Lend A Hand (2/21/10)
Call the Volunteer Center of the United Way at 524-1307 or e-mail volunteer@uwaystan.org unless otherwise noted.
AMERICAN RED CROSS -- The 27th annual CPR Saturday is March 13 at sites in Modesto, Oakdale, Patterson and Turlock. An additional site in Modesto will provide all classes in Spanish. The event is open to the public, ages 8 and up (under 12 accompanied by a paying adult) and classes begin every hour on the hour between 8 a.m. and
2 p.m. Registration is $8 in advance, $10 at the door based on space availability. Advanced registration is encouraged, as classes fill quickly. Volunteers 14 and up are needed prior to the event to help coordinate activities,do outreach, provide office support and process registrations. The day of the event, help is needed at all sites to set up, clean up, conduct registration/student intake, do testing, clean mannequins, staff first-aid booth, etc. Certified CPR instructors are especially encouraged to volunteer.
CATHOLIC CHARITIES -- The ninth annual Seniors SAFE (Seniors Against Financial Exploitation) Banking Seminar will be held March 12 at the First Baptist Church Family Life Pavilion in Modesto, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with registration opening at 8 a.m. The event features speakers including Sheriff Adam Christianson; Clair Arno, deputy district attorney, Carla Von Hungen, Modesto Police Department economic crime unit; and Ramona Ethier, Community Services Agency. There will be service-provider and agency information booths, and a buffet luncheon. The event is free to seniors and adult children accompanying senior parents, but preregistration is required by March 8 and donations are accepted. Volunteers 18 and older are needed to greet and direct seminar attendees to activities, assist with refreshments and distribute speaker handouts to attendees.
HOWARD TRAINING CENTER -- The 16th annual Crab Fest Fundraiser will be March 5-6 at the Howard Training Center's Witmer Hall. The event features food, entertainment, dancing to the Silvermoon band and fun, while raising dollars to support services and vocational and nonvocational training for adults with mental retardation and other disabilities. Reserved seating tickets are $45 (presale only) and takeout tickets are available at $30. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and dinner is served at 7 p.m. Volunteers 16 and older are needed help set up both days between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; serve on both days from 5:30 p.m. to midnight: assist with cleanup and setup on March 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and do final cleanup March 7 beginning at 10 a.m. A volunteer T-shirt will be provided. Volunteers may also assist with event prep work such as assembling programs, scrubbing potatoes, etc., March 1-4 with flexible daytime hours as arranged with the agency.
COMMUNITY HOSPICE INC. -- Provide support to individuals facing life-threatening illnesses, their families, and friends and to those grieving with the loss of a loved one. A volunteer training course scheduled on two Saturdays, March 6 and 27, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Preregistration is required and lunch is provided. A training materials fee is $20, with scholarships available upon request. Volunteers will learn the philosophy and concepts of hospice care, the impact of terminal illness on both the patient and family, an understanding of grief and loss, and train to become a family visitor. After completing the training, volunteers may choose from a variety of positions throughout Community Hospice, including: bereavement volunteers to follow up with families through mailings or by phone; family visitors to provide support, relief, and companionship to adult and pediatric patients and caregivers; support group facilitators; massage therapists; music therapy; and positions at the Alexander Cohen Hospice House, a 16-patient homelike environment in Hughson for patients needing a higher level of care in Hughson. After an additional 2½-hour training, Hospice House volunteers work directly with patients and families (family visitors/bereavement volunteers, support group facilitators, and ambulation assistants) or provide supportive services (greeter, clerical/phone assistant, special projects, activities, housekeeping, food services/kitchen, etc.). Volunteers are always needed to provide clerical support, outreach to the community booths or speakers bureau, and assist at the five Hope Chest thrift stores in Ceres, Modesto and Oakdale.
This story was originally published February 20, 2010 at 11:07 PM with the headline "Lend A Hand (2/21/10)."