Volunteer Opportunities

Project Sanctuary: Is in need of Volunteers to work the after-hours crisis line. Training provided free of charge. Evening classes to become a certified crisis counselor in exchange for a one-year commitment to the agency. Training to begin in March. Please contact Mary @ 462-9196 or Vicki @ 961-1507. Plowshares: Join our Board! Plowshares Peace and Justice Center is accepting applications for our Board of Directors. We are looking for energetic, compassionate members to help build community relations, develop marketing and fundraising strategies and contribute to the overall growth of Plowshares while insuring our mission “that no one in our community go hungry”. To apply or for more information contact Executive Director Michelle Shaw at plowsharesed@pacific. net or call 707.462.8582. Adventist Health Certified Hospice of Mendocino: Looking for volunteers to provide compassionate comfort care for patients with a life-limiting illness. For more information, call Jackie Beck at 456-3232 or email beckjl@ah.org. Cancer Resource Centers of Mendocino County: Volunteer drivers are needed to take cancer patients to and from local and regional medical appointments. Help is also needed with yard work. For more information, call 467-3828.

Hospice of Ukiah: Hospice of Ukiah offers grief support, individually and in groups, with horse-facilitated support available for children. Call Kay at 391-1817 for information. Hospice of Ukiah is a volunteer hospice and palliative care provider. Training and grateful support is given our wonderful volunteers who give respite to the families and who help in our Hospice Gift and Thrift Store. Call 462-4038 for information. Classroom Grandparents Needed: Mendocino and Lake County children need you. Become a Foster Grandparent intergenerational mentor in a local preschool, elementary school, or juvenile hall. If you are interested in working with children, are over 55 years of age, and on a limited income, please call NCO Volunteer Network at 4621959 or visit our website www.volunteernco@ncoinc. org. Foster Grandparents receive a small, hourly taxfree stipend, transportation and meal reimbursement, and monthly training. Join us!!

Schools of Hope Reading Tutor: Make a difference in a child’s reading proficiency in only 30 — 60 minutes per week. Volunteer tutors needed for first through third grade students in schools throughout Mendocino and Lake Counties. Training provided. Please contact NCO Volunteer Network at 462-1959 or visit our website atwww. volunteernco@ncoinc.org. Willits Center for the Arts: Now accepting entries for the 32nd Annual Holiday Craft Fair for Dec. 7, 8 and 9 at the Willits Community Center and the Willits Center for the Arts-Upstairs Gallery. All interested artists, hand crafters and specialty food entrepreneurs can request application forms by emailing Bonnie Belt at belt.bonnie@gmail. com.

VFW Breakfast Volunteers: The VFW is looking for volunteers, young and old to help serve breakfast the 2nd Saturday of every month at the VFW building on Seminary Ave. For more information, call Carole Hester at 463-1231. Mendocino County Historical Society: Want to learn about this place we call home? The MCHS is an independent, private, non-profit organization. We locate, collect, and preserve historical media and artifacts, and research the history of Mendocino County. Volunteers with strong computer and organizational skills are needed to sort, organize, and file photographic material, documents, maps, newspapers clippings, and other historical artifacts, as well as do general office work and maintenance. The MCHS is located at the corner of Perkins and Dora Streets in Ukiah, and is open from 1-4 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. To support this community resource, please call for more information and an application: (707) 462-6969. Become a HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program) Volunteer: HICAP volunteer counselors help Medicare beneficiaries understand Medicare. If you are a retiree looking for a meaningful opportunity to work with seniors and persons with disabilities, and can commit 6 hours per month after certification training, email hicapinfo@sasnb.org or call HICAP at 1-800-4340222.

Adventist Health Ukiah Valley: Looking for volunteers to join the team in various departments. For more information contact Josanna Kiggins at 707463-7625.

KMEC Volunteer Opportunities: Seeking volunteers for radio production, tech positions, arts & entertainment, public affairs. The Mendocino Environmental Center is located at 106 West Stanley St. Contact Email: iijustjoel@gmail. com Phone: 707 234 3236 kmecradio.org.

