Following are sample descriptions of volunteer opportunities for you
to use as a guide when entering your station and project information.
This should be helpful for completing questions numbered 5 - 7 on the
Project and Station Update section in JASON.
These are intended simply as suggestions for enticing language and
are not meant to be restrictive. Feel free to use your own creativity!
Public Safety/Homeland Security
Health/Medical Related
Youth/School Related
XYZ Home Delivered Meals: Deliver nutritious meals to homebound seniors
Bring some sunshine into the lives of homebound seniors in your
community! A high percentage of individuals who are isolated and living
alone do not eat well-balanced meals, which places them at risk of
declining health. The XYZ Home Delivered Meals Program is in need of
volunteer drivers to reach out to these special seniors.
Activities will include delivering 15 - 18 hot, nutritious meals
each service day, in addition to friendly visiting, as you may be their
only visitor. Volunteer 1 - 5 days a week, or as little as once each
month. Use of own vehicle, mileage reimbursement available, and
additional insurance provided.
Loaves and Fishes Food Bank: Distribute food to those in need in your community
Many families in ABC County have been hit hard by the recession and
cutback or laid off from their jobs. The Loaves and Fishes Food Bank,
an interdenominational faith-based organization, has distributed food
to over 950 families in need of assistance for the past 8 years. Due to
recent increase in demand, the food bank's need for volunteers has
increased dramatically.
Activities will include
organizing food donations, processing requests from families and weekly
distribution of food supplies in addition to special holiday baskets.
Other opportunities to plan and participate in fund raisers to support
the ongoing operation of the food bank.
XYZ Community Action Agency: Help maintain the homes of low-income seniors
Are you a handyman around the house? XYZ Community Action Agency
offers services to low-income seniors including minor household
repairs. The maintenance of a home is important to ensure the safety
and independence of the homeowner.
Activities can include fixing down spouts and leaky faucets,
repairing hinges or door latches, building wheelchair ramps, and
installing weatherization strips to drafty windows. The XYZ Community
Action Agency provides all material for the repairs.
Dept of Natural Resources: Help keep America beautiful
Do you enjoy the outdoors? Is the quality of ground water important
to you? The Department of Natural Resources has announced an exciting
opportunity to monitor the quality of stream water across the state.
This project is critical to the preservation of future generations, as
well as fish and wildlife.
Activities can include collecting a water sample from the same
stream site each month and performing simple chemical testing. All
training and materials will be provided.
Downtown Development Association: Use your entrepreneurial skills!
Do you have experience running a small business? Or, do you miss
using your entrepreneurial skills? The Downtown Development Association
is revitalizing the downtown business district in an effort to attract
new businesses as well provide assistance to current small business
owners. As a small business Coach you will be matched with a business
owner who has limited English language skills but needs help with all
the details and legalities of owning a business. Translators are
available, as needed.
Activities can include providing technical assistance, sharing good
public relations practices, helping with completing required
documentation, accounting tips, etc.
ABC Crisis Center: Provide legal services to low-income community members
What are you doing with the law degree now that you are retired? The
ABC Crisis Center provides services to people in immediate crisis
situations such as domestic violence, mental illness and homelessness.
The center holds a free legal clinic once a week offering advice to
low-income people in the community. They are in need of volunteers
lawyers and paralegals to help operate the clinic.
Activities will include offering legal advice on such matters as
victims rights, eviction, family law and referring people to other
legal resources, as needed.
Local Court System: Resolve Citizen Disputes through mediation
Do you friends comment on how fair and insightful you are? Use those
skills as a mediator. Create win/win situations for your neighbors in
citizen disputes, consumer complaints and pretrial restitution as well
and municipal ordinance restitution. Help keep the clutter out of our
courts.
Activities will include meeting with the parties involved in the
dispute to facilitate discussion of the issue and summarizing report
findings of the mediation hearing and agreement by the parties.
Conflict Resolution training is provided, and you will be sworn in by
the Judge.
ABC Domestic Intervention Service: Record trends in domestic violence
The ABC Domestic Violence Intervention Service is an initiative that
works with the legal aspects of domestic violence offenders. Two person
teams are needed to observe and record all areas of the judicial
process in cases involving violent crimes. The information gathered
will be used to recognize trends and problems specific to the community.
