Modesto-area volunteer opportunities

Volunteers are needed by several groups in and around Modesto. Call the Volunteer Center of United Way, 209-524-1307, or email volunteer@uwaystan.org.

INTERFAITH MINISTRIES

NEEDED: Volunteers ages 18 and older to help reduce the amount of wasted home-grown fruit and produce while increasing access to low-income families through the Gleaning & Gathering program. This program helps supply fresh produce to the Feed Modesto Food Pantry and Free Mobile Farmers Market at Interfaith Ministries. Individuals and groups are needed to help harvest produce, which is donated by residents throughout Stanislaus County. Times available are 9 a.m.-noon and typically there is only one to three days’ notice of dates when volunteers are needed. Travel is provided by the agency. Tools are provided. Bring your own lunch and water. You must be physically able to stand, stoop, lift and carry heavy items.

CONTACT: Naomi Pulido, npulido@interfaithmodesto.org, 209-572-3117.

AMERICAN CANCER

SOCIETY

NEEDED: Volunteers 18 and older across Stanislaus County to assist with the Road to Recovery program, which provides free rides for people with cancer. Volunteer drivers donate their time and use of their cars so that patients can receive the treatments they need. All volunteers must have a valid drivers license and insurance, be available to drive at least once a month and have computer access. Training is required as well as passing background and DMV checks.

CONTACT: Linda Sites, 209-524-7241, linda.sites@cancer.org

HEALTHY AGING

AND ASSOCIATION

NEEDED: Volunteers ages 18 and older for several different opportunities. First, a Matter of Balance Coach to lead an evidence-based eight-week program. Classes meet once a week for two hours each session. Second, a Nutritional Educator Assistant to help give a 15- to 20-minute presentation on nutrition topics at Green Bag locations, assist registering participants and distribute fresh fruit and vegetables. Also needed: event volunteers for annual fundraisers to support the agency.

CONTACT: Kim Viviano, 209-523-2800, healthy.aging2000@gmail.com

SOCIETY FOR THE

PREVENTION OF

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

Needed: Volunteers and their friendly pets to visit residents of convalescent hospitals and care facilities through the SPCA Pet Outreach Program. Children are welcome if supervised by a parent. During visits animals are often successful in increasing communication, decreasing anxiety and cutting through barriers that isolate people. Pets need to be friendly and enjoy being handled. Visits are made the first and second Saturday mornings and the third Wednesday mornings of each month.

Contact: Mary Davis,

marydavis45@sbcglobal.net

OPERATION 9-2-99

NEEDED: Volunteers 16 and older to help with the Tuolumne River Clean-Up Project. Duties include hauling tires and shopping carts out of the river and removing trash along the riverbank. Cleanup days are March 19 and April 23. Individuals and groups are encouraged to volunteer and asked to bring gloves, water, hat and sunscreen. Visit http://tinyurl.com/operation9-2-99.

CONTACT: Chris Guptill, guptill.c@monet.k12.ca.us

STANISLAUS COUNTY

SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT

NEEDED: Volunteers 22 and older for the STARS program. STARS citizen volunteers assist the Sheriff’s Department in many roles including patrolling the county, court security, jail assistance, vacation house checks, neighborhood watch and more. Must be able to commit to at least 10 hours a month, pass an oral board and pass a background investigation.

CONTACT: Deputy Del Nero, 209-558-8930

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 build bags of healthy food two Fridays a month and/or assist teachers in providing nutrition education one Saturday a month.

Contact: Cory Brown, 209-523-4562, CBrown@uwaystan.org

STANISLAUS COUNTY HEALTH SERVICES AGENCY

Needed: Volunteers 18 and older to greet visitors of the HSA gift shop, provide customer service, sell merchandise, wrap gifts and perform general retail store duties. Requires at least a six-month commitment of one day per week. Ongoing training provided.

Contact: Joyce Decker, 209-558-4179, jdecker@schsa.org

This story was originally published February 12, 2016 at 12:01 PM with the headline "Modesto-area volunteer opportunities."