Work Trips
Work trip participants help to build a home for a needy family or work on important projects at St. Innocent Orphanage. There are two ways to be involved -- as a group or as an individual. You may schedule a trip just for your group or join with another group. You may also reserve a place for yourself on one of our already scheduled trips. Work trips range from one day to one week in length.
Find out how you can set up a Work Trip.
Internships
The Project Mexico Internship Program allows young adults to do the work of the Church in Mexico alongside Project Mexico staff. This experience is invaluable and offers tremendous possibilities for the growth of the individual.
During the program, interns can look forward to the following:
- Ongoing Training - in many areas such as: missions, cross-cultural interaction, language, construction, business administration, leadership, liturgics, and Orthodox spirituality.
- Adventure - at every turn!
- Expanded Horizons - through exposure to new and challenging experiences.
- Cultural Awareness - through living and working in two cultures (Mexican and American) and through seeing the Faith expressed in Hispanic culture.
- New Ideas - about important life decisions involving direction, ongoing service, and career.
- Longlasting Friendships - established through living, praying, and working together.
- A Lasting Contribution - by giving something of incredible value to the mission work, i.e., the intern him/herself and his/her unique talents and ideas.
Internship lengths are three months or one year. Candidates must have already participated as a volunteer. If you're interested, contact us for more information.
Skilled Workers
We have an ongoing need for skilled workers of virtually all trades - carpentry, masonry, excavation, electrical, plumbing, roofing, CAD drafting, alarm systems, pumps, painting, agriculture, farming and animals, etc.
If you are skilled and are eager to help out, we can arrange anything from a one day visit to a week or more. The projects range from items that are on hold for lack of skilled help to bigger projects in our master plan which would require some advance planning.
Projects can be a one-time event or ongoing, e.g. one day per month over a few months. This can be an opportunity to come on your own, bring family or friends to help, or organize your fellow tradesmembers to do a project as a team. Some of our projects have funds available and others would require us to raise funds or seek material donations which you may be able to help us with as well.
View a list of our current projectsl take care of logistics in Mexico to make your time as productive and enjoyable as possible. Depending on the type of work, some of the boys will be eager assistants and able to learn valuable skills from the experience.
Donations / Needs
Financial and material donations are needed on an ongoing basis. A regular monthly pledge is most helpful and any gift from you or your parish group is appreciated. You can make a secure donation online
We also have ready-made fundraising programs and PR materials to assist you or your group if you would like to organize something to benefit Project Mexico and St. Innocent Orphanage. St. Innocent orphanage's top needs this year include assistance with education, building, materials, and even gardening. Maybe you have an old computer or some tools that are not needed. They could be a great asset to the orphanage and a cleaner garage for you! Check out the list!
We would be happy to provide any of these materials.
Prayer Team
By joining our prayer team, you are making a commitment to pray for us on a regular basis. Every two months you will receive a prayer card with a list of specific things for which we especially need your prayers. We take your commitment very seriously and ask that you do the same.
Pantry Partners
Help feed the growing boys of St. Innocent Orphanage by organizing a drive in your parish or organization to collect our most needed food items, toiletries, cleaning products & office supplies.
We are able to arrange free shipping of donated goods if you collect at least 20 boxes (or very large items like 50 lb bags of rice/beans). You will need a place to store the boxes for 2-4 weeks after your drive is completed. Once you have collected everything, contact us with the following information so that we can schedule a pick-up:
- Name of contact person and their phone numbers (including cell)
- Address where boxes can be picked up.
- Hours of operation (days/times pick up is possible)
- Description of what is to be picked up (how many boxes, approximate size)
Click here for our most urgent needs!
Church School Curriculum
"Answering Christ's Call to Love Your Neighbor" If you are looking for a fun, hands-on way to teach young people about the importance of doing acts of charity, Project Mexico has developed a three-lesson Church School Curriculum that is available at no cost. The three lessons give students an opportunity to:
- Examine what it means to be poor
- Hear what Christ instructed us to do for those in need
- Learn about Project Mexico's ministry to the poor and orphaned of Mexico.
