Get
Involved
EDITOR’S NOTE:
The Volunteer
Center,
a program of United Way is responsible for the “Get Involved” column, which is
published periodically by the News Herald. To list your organization’s
volunteer needs call the center at 433-0681 or email your request to
tmull@bcuw.org.
AIDS Leadership
Foothills-area Alliance (ALFA)
is seeking volunteers to help during the day and on weekends! ALFA provides HIV
client services and HIV prevention education. We need caring people to help with
office duties, fairs and festivals, transportation to medical appointments, food
pantry shopping, committees, and speaker’s bureau. Please call 322-1447 ext.
201 for more information.
American Red Cross
is seeking volunteers
for Blood Drives to serve refreshments and greet donors and the Chapter
is also in need of churches, businesses, and organizations to sponsor blood
drives. Help us collect “The Gift of Life”.
Your American Red
Cross also needs Disaster Services volunteers and volunteers willing
to be on-call for Emergency Military Communications during non-office
hours and weekends.
Your American Red
Cross offers Health & Safety Courses to the community, businesses and
industry and is in need of volunteer instructors to teach these life-saving
courses, such as CPR, First Aid, Water Safety, and Babysitting. “Together, we
can save a life”. Please contact David Tate at 438-8844 or
barc@hci.net
for more information.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters- throughout our lives, we make dozens of friends. But the ones
we remember most fondly are those we grew up with. By becoming a Big Brother or
Big Sister, you’ll become that special friend to a child. So, call today to
find out how you can strike up a friendship that could last a lifetime.
430-8357
Burke Arts Council
is seeking help keeping
the gallery open during art festivals, answering phones and greeting visitors,
helping to coordinate events, and other clerical assistance. Please contact
Jill Simpson at 433-7282.
Burke County United Way
needs volunteers to answer phones and perform light clerical duties. Please
contact Tonya Mull at 433-0681.
Blue Ridge Community Action, Inc. Adult Day
Service Program
is currently looking to volunteers to spend time with our Senior Adults.
Volunteers inspire others by example and help in the growth of the community.
Your time will be spent assisting with arts and crafts, exercise, bingo and one
on one motivational time. Some brief times are 10:15 – 11:15,
1:30 – 2:30 or
3:30 – 4:30, Monday thru
Friday. If you are able to stay longer, or even all day, please do. If you
have some free time and love Senior Adults, please contact Kathy Kincaid, Center
Director at 438-6255 ext. 230.
Burke
County 4-H
needs adult volunteers to be group/club leaders. Training is provided. Leaders
meet with youth once a month and help with programs and community service
projects. Every club needs 1 adult to 5 children. Please contact Spring
Williams, County Extension Director at
(828) 439-4460.
Burke County Department
of Social Services is currently seeking foster parents to provide temporary care
for children placed in their custody. 433-2826
Burke County Friends for
Animals is in need of volunteers in the following areas: 1) Animal Care
such as bathing, cleaning kennels, etc. 2) Assist with event coordination 3)
Weekend adoptions (includes bathing and transportation). 4)Office assistance.
Please contact Edith Tallent, Volunteer Coordinator at 433-1115.
Burke
County Elderly Nutrition Program (meals on wheels) is currently seeking volunteers to deliver
hot meals to homebound elderly citizens in
Burke
County. They may work as little as 1 hr. a month or individually as "on call"
substitutes. Volunteers are needed in all areas of Burke County. For more
information please contact the Burke County Department of Social Services
Nutrition Program Coordinator, Frankie McCall at 874-1012.
Burke United Christian
Ministries needs volunteers in the Soup Kitchen to assist in the
preparation and serving of meals. They may work assigned weekly or monthly
rotation as part of a regular team, or individually as “on-call” substitutes,
they clean up in the kitchen and dining hall. Time is
9am-1pm.
Burke United Christian
Ministries needs volunteers in the Food Pantry to stock food on
shelves, assist with food donations, weigh and record contributions, and assist
clients with weighing and bagging food. Make your own schedule all day or half
a day (9-12 pm or
12:30-4 pm).
Burke United Christian
Ministries needs volunteers for Food Harvesting to go to local
grocery stores to pick up donated food, weigh and record the amount collected
and stock the food in the appropriate locations. This is done five days a
week. We need someone who can work a regular schedule or fill in as needed.
Contact Barbara Mathis for any one of these opportunities at 433-8075 ext. 227.
