Many ways to volunteer for those who want to help
KEEPING shop, peeling vegetables, cradling babies and walking dogs – these are just some of the ways people with a little time to spare can fulfil their New Year’s resolutions to help others.
Many NPOs and charity organisations in East London welcome any amount of time sacrificed to give them a hand.
At Meals-on-Wheels, which cooks, packs and delivers 1 000 nutritious meals a month to the elderly, destitute and disabled, secretary-treasurer Ashton Botha said volunteers were needed for a variety of jobs.
These include peeling vegetables, dishing meals into ice cream containers, driving Meals on Wheels delivery vehicles or “hopping” into homes to hand them over.
“People can volunteer anything from half an hour to grate donated tomatoes for instance, to three hours to deliver the meals on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays,” said Botha.
“They can pop in and speak to director Jenny Campbell at 19 Smartt Road, Nahoon or phone us at 043- 735-2166.”
Cooing to babies and cradling them is another way to sacrifice a bit of time during the week or on weekends at the Guardians of Hope Place of Safety in Bonnie Doon, where abandoned or unwanted babies are cared for until they find a loving home.
House mother Elaine Brenkman said a police clearance was required to bath babies and change their nappies.
However, until this was arranged, volunteers are welcome to cuddle babies, help with cupboard packing or do gardening.
“People can pop in from as little as 10 minutes just to give hugs and love on weekdays between 8am and 5pm and on weekends from 8am to 1pm. We are also looking for someone to help us with our admin.”
Anyone wanting to help can call 082 487 4406. and will need to fill in a police clearance form.
Animal lovers are needed at Pet Pals animal sanctuary in Wilsonia to walk dogs on Sunday mornings, bath them or simply play and pet the dogs and kittens waiting for homes.
“I only have seven staff members so we need more volunteers to walk, wash, brush dogs or just sit and play with them,” said Pet Pals founder Sue Kriel.
Help is also required with fundraising, which involve selling tickets to fundraising events or being marshals.
Countryside dog walks are held on Sundays between 8.30am and 1.30pm. The sanctuary is open for other volunteering help from 9am to 3pm. Call Sue at 082 850 8935 for directions.
The Out of the Box charity shop on Old Transkei Road, Nahoon, opened by the Christelike Maatskaplike Raad (CMR) recently, needs volunteers to sort through donations, help customers and work the till from one to three hours or more per week or every second week.
“We will take whatever time you can offer on weekdays and on Saturday mornings between 9am and 12 noon,” said CMR manager Gaye Moonieya. Call Trevor Willard at 082 813 0206. —