Volunteer opportunities – September 2

*Will accept high school service hours

Girls Scouts: Needs volunteers to fill a variety of roles, including troop leader at Clifty Creek Elementary School, volunteer recruiter to host booths at back to school nights and event coordinator/committee member to organize year-long events for local Scouts. Training is provided for each role, and time commitment varies. Information for troop leader and volunteer recruiter roles: Melanie Maxwell, [email protected]; 317-924-6890. Information for event coordinator/committee member role: Erika Loveland, [email protected]; 317-924-6008.

Family Services: Needs volunteers to knit or crochet purple hats for The Caring Parents Program at Columbus Regional Hospital. Information: Lyndsay Burton, 812-344-9616; [email protected].

America and Roby Anderson Community Center — State Street Area Association: Needs a volunteer to prepare mailing lists. Must have knowledge of mailing list databases and be able to work independently. Time commitment: Flexible. Information: Julie Bilz, 812-371-7459; [email protected].

Love Chapel — Brighter Day Housing Facility: Needs volunteers to supervise residents staying at the facility. Staff will accompany volunteers. Time commitment: Four hours per month minimum. Shifts vary. Information: Kathy Thompson, 812-372-9421; [email protected].

Community Center of Hope: Two to three volunteers needed to stock shelves, perform basic housekeeping duties and assist clients in the food pantry. Ten volunteers are also needed to help unload, set up and clean up at Gleaners Mobile Pantry. Time commitment varies per role. Information: Ashley Mack, 812-546-4499; [email protected].

American Red Cross: Needs volunteers for a variety of short- and long-term roles. Short-term: Pillowcase project presenting emergency preparedness training to elementary students; Home Fire Campaign to check and install smoke alarms. Long-term: Canteen to provide water, Gatorade and snacks to firefighters during active fires; Disaster Action Team members to complete client casework and to help establish recovery plans. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and pass a background check. Information: 888-684-1441; [email protected].

Bartholomew County Triad: Two to three volunteers needed to help distribute an assessment to identify the needs of older adults in the community. Time commitment: Flexible hours over a two-month time span. Information: Leah Boas, 812-376-9241, ext. 210; [email protected].

Developmental Services Inc.: Needs volunteers to deep clean the client cooking class kitchen. Time commitment: Three- to four-hour shifts anytime between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays. Information: Hanna Hodnett, 812-376-9404, ext. 161; [email protected].

*IGrad: Needs volunteers to mentor and/or tutor students in middle and high school. Mentors help to ensure students make positive life choices, stay in school and graduate with a plan. Tutors help students in a specific academic area, normally during the school day. Must pass a criminal background check and complete an iGrad interview and orientation. Information: Jennifer Steadman Ryan, [email protected].

*kidscommons: Needs volunteers to ensure guests have a positive and enriching experience. Volunteers should have an interest in learning and sharing their interests and working with children and families. Roles needed: Museum floor, special events, school outreach, educational support and administrative. Must be 18 or older and pass a limited background check. Time commitment: Varies depending on opportunity. Information: Brittane Kinder, 812-378-3046; [email protected].

Thrive Alliance: Needs a volunteer Spanish translator comfortable speaking English and Spanish who can help the Housing Partnership manager interact with clients. The volunteer can work from home by setting up a phone conference. Volunteer opportunity is on an as-needed basis. Time commitment: 30 to 45 minutes. Volunteers with good communication skills are also needed to perform clerical work, make phone calls and complete follow-up surveys. Training will be provided. Time commitment: Two hours each week. Information: Kashmira Mehta, 812 372 6918; [email protected].

*Just Friends Adult Day Services: Seeking a volunteer to clean and maintain the 55-gallon freshwater fish tank on a monthly basis during open hours. Information: Marilyn Clerc, 812-372-6415.

SCORE: Needs volunteers interested to help new startups and existing businesses to be successful. Information: Columbus Chamber of Commerce, 812-379-4457; www.SouthEastIndiana.Score.org.

National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP): Needs several volunteers 21 or older to provide child care during foster parent support groups, which meet twice a month on varying days. Must pass a background check and may be asked to assist in other events. Time commitment varies based on availability and interest. Information: Danielle Nickerson, 812-344-6317; [email protected].

*Bartholomew County Humane Society: Needs volunteers for animal feeding, cleaning and other tasks. Sometimes needs foster homes for special-needs animals and those recovering from injury. Information: 812-372-6063; [email protected].

Columbus Animal Care Services: Seeks volunteers to walk dogs, socialize cats, clean and assist with occasional events. Time commitment: Varies, two-hour shifts are typical. Mid-day volunteers especially needed. Information: Alyssia Burriss, 812-376-2505.

Columbus Regional Health: Needs volunteers in gift shop, information desk, reception and patient-care areas. Information: crh.org (click on Foundation and Community, then volunteer opportunities). Information: 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. Information: [email protected].

Developmental Services Inc.: Seeking community mentors to share talents and hobbies with clients in education and enrichment programming. Time commitment varies based on volunteer’s availability and can be one time or ongoing. Information: Hanna Hodnett, 812-376-9404, ext 161; [email protected].

Horizon House: Needs volunteers to help with sorting, stocking, child sitting, light maintenance and other tasks. Information: Michele Lee, 812-372-8407; [email protected].