Activities will require volunteers to be in the court room one half
a day per week to observe and record proceedings; meet monthly to
debrief, discuss the program and map trends. Training includes
courtroom procedures, legal terminology, and domestic violence laws.
Domestic Violence Shelter: Support children in crisis
Have you ever felt a sense of fulfillment by helping others in your
community? Do you want to make a difference in the lives of children
and families who are dealing with personal crisis? XYZ shelter, an
interdenominational faith-based organization, provides a safe haven for
women and children experiencing domestic disturbances. These children
have often fallen behind in school and need one-on-one attention to get
them back on the track to success.
Spend time encouraging children as they complete assignments and
participate in shelter related activities. Activities can include
helping children discover the joy of reading through storytelling;
using flashcards and other materials to help children identify letters,
words, numbers, shapes and colors; providing guidance as the children
put puzzles together, finger paint and a variety of other fun filled
activities.
XYZ Public Safety Agency: Ensure the safety of seniors during a disaster
The XYZ Public Safety Agency is facing increased demands due
heightened homeland security needs. The agency has identified homebound
individuals to be the group most at-risk. When disasters such as
floods, tornadoes, or earthquakes strike a community, seniors often
need the most assistance but can mistakenly be overlooked during relief
efforts.
Activities will include registering and educating at-risk
individuals who need special assistance in the event of a disaster,
identifying shelters and coordinating transportation in the event of an
emergency. When disaster strikes, seniors are often unable to leave
their homes because they do not have flashlights, medicines, and can be
isolated in high-rise apartments without heat and electricity.
ABC Highway Patrol: Recycle cell phones for seniors in an emergency
Often low-income seniors are at-risk in an emergency situation
because they do not have a cell phone. A new initiative of the ABC
Highway Patrol collects and distributes cellular phones with
discontinued service to low-income seniors. These phones can only be
used for 911 emergency calls providing access to emergency assistance
without having to pay monthly service fees.
Activities will include soliciting, collecting and distributing
donated cells phones, as well as educating low-income seniors on how to
use the phones. Other opportunities can include assisting with the
media campaign creating community awareness of this initiative.
Local Law Enforcement Agency: Help enhance the safety of your community
Join the RSVP volunteers who are assisting law enforcement agencies
by performing many non-risk tasks that would otherwise pull officers
away from their focus on citizen safety. Specialized training is
provided, and volunteers are not armed and cannot make arrests.
Tasks performed include vacation home checks (including reporting
open doors, mail stacking up, or other out-of-the ordinary situations),
neighborhood and business watches, licensing bicycles, fingerprinting,
fleet maintenance, mentoring, victim assistance, child seat belt
instruction, code enforcement, administrative and clerical tasks, and
handling public inquiries. RSVP volunteers also serve as ambassadors on
public safety by giving talks and presentations throughout the county.
YANA (You Are Not Alone) Program: Be the lifeline for a homebound individual
YANA (You Are Not Alone) Program at the XYZ Volunteer Center
conducts one-on-one visits to homebound individuals to check on the
safety of the occupants and their home. This program provides a
low-key, friendly way to give the homebound and elderly, a greater
sense of security.
Activities may include repairing and securing locks and windows,
making refrigerator checks to ensure food is not spoiled, changing
light bulbs, and collecting mail. When problems are found, a police
officer is called and social service referrals are made.
XYZ Military Base: Support those who defend our country
Are you retired military personnel? The family members of military
personnel often have a difficult time contacting their loved one when
there is a family emergency. In response to increased homeland security
concerns, the XYZ Military Base has developed a program providing
immediate notification to those who serve in our armed forces.
Activities include answering pages from family members needing to
notify military personnel of an urgent family situation. This is an
on-call position that can be accomplished from the comfort of your home.
Local Red Cross: Help support your community in times of tragedy
Join the Red Cross in preparing for local disasters by lending
assistance to community-based relief agencies. Well trained volunteers
can often be an important part of the community's first line coping
effectively with disasters.
