*Will accept high school service hours
America and Roby Anderson Center: Needs four volunteers to staff the America and Roby Anderson Center, 421 McClure Road. Volunteers will be responsible for greeting people, taking messages and some light cleaning. Times and days are flexible with volunteer’s schedule. Contact: Julie Bilz, [email protected], 812-371-7459
Child Abuse Prevention program Kids on the Block: Needs teen and adult volunteers to perform puppet shows for local elementary students on subjects of abuse, safety, bullying and peer pressure. Contact: Arriann Custer, 812-314-2319, [email protected]
Love Chapel Brighter Day Housing Facility: Needs unlimited volunteers to supervise residents staying at facility. Staff will be accompanying volunteers as well. Time commitment: Four hours per month minimum in four-hour shifts. Contact: Kathy Thompson, [email protected], 812-372-9421
Your Local American Red Cross: Needs volunteer client caseworkers to assist clients after a disaster. Caseworkers meet with clients to help establish a recovery plan and connect them with community resources. Skills: Excellent customer service and communication skills, empathetic, good writing skills. Computer skills are a plus. Volunteers must be 18 years or older and will need to pass a background check. Contact: 888-684-1441; [email protected]
Bartholomew County Triad: Needs two to three volunteers to help distribute an assessment throughout the community designed to identify needs of older adults. Hours are flexible. Time: Five to 10 hours over a two-month span. Contact: Leah Boas, [email protected], 812-376-9241, ext. 210
Developmental Services Inc.: Seeks community mentors to lead cooking classes from 3:15 to 5 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month. Ongoing commitment is preferred. Training will be provided.
World AIDS Day: Needs volunteers to knit red scarves to raise awareness for World AIDS Day. The scarves will be tied around town and then be made available to the public to those who need them. Put finished scarves in the designated box at Mill Race Center before Dec. 1. Contact: Ann Jones, 812 342 4680, [email protected]
Bartholomew County Historical Society: Needs volunteers to make costume patterns, sewing simple projects, pressing and related efforts at Haw Creek Heritage Center, 111 Aiken St., Hope. No experience necessary. All volunteers receive a background check. Time: Two to three hours per week, Wednesday through Friday. Contact: 812-372-3541
*Bartholomew County Humane Society: Seeks volunteers for animal feeding, cleaning and other tasks. Sometimes need foster homes for special-needs animals or those recovering from injury. Contact: 812-372-6063; [email protected]
Columbus Animal Care Services: Seeks volunteers for walking dogs, socializing cats, cleaning, occasional events, etc. Especially need volunteers during midday. Time: varies, two-hour time periods are typical. Contact: Alyssia Burriss, 812-376-2505
Columbus Regional Health: Needs volunteers for the gift shop, information desk and reception and patient-care areas. Information: crh.org (click Foundation and Community, then volunteer opportunities). Contact: Mary Campbell, 812-376-5305, [email protected]
Community Animal Rescue Effort: Needs volunteers to provide in-home care for dogs and/or cats in need until pets are adopted by new owners. All veterinary care is paid by C.A.R.E. Food and litter may also be provided. Contact: [email protected]
Engage Columbus: Needs volunteer Engage Columbus Buddies to welcome newcomers into the community. Also needs International Tea event volunteers for set-up, clean-up, planning and welcome table. Other involved opportunities such as client reception, data management, event planning and more are available. Contact: Shama Padalkar, [email protected]
Horizon House: Needs help with sorting, stocking, child sitting, light maintenance and other tasks. Contact: Michele Lee, [email protected], 812-372-8407
Just Friends Adult Day Service: Seeks volunteer senior companions to assist with activities, conversation and games and walking coaches who are willing to walk with participants. Time: One- to two-hour sessions anytime during open hours (7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday). Contact: Marilyn Clerc, executive director, [email protected], 812-372-6415
*Love Chapel: Needs help with truck delivery, food stocking and sorting, janitorial, client intake, information and technology and more. Contact: Jane at 812-372-9421, [email protected]
Mill Race Center: Needs four or five volunteer drivers to pick up patients at their homes and bring them to medical appointments. Must use own vehicle and be available for three-hour shifts. Contact: Dan Mustard, [email protected]
*Orphan Grain Train: Needs volunteers for a range of tasks at new Jonesville warehouse location, including unloading and sorting donated items. Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact: Gene Ernst, [email protected]
Our Hospice of South Central Indiana: Needs caring volunteers to provide companionship to patients and families living with an advanced illness, help them with clerical tasks or as volunteer support at fundraising events. Volunteers participate in an orientation program, training and ongoing education. Contact: Jennifer Pasyanos, 812-314-8054, [email protected].
