Lend a Hand
Call the Volunteer Center of United Way, 209-524-1307, or email volunteer@uwaystan.org.
Volunteers needed for special events:
SALVATION ARMY – MODESTO CITADEL
NEEDED: Volunteers 16 years and older to assist with annual Christmas Dinner on Friday, Dec. 23. Volunteers set up, serve dinner, distribute gifts and clean up 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monetary donations, traditional holiday dinner items, candy, new toys, baby items, toiletries, clothing, etc., also needed.
CONTACT: Carole Stuart, 209-522-3209, carole.stuart@usw.salvationarmy.org
NEEDED: Volunteers of all ages needed for Christmas Kettle Campaign through Dec. 24. Staff a Christmas Kettle and ring the bell to solicit donations outside local businesses in Modesto and Ceres. Agency staff will set up, provide training and pick up kettle and donations after shifts. Four-hour flexible day and evening shifts available. Youths allowed to participate with adult.
CONTACT: Jennifer Breazeale, 209-522-3209, Jennifer.Breazeale@usw.salvationarmy.org
CITY OF MODESTO
NEEDED: Volunteers 15 and older for the Modesto Spirit of Giving 5K Run, Walk and Ride on Dec. 10. Duties include: course monitoring, set-up/breakdown, registration check-in, volunteer check-in, packet pick-up and decorating. This year, Modesto Gospel Mission will benefit from a portion of the run/walk proceeds, as well as the canned food drive. Youth volunteers 14 and younger are also eligible to volunteer with a responsible adult. Volunteer times are 7 a.m.-noon. Individuals interested in volunteering for this event can register online at www.modestogov.com/559/Volunteer-Opportunities.
CONTACT: Stephanie Smith, 209-577-5450, ssmith@modestogov.com
SOROPTIMIST COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TREE
NEEDED: Volunteers 18 and older at the 31st annual Soroptimist Community Christmas Tree. Duties include assisting shoppers with the selection, tracking paperwork, receive, tag, and organize gifts by agency as they are returned. 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 (usually warm clothing, shoes, etc.), and return the gifts with the tag to the kiosk. Additional volunteers are needed to wrap the gifts. 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.
CONTACT: Gabriele Rude, 209-604-8700, scctmodesto@yahoo.com
VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA)
NEEDED: Volunteers 18 and older to prepare taxes for individuals in Turlock, Patterson, Ceres, Modesto, Salida, Oakdale, Riverbank, Empire and Waterford. VITA will allow elderly, disabled and low-income families and individuals in the community to access free tax preparation. Volunteers do not need prior experience and hours are flexible. Training is required and is free. If you are interested in volunteering at the Salida, Riverbank or Oakdale site, contact Darlene at darlenemartinez@sbcglobal.net or 209-312-3957. For all other site locations, contact AARP Tax Aide team at 888-687-2277.
CONTACT: Margaret Land, margaretland@sbcglobal.net
UNITED WAY OF STANISLAUS COUNTY
NEEDED: Volunteers to support the United Way’s CHEF Health Initiative at Caswell Elementary School in Ceres and Bret Harte Elementary School in Modesto. The CHEF initiative provides bags of healthy food as well as nutrition education classes for parents and students. Volunteers can help build bags of food on two Fridays a month midday and/or assist teachers in providing nutrition education at one of the nutrition workshops.
CONTACT: Cory Brown, 209-523-4562, CBrown@uwaystan.org
This story was originally published December 2, 2016 at 12:04 PM with the headline "Lend a Hand."