Ascend Canton

Description: Volunteers wanted

Work with the Respite Coordinator and the Assistant Respite Coordinator

ASCEND is a peer-run organization with a unique respite program. We are a valuable resource for individuals in need of mental health support and alternative care options. The 24/7 care, home-like environment, and structured program with classes and groups offer a supportive and therapeutic setting for those seeking help. The option to transition from a crisis center or hospital stay to ASCEND can provide much-needed additional time and care before returning home.

Job Duties:

Intakes of new guests
Discharge guests
Cleaning
Prepares meals and snacks, and cleans up dishes and utensils.
Interact with the guests by being a positive role model.
Provides encouragement and praise to support positive behavior.
Maintains confidentiality regarding guests.
Communicates professionally with guests.
Effectively and promptly communicates with the supervisor.
Attends required training.
Qualifications: Applicants for positions at ASCEND must have personal experience with mental health and/or addiction and a state certification as a Peer Support Specialist (although training is provided). Familiarity with Microsoft products and computer skills are preferred, along with the ability to work well with others. While owning transportation is advantageous, it is not necessary for employment.

We need volunteers for mornings, mid-days, and overnight in our respite unit.

If you have the passion and lived experience, please FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW.

https://ascendservices.org/volunteer/

Advice can come from the smallest, sweetest, and God's most precious gifts.

Don't waste the message.

U need to give urself more credit #inspiredawesomelife #yougotthis #downsyndrome #bestie #downsyndromeawarenessmonth

🌅 Good afternoon and Happy Transformation Tuesday!
Every new day is another chance to evolve into the best version of yourself. Growth doesn’t always happen overnight—it’s the small, consistent steps that create the biggest transformations. Embrace the journey, trust the process, and keep moving forward. Oh yeah, and don't forget to smile. 😊

When You Can’t Escape Stress

What do you do when you can’t escape stress? When it’s woven into your daily life so tightly that it feels impossible to breathe?

Sometimes I feel like I’m going to crack. When that happens, I have to step away — it’s the only way I can survive.

In the summer, I go home, pour a cup of coffee, sit by my pool, and just breathe. There’s something about the sunlight glimmering off the water that resets my soul. It’s the most calming feeling in the world — second only to sitting on a beach.

But when the pool closes, I feel lost. My sanctuary disappears under that dark, heavy cover. I even searched for a clear one so I could keep it lit and glowing through the winter, but apparently, no one makes those yet. Maybe that’s my million-dollar idea — though if it were that good, someone would probably already be selling it.

Still, I can’t think of anything that soothes me quite like being outside in the warmth of summer. And I know I’m not alone. For so many people, that loss of light and warmth brings more than sadness — it deepens into something called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

If you know someone who struggles with this, here are a few small ways you can make a big difference:
• 💬 Check in gently — a simple “How have you been feeling lately?” means more than you know.
• ☕ Offer company — invite them for coffee, a short walk, or a chat, even when they say they’re “fine.”
• 💛 Remind them that what they’re feeling is real and treatable — not a weakness, not a flaw.

Sometimes, all we need is light — even if it comes from someone who cares.