Activities include shelter mapping, helping to coordinate community
inventories of vital medical blood and food supplies, First Aid
Instructor, Foreign Language Bank Volunteer, and providing disaster
relief services to community members affected by tornadoes, fires and
other emergency situations. Training sessions are offered to prepare
you for all these projects.
XYZ Senior Community Center: Lead an exercise class for seniors
Is leading a healthy life style important to you? Is exercise part
of your daily routine? XYZ Senior Community Center offers a program of
gentle weight bearing exercises for senior and others at risk of or
suffering with osteoporosis. This program is offered in conjunction
with the local hospital, and mandatory training is provided by medical
personnel to volunteer peer leaders twice a year. The preferred ratio
is two volunteer peer leaders to 14 classmates. Class times are Monday,
Wednesday and Friday from 8:00am -9:00am or 12:00pm - 1:00pm.
Activities include leading classes that consist of gentle weight
bearing exercises, distributing medical information from the local
hospital, and attending mandatory training twice a year.
ABC Hospice: Support individuals with a terminal illness
Are you available to offer compassionate and reliable interaction to
someone diagnosed with terminal illness? As a volunteer you will become
part of ABCs Hospice team approach to care that includes nurses, social
workers, chaplain and bereavement counselors. ABC Hospice is service of
the XYZ Interdenominational Faith-Based Organization. Specialized
training is provided prior to placement.
Activities to support the terminally ill individual can include
reading, reminiscing, sharing a meal, and being a trusted friend who
cares about their well-being. Participate in homeland security by
ensuring that individuals are registered with the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, the American Red Cross and any additional emergency
services available within their community and are equipped with an
emergency kit.
ABC Medical Transport: Become a vital part of the senior wellness team
Are you a compassionate person with a good driving record? Would you
like to help senior citizens? You can be a volunteer driver for the ABC
Medical Transport. Seniors are often unable to access necessary medical
care due to a lack of transportation. Public transportation cannot
accommodate most requests to travel to medical specialists who may not
be on the bus route, nor it is optimal for bringing individuals home
after medical procedures, such as dialysis.
Activities include driving our mini-van 1 day per week, or once a
month, taking seniors to medical appointments in and out of the county
limits. Excess accident and liability insurance is provided to all
volunteer drivers.
ABC Health Care, Inc: Help seniors live in the comfort of their own home
Is your independence important to you? ABC Health Care, Inc.,
provides services to help individuals with disabilities and frail
seniors stay in their homes. Flexible scheduling opportunities that fit
your lifestyle. Just an hour or two each week can make a tremendous
difference!
Activities include helping with tasks such as paperwork, meal
preparation, shopping assistance, friendly visiting and transportation
to appointments. Participate in homeland security by identifying
individuals in need of home safety screening, home repair and influenza
and/or pneumonia immunizations. Ensure that individuals are registered
with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the American Red Cross
and any additional emergency services available within their community
and are equipped with an emergency kit.
XYZ Medical Center: Help protect children against childhood disease
Do you have two hours to spare? Looking for a fun, exciting
challenge? Become an RSVP Booster Buddy for XYZ Medical Center and help
protect young kids against dreaded childhood diseases. Booster Buddies
educate new mothers about the importance of timely immunizations for
their babies and young children and offer additional attention to teen
moms and others who might be less knowledgeable about health care in
general. Our immunization rate for two-year-olds has increased from 70
to 78%, but we have a goal of 90% that you can help us achieve.
Training and free parking is available; background check and TB
required.
Activities include spending one morning shift, approximately 2 hrs,
per week on the maternity floor at XYZ Medical Center, bringing a gift
of a children's health diary and educational materials to new moms. In
return, these new moms are happy to show off their beautiful new baby.
ABC Women's Health Clinic: Support quality healthcare for low-income women
ABC Women's Health Clinic offers a sliding fee scale for services to
low-income women. Many of the women do not have access to child care
and must bring their children with them to the Clinic. The ABC Women's
Health Clinic is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00 a.m. -
3:00 p.m., which allows you to serve during the hours that best fit
your schedule. Four-hour orientation training is provided prior to
service. Free parking is available to all Clinic volunteers.