The Hospice Thrift and Gift Store: Seeking enthusiastic volunteers. Duties may include accepting donations, stocking shelves, pricing, tagging and hanging clothes, cash register, and maintaining the attractiveness of the store. If anyone would like to help, please call Lyle at 462-3141 for more volunteer information. The Ukiah Senior Center: Seeking volunteers who are 55 and older to train as senior peer counselors visiting other seniors in their homes. If interested call the Senior Center at 462-4343. Farmers Market EBT Match: Contribute to making locally-grown, nutritious fruits and vegetables affordable for everyone. Volunteers are needed at

Farmers Markets in Ukiah, Redwood Valley, Willits and Finley to exchange CalFresh EBT for Market tokens that increase EBT credits when spent on locally grown produce. Volunteers are provided with training. Come on out and make new friends while supporting your local farmers market and your community. Please contact Kayla at the NCO Volunteer Network at 462-1959 for more information. Mendocino County Animal Care Services: Want to have fun and have many of your pet needs met without being the primary responsible human? You can help enrich the lives of shelter dogs and cats by volunteering at Animal Care Services. We are looking for volunteers to take the shelter dogs out for walks or participate in our group off leash play sessions. Our award winning Pit Crew Program is another opportunity to be a handler and learn dog training techniques. We provide training and support to all our volunteers. Cat buddies are encouraged to come in and spend time with our feline friends who enjoy getting brushed or simply sitting on your lap. Other volunteer opportunities include fostering, giving dogs baths, helping with adoption events, poster distribution, paperwork, calling to check in with past adopters. We ask volunteers for commitment of 8 hours a month. For more information on getting started please contact Amy at 467-6453. CASA of Mendocino and Lake Counties: CASA of Mendocino and Lake Counties is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) looking for volunteers of all backgrounds and educational levels trained to work with Juvenile Dependency Courts to assure that every child has a voice. Applications are now being accepted for the next training and are also recruiting couples to train as CASA Advocates. Sheryn Hildebrand, shildebrand@ mendocinocasa.org; 4636503 ext. 13.

NCO Volunteer Network: NCO Volunteer Network places volunteers in rewarding positions throughout Lake and Mendocino County. The Volunteer Network is currently recruiting individuals for placement at animal shelters, libraries, museums, community gardens, administrative offices, and in disaster and emergency training and services. Volunteers may also pre-register for onetime events such as Day of Caring, Make A Difference Day, and Martin Luther King Day of Service. Please call 462-1959 for more information.

Ukiah Bicycle Kitchen: Help the Ukiah Bicycle Kitchen teach and share bicycle repair skills. We work together to make low-cost, joyful transportation more accessible and functional for everyone in Ukiah. Volunteers with a diversity of skill sets are sought, mechanics are especially desired. Volunteers will learn about bicycle repair if they want to. Contact Andrew Lutsky 347-432-0834 for more information, or visit ukiahbicyclekitchen.wordpress.com

Solar Living Institute: Volunteer positions are available on their 12-acre sustainable living demonstration site. They have everything from organic gardening, assisting with school visits, general site maintenance and event planning for volunteers to help out with. Help SLI to promote sustainable living through inspirational environmental education. To volunteer, contact Hannah Bird at 472 2460.

Senior Peer Counseling Program: Seeking people 55 years and older to be trained to be Senior Peer Counselors in the homes of people 60 years and older. Training will be given at the Ukiah Senior Center for a total of 30 hours before counselors will be assigned to clients. The training will consist of recognizing the physical, emotional and social needs of the elderly and how best to communicate with them. After being trained and assigned clients, the Peer counselors will meet twice a month for ongoing training and supervision. For more information and for an application call Lauren Wantland, L.C.S.W at 472-0551. Referrals to receive a peer counselor can also be left at that number. This program is funded by the Mental Health Services Act.

Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital: Positions offer flexible hours and the opportunity to work with a wide variety of departments in the hospital. Volunteer opportunities include bringing patients to visit the pet therapy dog; delivering meals, flowers, books to patients; assisting with the orthopedic joint program reunion luncheons and educational seminars; spiritual care services; helping in the Commonwealth Garden; clerical work; creating care packages for patients; fundraising for hospital equipment; planning social and team building events for employees, physicians and staff; and much more. To volunteer, contact Becky Hope: (707) 456-3245 or Rebecca.Hope@ah.org. Arbor Youth Resource Center: The Arbor Youth Resource Center is looking for adult and youth volunteers for its Teen Peer Court Program. They are seeking youth 13-18 years old to be trained to fulfill court roles, such as attorneys and jury members. Adults with certain skills; Attorneys, paralegals, teachers, and mentors are needed to help train youth in law and restorative justice. Trainings are every Wednesday from 2 -4 p.m. at the Arbor, 810 N. State St. For more information, call Brittany Lucas at 707-272-1137; lucasb@ rcs4kids.org.

