Contact Us Sitemap

Manos de Cristo

Manos de Cristo helps more than 20,000 people annually by providing them critically important services. Clients include the working poor, immigrants and the homeless. Manos could not exist without the support of Presbyterian Churches and their members’ with donations, volunteer time, financial support and prayers. The following Manos de Cristo activities are sponsored through Covenant:

  • Food Panty
  • Clothes Closet
  • Education – English as a Second Language (ESL), Financial Literacy, Citizenship and Computer classes
  • Annual Back-to-School Closet
  • Various volunteer opportunities

1) Manos Food Pantry

The Pantry offers emergency/crisis help to six households daily, Monday through Friday. Family preferences & special dietary restrictions or challenges are considered. Food in the Pantry is purchased from the Capital Area Food Bank or donated by individuals, organizations and church members. If needed, clients can receive assistance every three months.

When:
Monday to Friday, 9-10:30 a.m., year-round except holidays. Once a month commitment requested; substitutes needed.

How can I help/participate?
As a monthly volunteer, you

  • fill orders following nutritional and well-balanced guidelines.
  • stock—check freezer and refrigerator temperatures.
  • alert church members/groups for donations during shortages.

2) Manos Clothes Closet

The Manos de Cristo Clothes Closet offers gently used clothing for infants, children and adults. Volunteers sort and organize the clothing and assist people in making selections. Baby clothes, work pants and shoes always are in high demand. The Clothes Closet gives many adults the opportunity to have an appropriate outfit for job interviews and other important events. Individuals and families are eligible to return to the Clothes Closet every three months, if needed.

When:
Tuesday to Thursday, 9:30-11:30 a.m., year-round except holidays. Once a month commitment requested; substitutes needed.

How can I help/participate?
As a Manos Clothes Closet volunteer, you

  • sort and organize the clothing.
  • assist people in making selections.

3) Manos Education

This is mostly rewarding and spiritually uplifting to teachers and mentors as they provide students with skills of empowerment and self-sufficiency to function in their communities. Classes include ESL, Citizenship Class, and Computer Literacy. Orientation & training for teachers is provided. English Classes end with a short/optional devotional of prayer, scripture and songs. An achievement and graduation celebration is held at the end of each semester.

English as a Second Language

English Classes with two teachers per class (training provided)

When:
Monday and Wednesday, 9:30–11:00 a.m., Tuesday and Thursday 7-9:00 p.m.

How can I help/participate?
Manos-trained volunteer instructors:

  • English teaching books are provided.
  • Spanish is not required to teach English.

Computer Literacy (English and Spanish)

Two or three volunteers assist ESL instructors

When:
Monday and Wednesday, 7-9 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday 9:30-11 a.m.

How can I help/participate?

  • Knowledge of basic computer skills is helpful.
  • Assist students with teacher’s instructions.
  • Be friendly and helpful and give recognition for effort.

4) Manos Annual Back-to-School Program

The Back-to-School Program is a community-wide campaign throughout Greater Austin with churches, corporations and individuals donating cash, resources and hundreds of volunteer hours. The service is open to all Pre-K through 8th grade children. In 2008, 1,770 students selected two new outfits for school and received a backpack of supplies.

When:
The Manos Back-to-School Closet occurs during two weeks in late summer. Volunteers are needed daily for 3-4 hours.

How can I help/participate?
The Manos Back-to-School volunteers

  • organize and sort clothing.
  • set up the closet.
  • distribute clothing to students in the community.
  • assist with spiritual components—crafts, music, singing, puppets and Biblical drama.

5) Administrative Volunteers

Manos needs administrative assistance in the office during the week.

When:
As needed; call the Programs Director at 477-7454

How can I help/participate?
You can help in the Manos office by performing administrative tasks in the Manos office, such as mailings, data entry and typing, and other clerical tasks.

6) Covenant Manos Programs Committee

Manos de Cristo needs volunteers from the church to coordinate Manos activities on the Covenant campus.

When:
Meet 4-6 times during the year as needed to plan and coordinate activities which include the following:

  • Annual Benefit in February or March
  • Back-to-School Drive in the summer
  • Annual Tamale Sale in November and December

How can I help/participate?
You can help Manos with publicity. The organization often seeks volunteers with desktop publishing skills to create posters and announcements. As a volunteer coordinator, you may be asked to help with

  • the annual benefit fund in February or March.
  • the summer Back-to-School program.
  • the annual tamale sale in November and December.
  • ongoing requests for food and clothing donations from members.

Contact for all Manos de Cristo missions:
For more information about any of these Manos de Cristo activities, contact Cheryl Banks at csebesta@austin.rr.com or 231-0493, or contact Manos directly at

Manos de Cristo
Hands of Christ
4911 Harmon Ave
Austin, TX 78751

To sign up for volunteering in the Food Pantry, Clothes Closet or ESL classes, contact
Julie Ballesteros, Programs Director
Ph: 477-7454
Fax: 477-4314
manos@manosdecristo.org

To help at the Dental Clinic call
Nora Barientos Dental
Clinic Coordinator
477-2319

Search Missions