Lend a Hand (11/18/2012)

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SPECIAL EVENTS:

• A DAY OF HOPE:UNITED SAMARITANS FOUNDATION

Thanksgiving Day Dinner Distribution

DATE: Nov. 22

NEEDED: Volunteers are needed to assist with preparing dinner, distributing meals from the United Samaritans lunch trucks, and cleaning up afterward at the Hughson, Modesto and Turlock sites. Volunteer shifts are available between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. depending upon the site. Monetary donations and traditional precooked holiday food items are needed to help provide the 2,000 meals this Thanksgiving.

• SOROPTIMIST COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TREE

27th annual Soroptimist Community Christmas Tree

DATE: Nov. 17 to Dec. 19

NEEDED: Volunteers 16 and older are needed to assist shoppers with the selection, tracking paperwork, receiving, tagging, and organizing of gifts by agency as they are returned. This event will take place at Vintage Faire Mall across from the food courts. The tree is bursting with gift-request tags for 3,400 needy children, ages birth to 17 years. The public is invited to select a tag from the tree, check it out at the adjacent kiosk, shop for the child from the tag wish list and return the gifts with the tag to the kiosk. Additional volunteers are needed to wrap the gifts on various dates starting Dec. 3-Dec. 20. Flexible shifts are available daily between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. for all opportunities. Monetary donations are also appreciated to purchase gifts for children whose tags were not selected.

• ONGOING VOLUNTEER POSITIONS

DOCTORS MEDICAL CENTERNEEDED: Committed Service League Volunteers over the age of 25 who have time to work at least two 3½-hour shifts per month. All volunteers will receive a 25-hour training orientation in the areas of service selected. Prospective volunteers must be dependable, organized, work well with people, commit to one year of service, complete the application process and pass a background check.

UNITED WAY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY — VITA Program

NEEDED: Volunteers 18 and older to assist individuals with tax returns and help clients claim their Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit money. Volunteer Income Tax Assistance is an expanding program that helps low-income residents obtain free tax preparation services. Volunteer positions include preparer, greeter, screener and child care assistant. Flexible schedules are available. Some will need to participate in a training program sanctioned by the Internal Revenue Service to be held in December and January.

AARP — Tax Aide Program

NEEDED: Volunteers 18 and older are needed to prepare federal and state income tax returns for seniors, ages 50 and older, in Modesto, Newman, Patterson and Turlock. Volunteers should be comfortable working with numbers, have some familiarity with simple tax returns, and computer experience. All volunteers receive a free 40-hour comprehensive training to be held early January and are asked to volunteer at least four hours per week between Feb. 1 and April 15.

HOWARD TRAINING CENTER

NEEDED: Volunteers are needed to provide office assistance, such as filing, copying materials, opening mail and answering the phone Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Howard Training Center provides vocational and nonvocational training to adults with disabilities.

VOLUNTEER CENTER OF UNITED WAY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY

NEEDED: Volunteers 18 and older to translate current brochures and other materials from English to Spanish to reach a broader population. Interested volunteers should have strong English and Spanish writing skills, good attention to detail, the ability to meet deadlines, and computer skills.

WATERFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT

NEEDED: Female volunteers 18 and older to act as a mentor to female middle school and high school students in their school district. The mentor must commit eight to 12 hours per month and be available between the hours of 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Mentors must be responsible, be able to maintain appropriate boundaries, committed, friendly, understanding, supportive, encouraging and respectful of cultural differences. The mentors will be provided with a small stipend.