6/12/2011

The Volunteer Connection serves as a clearinghouse, matching volunteers of all ages with community service needs and opportunities in the Salina area. Volunteer service-related transportation to and from the service site, and accident and liability insurance coverage are provided for volunteers age 55 and older through RSVP. For more information on these or other opportunities, call 823-3128, email volcor@nckvc.org, or go to our website at www.nckvc.org to check for updates.

Continuing needs

n Friendly canine visitors. If your "Fido" has a friendly disposition and loves people, he might want to volunteer. We are looking for friendly dogs with great masters who can take them to visit with senior residents. Several facilities are requesting pet visits.

Pet foster homes needed to keep shelter animals when the shelter is full and dogs have to wait for adoption. Normal stay is approximately three weeks. Must apply for Kansas Animal Health Department Foster License; interview, screening and training required.

n Homebound book delivery. Home delivery drivers use their own vehicle to deliver books to the homebound; involves lifting of heavy book bags. Deliveries made the third Tuesday of each month; 1-2 hours delivery time in the morning or the afternoon.

n Office assistant to help in a busy public setting, taking calls, giving directions, etc. Will work with volunteer on a work schedule. Office hours, 1-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

n Visitation window assistant to log visitors and sort mail. Must have ability to handle difficult people. Will work with volunteer on a work schedule.

n Homebound book selector to select books for the homebound. Familiarity with different literary genres is a plus. Schedule based on volunteer's availability.

n Media maintenance. Clean and shelve DVDs; 2-4 hours a week on a regular schedule required.

n Information and research assistant to help with short-term, project-driven volunteer opportunities throughout the year.

n Technology center assistant to help keep the public-use computers clean twice a month; flexible schedule to fit yours.

n Back-up delivery driver to pick up large amounts of groceries from a local retail store. Must have vehicle with substantial cargo space and be able to lift.

n Mentors to assist lead teachers with tutoring and group activities and serve as positive role models for middle-school students during the after-school program and to spend special one-on-one time with individual students. Requires excellent oral and written skills and a desire to work with youths; 4-5:30 p.m. Tuesdays and/or Thursdays.

n Drivers to drive DAV van to transport veterans to appointments at VA hospitals in Wichita or Topeka. East run may extend to Leavenworth or Kansas City on occasion. Schedule as arranged. High need for drivers for Topeka transports.

n Bus driver/substitute driver needed on a substitute basis to drive 13-passenger bus (no CDL required) to various locations in town for local retirement community residents.

n Meal deliverers. Bring warm meals -- and a smile -- to the elderly and shut-ins in a specific section of Salina, three to five days every six weeks from about 11 a.m. to noon. You may split the week with a partner. Substitute drivers also are needed.

n Homebound book delivery. Home delivery drivers use their own vehicles to deliver books to the homebound. Ability to lift heavy book bags needed; third Tuesday of each month. Delivery time generally 1-3 p.m., but morning is a possibility.

n Social volunteers to help with weekly men's social from 9-10 a.m Wednesdays; or with weekly women's social from 9-10 a.m. Fridays,

n Activity assistants for adult day center. Options include teaching or helping with art, music, accompanying or socializing, etc., with the clients. Orientation provided. Schedule and time commitment can be arranged, any day(s), Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

n Big Brothers/Big Sisters or couples to mentor youths in community. Positive role models can help these youths thrive! High need for male "bigs" or couples willing to mentor male youths.

n Bingo assistants, callers and helpers. Several requests for help with bingo at various places.

n Blood drive assistants throughout the year. Set up and take down equipment; prepare and serve food to participants; escort donors; do registration/scheduling.

n Bible study and chapel leaders needed for several facilities. Variety of dates and times available. Will work with volunteer's schedule.

n Coaches and assistants to work with youths of various ages during practice and games. Basketball, softball, baseball and soccer are some of the sports throughout the year that need volunteers.

n Cooking class assistant to assist with cooking projects in an adult day-care facility; 2-3 p.m. Tuesdays and/or Thursdays.

n Disaster response volunteers to take basic training with local chapter of the American Red Cross and provide assistance to victims of disaster, locally and/or on deployment to national disasters, and in a variety of ways: mass care (feeding and sheltering), case work, logistics, communications, etc. Schedules vary, as arranged.

n Driving instructors needed to teach driving safety class; classroom instruction only. Class is eight hours long but can be split into different days or split among two instructors. Volunteer must enjoy helping others learn and be able to talk in small groups. Background check and DMV check required.

n Exercise leader to lead low-impact, senior adult-oriented exercise class using stretch bands, small balls and light hand weights; three mornings a week for 30 minutes and/or hourlong periods; time and schedule arranged according to volunteer's availability.

n Fleet Manager. Do vehicle maintenance (ERV, MERV, shelter response trailers, chapter vehicles) Description: cleaning, driving, inspection, interior/exterior wash, general maintenance and repair. These checks will be performed on a weekly, monthly and semiannual basis. Skills/training: valid Kansas driver's license and copy of safe driving record. Hours flexible. Desired volunteer commitment: Attend one disaster action team meeting a quarter; available as needed, based on maintenance schedules and driving requirements.

n Friendly visitors to socialize with local nursing home residents. Play games, read, do puzzles and a variety of other activities. Various days and times are available, including volunteer's choice of schedule. Male visitors a high need at one facility.

n Food sorters to break large quantities of food into smaller batches and shelve food items. Variety of days and times available.

n Guardians/conservators to serve persons who have disabilities, limited resources and no family member available to assist them by visiting regularly, serving as an advocate, managing finances, etc. Monthly and annual reports required. Training provided. Rewarding opportunity with flexible schedule.

n Health and safety instructors are a vital resource for the chapter and the community. They teach life-saving skills to a variety of audiences. Learn to teach babysitting to 11- to 14-year-olds, water safety, life-guarding, CPR, first aid and other classes. Training: standard first aid, CPR/AED or the basic certification for the class you want to teach. Hours: flexible, based on requests for classes and annual calendar of scheduled classes. Desired volunteer commitment: Teach 1 class per quarter. Skills: All training provided free of charge with commitment to teach five classes annually.

n Hospice-related opportunities to help support patients and family members with the end-of-life transition. Hospice volunteers receive extensive training. Volunteers are needed for the following areas: administrative support, home care, nursing home, 11th-hour volunteers, patient-care support, host volunteers, bereavement, community programs, bakers, delivery, special talents and fundraising.

n Household assistant for individuals including helping to organize bills, friendly visiting and /or shopping. Transporters to assist elderly to and from appointments in Salina also needed.

n Kitchen assistants to help with various setup and cleanup tasks surrounding lunchtime (no cooking involved) at an adult day center. Any day, Monday through Friday from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 pm.

n Movie assistant to help residents into room, start movie and pop microwave popcorn. One weekday night (night can vary) and Sundays at 10 a.m.

n Musicians/singers to entertain residents in assisted-living communities.

n Piano player(s) to provide entertainment for listening, sing-alongs, etc., according to volunteer's schedule.

Payee assistants to meet weekly with clients who require assistance in managing their finances and write checks for their bills once a month. Weekly meetings occur Tuesday mornings, check writing on the last Thursday of the month. Times as arranged.

n Yard-care workers clean and rake yard debris, etc., for elderly and disabled persons.

n Handypersons to help with installation of basic weatherization items, change light bulbs, complete simple repairs, etc. Schedule as arranged.

n Office helpers to help do filing, shredding, answer phones and/or data entry, as specific requests dictate.

n Packet stuffers or mailing preparers to assist with large mailings as scheduled and available. Fold, tab, label, etc. Lots of camaraderie with other mailing volunteers.

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