Burke United Christian
Ministries also needs volunteers in the Clothing Store to straighten
and maintain a well-organized clothing center, and assist in accepting donated
clothing by sorting and hanging, and serve customers according to BUCM
guidelines. Contact Melanie Queen at 433-8075.
Cats Cradle
needs volunteers in the following areas: 1) Animal care 2) Adoptions on
Saturday evenings 3)Foster care homes needed 4) special events such as yard
sales, craft fair booths, etc. Please contact Lynda Garibaldi 433-4925 or Stacy
Costner 584-8766.
The Covenant Center,
at the newly named J. Iverson Riddle Development Center (formerly Western
Carolina Center), is seeking volunteer musicians to play for worship services in
the chapel on Sunday mornings. Any person who plays piano, organ, or guitar is
invited to consider playing for the services. The musician would play the
congregational hymns, as well as prelude, postlude, and anthem. There are two
services, at 10:30 and 11:30, and a person could play for either or both
services. “We would welcome a person who could only play once a month, or even
a few times a year,” Chaplain Williams Robertson said. “If we could have a
number of volunteers who would do that, it would make an important contribution
to our services,” he added. Anyone who would like further information should
call JIRDC Volunteer Services at 433-2614 or the
Covenant
Center
at 438-6517.
East Burke Christian
Ministries needs volunteers to help sort clothes, work in food pantry, and
assist clients. Hours are Tuesdays and Wednesday s from 9-4, and Thursdays from
9-12:30. Any help is greatly appreciated. Please contact Carolyn Yoder at
397-7074.
Family Support
Network/HOPE is looking for parents who have children with special needs who
would like to share their experiences and offer a listening ear to other
families who have children with disabilities. These volunteer families would
become part of a local and statewide group of Support Parents in the Family
Support Network. Please call FSN/HOPE at 438-6540 if interested.
Flynn Christian
Fellowship Home needs a useable computer for staff and resident use, Windows 98
or newer. We also need wardrobes, dressers and good useable chairs and small
desks. Donations are tax deductible and we can arrange for pick-up of items.
Call 437-9491 or 443-1662
Foothills Service Project
needs volunteers who are interested in helping repair the homes of the elderly
and disabled. Groups are preferred, but individuals are very important as
well. Foothills strives to make houses, dry, safe and warm. To volunteer, call
Scott Donnelly at 443-0917.
Girl Scouts
- needs adult volunteers to be troop leaders, to present programs for girls -
short term, long term or one time, to speak with older girls about their future:
colleges, careers, finances, to demonstrate crafts, to work with after school
programs, to help with girl events, to assist other leaders on Service Teams, to
help around the office, and to speak to others about Girl
Scouting. Volunteering for Girl Scouting is to inspire girls with the highest
ideals of character, conduct, patriotism, and service that they may become happy
and resourceful citizens. Please call today to see how you can make a difference
in the life of a girl. Contact Jennifer Draughn at (828)328-2444 or
draughn@cvgirlscout.org
Girl Scouts are
also looking for girls. All girls age 5 - 17 are eligible to join and become
members of the world's preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls - all -
girls everywhere. In an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build
character and skills for success in the real world. If you know a girl who
would like to join please contact Jennifer Draughn at (828)328-2444 or
draughn@cvgirlscouts.org
today.
Good Samaritan Clinic
provides free medical help for the uninsured, low-income people in this
community. Volunteers are needed to screen patients, perform data entry, act as
front desk receptionist and assist in the pharmacy. There is also a critical
need for volunteer physicians, dentists, pharmacists and nurses. Daytime and
nighttime hours are available. To be a part of this meaningful ministry, please
call (828) 439-9945, ext. 237 for more information.
Guardian ad Litem Program
is seeking volunteers to
serve as advocates to represent and promote the best interests of abused and
neglected children in our state court system and to work toward a plan that
ensures that these children are in a safe permanent home as quickly as
possible. There is limited court involvement and 10 to 12 hours per month is
all that is needed to make contact with the children as well as other
professionals involved in the case. Volunteers must by 18 years of age, be able
to successfully pass a criminal background check and have a desire to help
children. No other education or experience is required. All training is free
and mileage reimbursement is available. For more information, contact Cindy
Bellas at 438-5470 or
cindy.k.bellas@nccourts.org.