Project Sanctuary: Project Sanctuary, a resource center for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, is now accepting applications for its annual volunteer training. Volunteers are essential in operating the program’s 24-hour crisis line. Eighty hours of comprehensive training are offered according to state guidelines. Those who complete the training become Certified

Crisis Counselors specializing in the areas of domestic violence and sexual assault. A one-year commitment is requested upon completion. For more information, call Mary Tindall at 462-9196, or visit www.projectsanctuary.org.

Peregrine Audubon Society: Volunteers sought for a variety of tasks, including PR, writing, meeting setup, conservation activities. Peregrine is specifically looking for persons with good computer and organizational skills to manage an email list. For more information, call Roger at 462-5734. Phoenix Hospice: Volunteers will be taught about the history of hospice, the volunteer role, communication skills, family dynamics, body mechanics, bedside care techniques, community resources, grief and loss, pain management, comfort care, funeral procedures, advance planning documentation and spiritual care. This volunteer training is held once a week for eight weeks and classes are free of charge. For more information, call 456-3244.

Boys & Girls Club of Ukiah: Needs volunteers for a variety of activities, from yard maintenance to custodial, secretarial, working with kids, reading books, craft projects, indoor/outdoor sports, games. Located at the Alex Rorabaugh Center on the campus of Grace Hudson Elementary School. Operates each day after school until 6:30 p.m. and Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. during school holidays and the summer. 1640 South State St.; 467-4900; www. ukiahbgc.org.

Girl Scouts of Northern California: Troops at every level of Girl Scouts — Daisies (Kindergarten & first grade), Brownies (2nd & 3rd), Juniors (4th & 5th), and Cadettes (6th through 8th). Girl Seniors and Ambassadors are working with younger girls. The more adult volunteers they have, the more girls they can serve. And of course, you won’t have to search for your year’s supply of cookies! If you are interested — either in volunteering or in enrolling your girl in a troop — call 463-2888.

Ukiah Boy Scout Troop 75: Boys ages 11 to 18 and adult leaders are sought to join the troop. They provide community service to the county, as well as activities for the Scouts, such as camping, hiking, skiing, summer camp, parties, and varied outings. Troop 75 meets at the Elks Lodges (Hastings Rd.), on Monday evenings, from 7 to 8 p.m. Humane Society for Inland Mendocino County: Volunteers being sought to socialize and groom dogs and cats; assist in fundraising events; write grants; help with mobile adoptions; work on shelter upkeep; aid in computer data entry; foster puppies and kittens, or nursing mom cats and dogs. For more information, contact the Humane Society at 485-0123.

Cub Scouts Pack 64: Cub Scouts Pack 64 is seeking both leaders and Scouts. It provides a program for boys in first through fifth grades. For more information, call Anna Webb at 485-5465. Mendocino County Veterans Service Office: Volunteers are needed to serve as volunteer drivers, driving veterans from Ukiah to the Veterans Hospital in San Francisco. A regular California driver’s license is required. For more information, call 463-4226 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.

Cancer Resource Centers of Mendocino County: Volunteers are needed to drive people with cancer to and from medical appointments, answer phones, landscape maintenance, assist with fundraising. For more information, call 467-3828. Ukiah Senior Center: — Volunteers to help with the Thrift Store — some lifting, sorting and pickups. — Volunteers who can fill in for dishwashers, set up and take down tables and chairs. — Volunteers are also needed for Bingo events. — Any volunteer who may have experience in local soliciting and fundraising for special events. — Volunteers to pass out promotional materials and flyers locally. Contact the center at 462-4343. Mendocino County Releaf: Help with tree planting, ongoing tree care, community education. Serve on the board of directors. For more information contact Linda Sanders at 463-2721. California Conservation Corps: Volunteers are being sought to provide leadership training to 18 to 23-year-old men and women. — Training skillsets sought include interview skills, math, literacy, home finance, and basic garment repair. For more information, call Brian Bishop at 463-2822. Adult Literacy: Teach adults (18 and over) to read and write. For more information in Willits, call Pam Shilling at 459-1586, or call the office at 459-5098. Court Appointed Special Advocates of Mendocino & Lake Counties (CASA): CASA has been providing trained volunteer advocates for foster children since 1994. There are several ways one can volunteer with CASA: — Court Appointed Special Advocates work alongside the many local agencies that are involved in determining the interests and future of our foster and delinquent children; — Educational Advocates are needed as well to act specifically in the educational arena to ensure that these children receive the best education possible; — CASA’s volunteer Board of Directors are a vital part of the business of advocating for children via critical planning and funding development that supports the work of our other volunteers. Trainings take place several times each year. For more information call CASA at 463-6503; email them at casamc@pacific.net; or visit their website, www. mendocinocasa.org. Investing your hours in the future of a child can make all the difference in the world!