The Curriculum binder contains lesson plans and special aids for the teacher, tips on preparation and publicity, and handouts to be copied for the students. Also included in the binder are two supplementary lessons: "The Life of St. Innocent" and "Christmas in Mexico." Use all of the lessons or tailor the curriculum to your parish's specific needs. The length and focus of the curriculum make it a great option for Vacation Bible School or a Lenten project
Included are detailed instructions for several different fundraising projects that get students up and out of their seats, including building a scaled model of one of the homes Project Mexico volunteers build for poor families living in Tijuana.
Get a copy of the Project Mexico Church School Curriculum.
School Buddies
To make up for lost time and to succeed in school, the boys at St. Innocent Orphanage need an educational structure that provides lots of extra support. School Buddies help us to provide that extra support by "adopting" a particular boy during an academic year and providing the funds needed to cover his educational costs. A scholarship of $1200 per boy covers school uniforms and shoes, school supplies and materials, books, special school assessments and fees, insurance and transportation. This is a great way to personalize your giving by connecting with one particular boy and helping him to succeed in life in a very tangible way.
Get more information about becoming a School Buddy.
Santa's Helpers
Each year a group of people helps collect Christmas gifts for the boys of St. Innocent Orthodox Orphanage. Christmas is an especially joyous time at St. Innocent. Many of the boys have never received a present in their whole life and most certainly have not been able to celebrate with a family in a safe and loving environment.
Christmas is the time to refresh the growing boys' basic clothing needs and allow each of them to ask for one or two special wishes. Santa's Helpers receive a list containing information on each boy including needed clothing and sizes as well as individual special wish items. Santa's Helpers then commit to obtain certain items on the list until all the gifts are covered. The list is available several months before Christmas so that there is plenty of time to have gifts shipped and ready for Christmas morning.
Find out more about the Santa's Helpers Program.
Orphanage Projects
We have an ongoing list of projects to be completed in all areas of the organization - from construction to educational needs, from administrative projects to specialized business needs. This list contains needs for assistance and/or materials.
Get a complete list of our current projects.
Parish Projects
There are a variety of opportunities for parishes or groups to help the boys at St. Innocent.
One of our major expenses is feeding our hungry boys! Through our Food Drive program, we are able to maintain a consistent supply of wholesome food and keep our expenses down. This is a great opportunity to involve your parish and gives people a concrete way to know that their gift is making a difference.
Our Fiesta Fundraiser is a fun and easy luncheon plan to help raise support for Project Mexico & St. Innocent Orphanage.
Our three-week Church School Curriculum is a fun, hands-on way to involve not only the children, but the entire parish, in learning about Project Mexico's ministry and the Biblical concepts of charity and stewardship. (See "Church School Curriculum" for more information.)
The Parish Partners Program is very rewarding and productive. Select parishes come once per year for a week-long work trip to complete specific projects at the orphanage, working alongside the boys of St. Innocent. The parish as a whole prepares for the trip by raising funds and coordinating the needs for their project. Examples of projects, past and future, are: complete renovation of the kitchen, tiling and painting the dorm rooms, constructing the livestock barn, major improvements to the chapel, renovating staff houses, complete landscaping of the main compound, planting an orchard, pouring a basketball court, etc.
Projects are selected by current need at the orphanage and are supervised and guided by skilled professionals. The parish is encouraged to enlist skilled and unskilled people. This a great opportunity to mix all ages and levels of experience to get behind a common goal. It's amazing what can be accomplished in one week, and the bonds that are made between the group members serve to enhance parish life upon their return.
You may request more information about the Parish Project.
Employment
We are not recruiting additional staff at this time. However, If you would like to offer your services for consideration, contact us with your talents!
Information Request