Lend A Hand (2/5/12)

Call the Volunteer Center of the United Way at (209) 524-1307 or e-mail volunteer@uwaystan.org, unless otherwise indicated.

AMERICAN RED CROSS — A car wash fund-raiser will be held Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1528 Oakdale Road, Modesto. The student-driven Enochs High community service project will support emergency services in the community. Volunteers 15 and older are needed to help wash and detail cars. Volunteers are also needed to assist with Save-a-Life Saturday onMarch 10 at multiple sites throughout Stanislaus County, including Vintage Faire Mall in Modesto. Interested individuals for the Save-a-Life event or ongoing first-aid teams and community outreach education opportunities are asked to attend a volunteer orientation held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of every month. The next two orientations will be Tuesday and March 7 at the agency's office.

SYLVAN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION — The foundation's annual gourmet breakfast will be Feb. 25 from 8 to 11 a.m. in the Ustach Middle School multipurpose room. Volunteers are needed to make the event possible. Contact Naomie Rodrigues at the district office, (209) 574-5000,ext. 202, or at nrodrigues@sylvan.k12.ca.us.

CENTER FOR HUMAN SERVICES — Harvesting Futures, a new gleaning project focusing on youth development and entrepreneurship, invites youth 14 and older and adults to help reduce the amount of wasted fruit and help increase access of fresh produce to low-income families in our area. Volunteer teams of young people, supervised by an adult volunteer, will distribute informational fliers to tree owners in the College and La Loma neighborhoods and return to harvest and deliver citrus fruit to local area food banks. All volunteers must attend a brief orientation prior to the harvest event dates to learn safety, use of harvesting equipment and gleaning etiquette.

CENTER FOR HUMAN SERVICES HUTTON HOUSE — Adult volunteers are needed to aid runaway and homeless youth in crisis at the shelter. Volunteers answer the crisis line, perform intakes, lead recreational activities, tutor youth, co-facilitate groups, transport youth, chart in files, etc. Volunteers attend 18 hours of initial program and CPR/first-aid trainings and monthly training meetings, pass FBI fingerprint and criminal background review, physical clearance, tuberculosis test and Child Abuse Index clearance, and commit to volunteering four hours per week for a minimum of one year. Training will be held Mondays and Tuesdays, 5 to 8 p.m., March 5-20. Scheduled volunteer interviews will be held Feb. 21 between 1 and 4:30 p.m. and Feb. 24 between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

DOCTORS MEDICAL CENTER — Adult Service League volunteers over the age of 25 are needed in all areas of the hospital to direct patients and visitors, escort discharged patients by wheelchair, assist staff with errands, help with merchandising and sales in the hospital gift shop and much more. All volunteers receive 25 hours of training in the selected areas of service throughout the hospital. Prospective volunteers must commit to volunteering at least two 3½-hour shifts per month for one year of service, complete the application process and pass a background check.

INTER-FAITH MINISTRIES — Adult volunteers are needed to help provide food and clothing to needy individuals and families weekdays. Warehouse volunteers pick up, receive, sort and distribute food to clients. Food pantry volunteers interview clients, offer support and referrals, bag grocery orders and stock shelves. Clothes closet volunteers sort clothing and assist in the community clothes closet. Volunteers must be at least 18, or 16 to 17 with an adult, and be able to lift at least 25 to 40 pounds depending upon the position.

YOUTH FOR CHRIST CENTRAL VALLEY — Adult mentors enrich their own lives while sharing everyday activities with at-risk youth. Mentoring programs include: academic tutoring for fourth- through 12th-grade students at nine school sites in Ceres and Modesto; Tapestry, a neighborhood-based youth church, that provides mentoring in the reality of everyday life; Teen Parents, which educates and nurtures pregnant and parenting adolescents by promoting personal growth and accountability, and mentoring in important life decision; and Juvenile Justice Ministry, which offers Sunday chapel services and weekly Bible studies at the juvenile hall. Hours are typically after school or on the weekend, but are set up by the mentor and student. Volunteers must be at least 18 (17 for school-based mentoring), complete application, interview, orientation and training process, provide references, pass a background check and commit to volunteering at least four hours per month for 12 months depending upon program.