Lend a Hand
Call the Volunteer Center of United Way, (209) 524-1307, or email volunteer@uwaystan.org.
Volunteers needed for special events:
LOVE MODESTO COMMUNITYWIDE VOLUNTEER DAY
NEEDED: Volunteers of all ages are needed April 18 to help with family-friendly projects in Modesto and throughout Stanislaus County. More than 80 projects provide various opportunities such as offering food to the hungry; visiting senior adults; building a home for a family in need; delivering baked goods to public servants such as fire, police, sheriff, CHP and emergency departments; cleaning a park; donating blood to save lives; and more. Festivities begin at 8 a.m. with free food and refreshments, a kids zone, music and activities in front of the Gallo Center for the Arts on I Street.
CONTACT: Jeff Pishney, (209) 566-9343, jeff@lovemodesto.com
RIDE FOR MOM
NEEDED: Volunteers of all ages on May 8 and 9 to help during this organized community bike ride at Johansen High School in Modesto. The proceeds from this ride go to nonprofits that help encourage the motto: “Be Active, Eat Healthy, Live Better.” Opportunities include setting up supplies, helping with check-in, loading and unloading supplies. Other shifts will be scheduled to help serve food, greet riders and hand out medals. Youth volunteers will need a signed waiver by an adult. See rideformom.com.
CONTACT: Susan Dion, reach1@sbcglobal.net
Volunteers needed for ongoing positions:
STANISLAUS COUNTY AREA AGENCY ON AGING and VETERANS SERVICES
NEEDED: Volunteers 55 and older to regularly visit older adults who are having trouble overcoming difficulties or facing significant change in their lives, connecting seniors to services, helping them learn to cope and providing support. Volunteer Senior Peer 2 Peers attend an initial 30-hour training and are supervised by professional clinicians. Training will begin April 7. Prior to training, volunteers meet with the volunteer coordinator. Volunteers are also needed for the Friendly Visitor program, providing social visitors and companionship to isolated seniors in Stanislaus County.
CONTACT: Julia Washington, (209) 525-4613, washingtonj@stancounty.com
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF STANISLAUS COUNTY
NEEDED: Volunteers 18 and older to help in our after-school programs at two local elementary schools. Tasks may include homework assistance or helping during activities or sports. Volunteer hours are 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, as needed. Applicants must fill out an application and attend an orientation. Qualified applicants will be interviewed. A background check, fingerprint clearance and a TB test are also required.
CONTACT: Marlene Settle at (209) 222-5826,
COMMUNITY HOSPICE
NEEDED: Volunteers 18 and older as of July 6 to assist with Camp Erin, a four-day grief camp for children ages 6 to 17 who have experienced the death of someone close to them. Cabin Buddies creates a positive, fun, supportive and energetic atmosphere for its campers as they learn to cope with their losses. Volunteers will participate in sharing activities and meals, and will supervise the campers assigned to their cabins. Volunteers will receive training. To learn more about this and other Camp Erin volunteer opportunities, visit hospiceheart.org.
CONTACT: Dottie Jessen at (209) 969-1018, dottiegrace@sbcglobal.net
HEALTHY AGING ASSOCIATION
NEEDED: Volunteers 18 and older to join the Young at Heart team of instructors who make a difference in the lives of older adults. Volunteer instructors are needed as soon as possible to lead group exercise classes in Hughson and Modesto. No experience is needed, only a passion for wellness and working with older adults. Free training certification is available for the right individuals.
CONTACT: Samantha Strauch, (209) 523.2800, sstrauch.healthyaging@gmail.com
HOPE HAVEN WEST
NEEDED: Volunteers 18 and older on Mondays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to noon to help in the warehouse, 1324 Coldwell Ave., Modesto, sorting, boxing, assembling and packing wheelchairs. Hope Haven West collects discarded and used wheelchairs and ships them to vocational rehab units of 17 federal prisons, where prisoners refurbish the chairs. The refurbished chairs are then returned to the agency.
CONTACT: Liz Hosmer, (209) 485-4553, hopehavenwest@gmail.com
This story was originally published March 20, 2015 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Lend a Hand."