*Sans Souci: Needs help with hanging clothes, sorting donations and stocking shelves at the agency’s thrift store. Contact: 812-314-2930; [email protected]
Turning Point: Needs volunteers for 90-minute weekly childcare. Contact: Anne Courtney, 812-379-9844, ext. 107, [email protected]
Advocates for Children: Needs Court-Appointed Special Advocate volunteers for case work and court case preparation. Must be 21 or older and have a passion for serving children. Time: 10 to 15 hours per month on average. Contact: Rick Scalf, 812-372-2808, ext. 3312, [email protected]
*Book Buddies program: Seeks volunteers to listen to a child’s reading in public elementary schools. A one-hour training session and background check is provided. Contact: 812-376-4461; [email protected]
Boy Scouts of America: Needs help with a range of tasks involving program development and operations, fundraising and membership. Contact: Jon Ochletree, 812-336-6809, [email protected]
Community Education Coalition: Seeks volunteer mentors to support Latino students in completing high school successfully and assist students and their families with the college-entry process. Must complete an application and pass a criminal background check. Contact: Luz Elena Michel, 812-314-8636, [email protected]
Family Service: Volunteers needed to assist with making purple knitted or crocheted hats for families to take home as part of the Period of Purple Crying education. Contact: Arriann Custer, [email protected], 812-314-2319
Big Brothers Big Sisters: Seeks volunteer Big Brothers and Big Sisters. Must be screened and complete a background check. Time commitment: One year. Hours: One hour per week school-based and six to eight hours per month community-based. Contact: [email protected], 812-348-4558, ext. 207
Healthy Habits Cooking Instruction: Seeks passionate and reliable culinary arts instructor to teach members safe and healthy cooking habits. You will lead a class of 10 to 20 members, ages 5 to 14. Must be knowledgeable about culinary processes and able to work effectively with children. All volunteers are screened and must pass a background check. Time: Ongoing commitment, two to four hours per week Tuesdays or Thursdays evening. Contact: [email protected]; 812-348-4558, ext. 207
Spanish Learning Center Teacher’s Assistant: Seeks a bilingual teacher’s assistant to help kids ages 4 to 12 to learn Spanish language and culture through full immersion. Must be able to convey information to student’s learning style, have excellent interpersonal skills and be patient. Time: 9 to 11 a.m. Saturdays through the school year. Contact: [email protected]; 812-348-4558, ext. 207
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM): Seeks mentors to teach a 12-week robotics introduction course. Can be split among additional volunteers. Must be screened and pass a background check. Time commitment: 12 weeks. Hours: Minimum of one hour after school and/or during school breaks. Contact: [email protected]; 812-348-4558, ext. 207
*iGrad: Needs volunteers to mentor or tutor students in grades 8 to 12. Mentors help students make positive life choices, stay in school and graduate with a life-plan or pursuing post-secondary education. Tutors help students in a specific academic area, most often during the school day. Must complete an application, pass a criminal background check, complete an interview and basic orientation with iGrad. Information: iGradColumbus.com. Contact: Jennifer Steadman Ryan, [email protected]
*McDowell Education Center: Needs volunteer tutors to work with struggling adult readers. There is also a need for math, science and English language tutors. Contact: Michelle Newland, 812-376-4451, [email protected]