The Columbus Salvation Army: Needs volunteers to assist at Gleaner’s Food Trucks at various locations. Time commitment: Two hours per location the second Tuesday and Friday of each month. Information: 812-372-7118.

Love Chapel: Needs volunteers at the Columbus food pantry to help with truck delivery, food stocking, janitorial duties, client intake and other areas. Information: Jane, 812-372-9421; [email protected].

Mill Race Center: Four or five volunteer drivers needed to pick up patients at their homes and bring them to doctor appointments. Must use their own vehicles and be available for three-hour shifts. Information: Dan Mustard, [email protected].

*Orphan Grain Train: Needs volunteers for range of tasks at new location of Jonesville warehouse, including unloading and sorting donated items for families in need. Time commitment: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays. Information: Gene Ernst, [email protected].

Our Hospice of South Central Indiana: Seeks volunteers to make every moment count for patients and families by providing companionship to patients and families, helping with clerical tasks or working fundraising events. There is a volunteer role to fit your talents and the time you can give. Volunteers participate in an orientation program, training and ongoing education. Information: Emily Summers, 812-314-8044; [email protected].

*Sans Souci: Needs volunteers to hang clothing, sort donations and stock shelves. Information: 812-314-2930; [email protected].

Turning Point: Needs volunteers for 90-minute weekly child care. Information: Anne Courtney, 812-379-9844 ext.107; [email protected].

Advocates for Children: Court-appointed special advocate volunteers needed for casework and court case preparation. Time commitment: 10 to 15 hours per month. Must be 21 or older. Information: Rick Scalf, 812-372-2808 ext. 3312; [email protected].

*Book Buddies program: Needs volunteers to listen to a child’s reading for one hour per week in the 12 public elementary schools. An hour training session and background check is provided. Information: 812-376-4461; [email protected].

Boy Scouts of America: Needs volunteers for a range of tasks involving program development and operations, fundraising and membership. Information: Jon Ochletree, 812-336-6809.

Community Education Coalition: Seeks volunteer mentors for the Latino Mentor Program. Mentors partner with guidance office staff to support Latino students in completing high school successfully and assist students and their families to understand and support the college-entry process. Must complete an application and pass a criminal background check. Information: Luz Elena Michel, 812-314-8636; [email protected].

*McDowell Education Center: Needs volunteer tutors to work with struggling adult readers. High school students welcome. Although most volunteers focus on reading, there is a need for math, science, and/or English language learners. Information: Michelle Newland, 812-376-4451; [email protected].

Armory Apartments: Needs volunteers to help with cleaning, serving food, picking up lunches at the hospital, organizing activities and other miscellaneous duties. Time commitment: Flexible with the volunteer’s schedule. Information: Kashmira Mehta/Tracy Heaton de Martinez, 812-372-6918; at [email protected].

Big Brothers Big Sisters: Needs volunteers to help shape a child’s future for the better by empowering them to achieve. Time commitment: One hour per week for a year, school-based; six to eight hours per month for a year, community-based. Must be screened and pass a background check. Information: Joe Joyner, [email protected].

Thrive Alliance: Needs volunteers to participate in activities with and visit the home-bound senior residents and to assist them once a month with transportation to food pantries. An opportunity is also available to become a state-certified Senior Medicare Patrol Outreach Educator. SMP volunteers educate and counsel the public and Medicare beneficiaries on steps to help combat fraud and abuse. Information: Kashmira Mehta/Tracey Heaton de Martinez, 812-372-6918; [email protected].

Foundation For Youth: Needs volunteers to coach basketball and be scorekeepers. Must be screened and pass a background check. Time commitment: Two hours twice a week through February. Information: Joe Joyner, [email protected].

Boys & Girls Club: Seeks volunteers to provide homework help for members of all ages and to act as positive role models by interacting with the youth. Time commitment: After school and/or during school breaks Mondays through Fridays. All volunteers must be screened and pass a background check. Information: Joe Joyner, [email protected].

Boys & Girls Club — Healthy Habits Cooking: Needs volunteer practitioners of the culinary arts to instruct a class of 10 to 20 members ages 5 to 14 about safe and healthy cooking habits. Must be screened and pass a background check. Time commitment: Two to four hours each Tuesday and/or Thursday afternoon. Information: Joe Joyner, [email protected].

Boys & Girls Club Spanish Learning Center: Needs a volunteer bilingual teaching assistant to help kids ages 4 to 12 to learn the Spanish language and culture through full immersion. Time commitment: 9 to 11 a.m. Saturdays during the school year. Information: Joe Joyner, [email protected].

Boys & Girls Club — STEM: Seeking volunteers to teach a kit that introduces robotics through a 12-week curriculum. Must be screened and pass a background check. Time commitment: One-hour minimum after school and/or during school breaks Mondays through Fridays. Information: Joe Joyner, [email protected].

*Foundation For Youth — Columbus Youth Camp: Needs volunteers interested in working outdoors to help with trail maintenance, repairing bridges and cleaning up cabins for next season. Volunteers are also needed to organize historical camp memorabilia into a creative scrapbook. Time commitment: Flexible. Information: Joe Joyner, [email protected].