Guidelines
- The flowerbed or planter should be adopted for one complete growing season (tentatively May through September/October)
- Adopters may either be an individual or a group, however groups must identify one person to be the contact with the Retreat Center liaison
- Planting is restricted to only those areas identified by Retreat Center as Adopt-a-Flowerbed locations
- Sign up is on a first come, first served basis
Volunteer Responsibilities
- Remove and dispose of litter and weeds in designated area
- Water plants as needed – hose and watering cans provided
- Provide own hand tools for area maintenance & follow safety precautions while using
- Notify Retreat Center liaison of problems or concerns
- Visit the site frequently to ensure good health of plant material (suggested bi-weekly)
- If applicable, maintain adequate signage of plant or display boards
- Install mulch provided by the Retreat Center when needed
- Plant and move plants approved by the Retreat Center liaison
- Winter\spring preparation of beds
Retreat Center Responsibilities
- Monitor and adjust water requirements – be sure watering supplies are available
- Acknowledge the adoption through signage placed by the flowerbed or planter and/or provide signage of dedication if the adopter so desires
- If at any time the Retreat Center liaison deems the flowerbed or planter to be unsightly, contact will be made with the individual adopter or adopter team lead