Activities can include rocking babies, reading to the children,
playing games, watching educational videos, etc. Nurses needed to weigh
children and chart changes in medical conditions and medications.
XYZ Homeless Shelter: Doctors and dentists needed for quality health care
Do you have a medical background? Were you a doctor, nurse,
optometrist, or medial clerical worker? The XYZ Homeless Shelter needs
doctors, dentists, nurses and medical clerical personnel to facilitate
a health care and dental clinic at a homeless shelter in an effort to
ensure that residents have access to much-needed health care. The
clinic is open Tuesday and Thursday from 3:00pm - 7:00pm.
Activities will vary depending on the current license and medical
experience of the volunteer. Volunteers are needed to check blood
pressure and other vital signs, complete patient intake, administer
immunizations, complete dental cleaning, check vision, etc.
XYZ Case Management Program: Provide respite for family caregivers
The XYZ Case Management Program coordinates an array of in-home
services to individuals who have chosen to stay at home and need
assistance to remain in familiar surroundings. XYZ Case Management
Program is dedicated to providing individuals with choices that
maintain their dignity and respect in the least restrictive and most
appropriate environment that ensures their personal safety.
Activities include reading, reminiscing, sharing a meal, and being a
trusted friend who cares about their well being. Participate in
homeland security by identifying individuals in need of home safety
screening, home repair and influenza and/or pneumonia immunizations.
Ensure that individuals are registered with the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, the American Red Cross and any additional emergency
services available within their community and are equipped with an
emergency kit.
Pre-School/Head Start: Help prepare children for success in school
Do you enjoy the energy and enthusiasm of a pre-school age child?
Would you like to help prepare these children for success when they
enter elementary school? Tri-County Head Start serves children who are
at-risk, and their families, by offering enrichment activities for
pre-school age children.
Activities can include helping children discover the joy of reading
through storytelling; using flashcards and other materials to help
children identify letters, words, numbers, shapes and colors; providing
guidance as the children put puzzles together, finger paint and a
variety of other fun filled activities.
Lincoln Elementary School: Encourage children as they build computer skills
Do you enjoy spending time on your computer? Would you like to share
your enthusiasm and help a child discover the endless potential
available through technology? Lincoln Elementary School is dedicated to
ensuring its students have the necessary computer skills to succeed.
While helping build the computer skills of elementary aged children,
your activities can include supporting children as they become skilled
at using educational software, guide them as they learn to surf the
Internet, and make learning FUN through interactive games.
Community Cultural Center: Mentor a child from a multi-cultural community
Do you speak another language fluently? The XYZ America Reads
program provides support to children in a multicultural setting who may
have special needs that require approaches that are different from
other tutoring programs.
Activities will include helping to develop basic English language
and literacy skills, through games and other fun activities, in
addition to reinforcing and enhancing what children are learning in
school through reading, story telling, and fieldtrips. Participate in
homeland security by supporting immunization for children and family
members, as well as ensuring family members are registered for, and
aware of the availability of relief efforts in times of disaster.
Head Start/Pre-school: Enhance literacy skills of pre-school children
Head Start/Preschool works with 3 - 5 year olds to develop their
literacy by tracking emerging literacy skills. Creating a literacy
journal boosts students" confidence in their expression and
acknowledges their effort and progress.
Activities include helping children record stories in a journal
through asking questions about the stories, suggesting possible topics,
or demonstrate how a letter is written or a word spelled. Stories
include fun topics like "My day as a Monkey in the Zoo", and "What will
I do when I grow up". Training is provided in literacy development and
positive tutoring practices.
Community Youth Center: Youth with mentors are 46% less likely to use drugs
Would you like to be a positive role model to a child? Children who
have mentors in their lives are more successful and have a better
outlook on life. Your involvement will create a positive and powerful
force in a youth's development into adulthood. Extensive training is
provided.
Activities may include encouraging homework completion, friendly
conversations, enjoying a meal together, starting a collection (stamps,
butterflies, coins), and being a role model. Participate in homeland
security by supporting safe schools and safe havens, as well as
participating in direct service activities for youth. |
