Recent Listings
Volunteer Opportunities for October
Particularly this year, when members of our community of all ages are suffering the effects of our national crisis, it's important to let people know they haven't been forgotten. Here are some local agencies that need your help.
Adopt A Family Holiday Project, of the Volunteer Centers of Santa Cruz County.
What we need: Volunteers to staff phones 3 hours per week in November and early December. Families, individuals and groups to wrap gifts and assemble gift boxes December 16 22.
What we do: Match caring community members with needy families from Health and Human Service agencies. Donors can purchase the gifts for an entire family or make a monetary donation to be merged with others for purchase by volunteers.
How to help: Contact the Watsonville Holiday Project at 722-6708 and the Santa Cruz Mid-County Project at 427-5070.
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
What we need: Adult volunteers to advocate for local abused and neglected children. Fall training starts October 2. Orientation will be held October 24 for those who want to take the training in January.
What we do: Train and supervise volunteers appointed by a judge to be the child¹s friend and strong voice in court.
How to help: Contact 427-2925, ext. 12.
Cindy's Celebrations
What we need: Volunteers to help with weekday luncheon celebrations for seniors. Duties include set up, acting as a host or hostess during the meal, helping with games, etc. A commitment of 10:30 a.m. 3:00 p.m. one day a week is preferred.
What we do: Provide a daily adventure for seniors and a respite for their caregivers. The celebrations provide an opportunity for seniors to nurture friendships, and experience life outside their normal surroundings. They also provide a needed break for the caregivers.
How to help: Contact Cindy at 479-7509.
Friends Outside
What we need: Adult volunteers to provide support services to inmates, ex-offenders and their families. Various tasks include jail visiting, helping with kids¹ day parties for Halloween and the Holidays for the children of inmates at local facilities, and office work.
What we do: Friends Outside, a program of the Volunteer Center, provides support to Inmates, ex-offenders and their families.
How to help: Contact Heidi Schilling at 427-5070.
Hands are Not For Hitting Program of the Walnut Ave. Women¹s Center
What we need: Volunteers are needed to be facilitators for Hands are Not For Hitting domestic violence prevention workshops in fourth and seventh grade classrooms.
What we do: Conduct domestic violence prevention education presentations in elementary schools.
How to help: Contact Nick at 426-2174 or email nickygee@cats.ucsc.edu.
Hospice Caring Project
What we need: Volunteers to visit individuals and families at their homes and acute care hospitals and skilled nursing facilities to provide emotional support. Training will be held in October.
What we do: Hospice provides support services for critically ill patients and their families.
How to help: Call Hospice at 688-7684, Monday through Friday for more information or to sign up for training.
The Literacy Program of the Volunteer Centers of Santa Cruz County
What we need: Volunteers are needed who are 18 and older to become Adult English Literacy Tutors. One-hour orientation classes are scheduled for October in Santa Cruz and Watsonville.
What we do: Tutor adults in English Language Literacy. No previous teaching experience is required.
How to help: Contact: Sonia in Santa Cruz at (831) 427-5070; or Molly in Watsonville, at (831) 722-6708.
Meals on Wheels Special Event
What we need: Volunteers to help with Meals on Wheels¹ Gala 25th Anniversary Dinner fund raiser on November 2.
Money raised will go toward the purchase of a new meal packaging
machine that will allow meals to be heated in the microwave at the seniors¹ homes.
Volunteers are needed right now to help with mailings, and work with sponsors. Volunteers are also needed for: decorations committee, greeting committee, money managers, etc.
What we do: Meals on wheels provides hot meals, Monday through
Friday to homebound seniors.
How to help: Contact Catherine Patterson at 688-8840, ext. 203.
Ombudsman /Advocate, Inc.
What we need: Volunteers to be trained as Ombudsmen. Training consists of 36 hours of hours of workshops and fieldwork. Fall training will be held from October 1-12.
What we do: Protect the rights of residents in skilled nursing facilities and residential care homes, and recipients of mental care services.
How to help: Contact Ros Munro, Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at 429-1913.
Santa Cruz S.P.C.A.
What we need: Volunteers to assist with the Humane Education Programs. Positions include making presentations to school classrooms, conducting tours of the shelter, assisting with youth programs, and office work.
What we do: Educate children about the proper care of animals.
How to help: Contact Tricia Geisreiter, Monday through Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at 465-5022.
Seymour Discovery Center at Long Marine Lab
What we need: Volunteers to assist with on-site school programs for K-12 classes visiting the marine lab. A training series of four sessions begins on October 4. RSVP.
What we do: The Seymour Center at Long Marine Lab educates people about marine science and the role scientific research plays in understanding and conserving the world's oceans.
How to help: Contact 459-3800 or email ksquared@cats.ucsc.edu.
Transportation Program of the Volunteer Centers of Santa Cruz County
What we need: Drivers and desk workers. Drivers use their own car to drive seniors or disabled persons to medical appointments, banking and grocery shopping. Desk workers work a three-hour shift once a week.
What we do: provide rides for disabled adults.
How to help: Contact the program closest to you: Santa Cruz at 427-3435, San Lorenzo Valley at 335-6844, and Watsonville at 722-6708.
Women Care
What we need: Volunteers to staff the Cancer Support Phone Line. Volunteers will respond to calls from women with a cancer diagnosis or calls from their friends and families; complete intake forms, make appropriate referrals, and inform caller of available resources.
Training is scheduled for October 13 and 14 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
What we do: Provide support services to: women who have been diagnosed with cancer; and their friends and families.
How to help: Contact LaVerne Coleman at 457-2273.