Today we were alerted that Samaritan’s Purse is looking for volunteers to assist with the Samaritan Lodge, Alaska, where they serve veterans and their spouses.

The following is a little background information: Operation Heal Our Patriots is an in-depth marriage enrichment program for veterans and their spouses hosted by Samaritan Lodge Alaska. This project has been a blessing to many veteran couples through the years. It is our prayer that these guests will continue to find the lodge to be a place that offers healing and restoration in the Name of Jesus Christ. Veteran couples will have the opportunity to participate in daily devotions and marriage enrichment sessions, as well as take in God’s beautiful creation while enjoying fishing, boating, kayaking, hiking and bear watching.

The application for this project will be posted until 4:00 pm EST on Monday March 11, 2024. We will make final decisions on those selected to volunteer in mid-April. Each person wishing to be considered to serve must submit their own fully completed application individually before March 15th. The team/invite function is not valid for this opportunity.

A small contingent of volunteers for each rotation, will assist the program staff with the day-to-day operations at Samaritan Lodge Alaska, and will have some limited interaction with the veteran couples.

Each person wishing to be considered to serve must submit their own fully- completed application. On the Preferences form there is a field to enter another person’s name (spouse, another family member or a friend) if you would like your applications to be processed together. Groups of more than 2 or 3 are not able to be accommodated. In order to access these forms, you will need to go to spvolunteer.org and you will see Samaritan Lodge Alaska, click on it and it will take you to a section marked ‘Respond Now.’ There you will find the necessary forms. We are handling this a little different then we handle disaster trips because you will be filling out your own forms and making your own arrangements.

Location: Port Alsworth, AK

Trip Dates: Each volunteer session is 4-5 weeks long. We are not able to accommodate shorter trips due to the remote location of the site.

May 19 – June 22, 2024
June 21 – July 20, 2024
July 19 – August 17, 2024
August 16 – September 23, 2024

Response: Within a few days of submitting your application, you will receive an email confirming receipt. The volunteer selection process will be completed in mid-April.

Minimum Age: Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age.

Special Note: the Lodge is not able to accommodate special dietary needs.

Cost: Samaritan’s Purse will cover the cost of airfare, and will provide meals and lodging while serving.

Project Description: Volunteers will assist with one of three key areas:

  • Kitchen Assistants: Volunteers will be responsible for dining hall setup, serving meals, kitchen cleaning, deep cleaning as needed, dishwashing, prep and maintaining the salad bar, coffee bar and serving line areas, emptying trash receptacles and assisting with other food prep and tasks as requested by staff.
  • Housekeeping: Volunteers will be responsible for cleaning and maintaining guest cabins, both dining halls, the chapel and other campus buildings and offices. Primary tasks include vacuuming, dusting, mopping, cleaning bathrooms, sweeping campus boardwalks, cleaning inside and outside windows, outside cobweb removal and other assistance as requested by staff.
  • Maintenance: Volunteers will assist with building and grounds maintenance on the lodge campus and off-site housing and work areas. Primary tasks include mowing, splitting wood, maintaining fire pit and sauna stove fires, painting, washing vehicles, assisting with aircraft loading, floatplane/boat docking and loading, campus trash removal and incineration, event setup and teardown and other tasks as requested by staff.

Physical Requirements: Volunteers must be in good health in order to serve a rigorous six-day work week. Days can be long and time off is limited. Volunteers need to be physically fit, able to perform the tasks and be able to stand for long periods of time while performing them, walk distances up to 1/2 mile at a time, and repeatedly lift 20 lbs. (50 lbs. for maintenance), and tolerate a warm kitchen environment and/or inclement weather conditions outdoors during work.

Mark Teets and Brenda Harvey
Covenant Brethren Disaster Coordinators