Hospice of Burke County
is in need of volunteers, 18 years of age or older, to lead a
compassionate hand to our patients and families. Volunteers provide comfort
care to terminally ill patients and families, allowing the patient to continue
living in their own home as fully and comfortably as possible. Volunteer needs
include direct patient care, respite and support to our caregivers, office and
receptionist support, and assistance at the Shytle House, our residential home.
Please contact Pat Kokoszka at 879-1601 for more information.
Hospice of Burke County
is in need of volunteers who are available during weekday hours for
greeter/front desk volunteer positions. The main volunteer responsibilities
would include answering the phone and greeting guests to our Hospice of Burke
County offices. The training for this position would be approximately two hours
with additional on the job training. Contact Pat Kokoszka at
879-1601
ext. 131 or
volhobc@charter.net
The Literacy Council is seeking volunteers to help people learn to read or to improve
their reading skills. Volunteers are needed for Project Citizenship
(small group tutoring for INS examination), Project Flower (small group
tutoring for non-English speakers), and for Reach Out and Read (involves
reading to children in waiting rooms at pediatricians offices). Call 437-7477
for more information.
Nehemiah
Center
is in need of volunteers to help deliver warm meals and grocery assistance to
the disabled, sick and elderly. The
Nehemiah
Center is now registering youth ages 9-15 for the Youth Skill and Thrills free
summer camp. Volunteers are also needed to assist in this program. For more
information, visit our website at
www.nehemiahcenter.org or call 413-2818.
Options, Inc.
is the domestic violence program, rape crisis center, and battered women’s
shelter for Burke
County.
We need volunteers to answer non-emergency phone calls (during the regular
workday), perform data entry, organize donations, perform light yard work,
provide child care for support groups, and to provide community awareness during
festivals and fairs. Each volunteer will be asked to meet with Options’
Volunteer Coordinator for an interview and orientation. Options, Inc. asks the
community for volunteers that can work in a confidential setting and who support
victims of domestic violence. Please call 438-9444 for more information.
The Outreach Food
Distribution Center is seeking volunteers who would like to help with our
public food distribution program. The Outreach Center supplies free
groceries each Tuesday night to 700 - 1,000 hungry area families. Workers are
needed weekdays to help receive and prepackage the grocery sets, and on Tuesday
evenings to help distribute the grocery sets directly to the needy families.
Please stop by the Outreach Center administrative office at 500 E. Fleming Drive
to volunteer or call 439-8300 for more information. Thank you!
Phoenix Group Homes
is currently seeking applicants for openings in both the Boys Home and Girls
Home. Phoenix's mission is to help youth's and their families
find resources in the community, keep youth's out of the court system and
reunify the family. Phoenix
offers out of home placement for youths and family support (including Parenting
Classes, Family Structuring Tools and School/Agency coordination). If there is
a youth or family that could use our services please call: Phoenix Home for
Boys, 584-0847 or Phoenix Home for Girls, 584-4571.
The Pregnancy Care
Center, Inc. needs volunteers who are growing in their walk with God to serve
as Peer Counselors, Clothes Closet Volunteers, and Helpline Volunteers. If you
are interested please contact Beth or Elisabeth at 437-HELP for an application.
The Pregnancy Care
Center has a desperate need for women volunteers who love the Lord and would
like to serve in the capacity of helping those that find themselves in unplanned
pregnancies. There are many areas of needs that the loving touch of caring
would be tremendously appreciated, such as Peer Counselors, Clothes Closet
Volunteers, and Helpline Volunteers. Call the office at 437-HELP (437-4357).
The Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent
Projects at Western Carolina Center has opportunities for senior adults to provide meaningful
community service and earn extra income. Volunteers must meet income guidelines
to qualify for stipend payments. Senior Companion, a new project sponsored by
the Riddle Institute, matches senior adults with homebound seniors in the
Burke
County
community. Serving through the Burke County Department of Social Services these
volunteers serve as companions and friends to others in the community. Foster
Grandparent matches seniors with at-risk children in schools, preschools, Head
Starts and other settings to help children maximize their potential. The Foster
Grandparent Program serves the Unifour area as well as McDowell County. Income
eligible volunteers will receive a stipend of $2.65/hour for 20 hours of service
each week. This stipend is non-taxable and will not affect eligibility for
Medicaid, food stamps, rent subsidy or other federal benefits. For more
information contact the Senior Corps office at 828-438-6546.
|
