*Will accept high school service hours
Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and AARP Tax Aide: Needs volunteers to serve as tax preparers and intake specialists for the 2018 VITA/AARP Tax Assistance programs. Training provided. Time commitment: Four hours per week from February through mid-April. Information: United Way Action Center, 812-314-2706; Latha, [email protected].
Girl Scouts: Needs volunteers to fill 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 provided for each role. Time commitment varies. Information for troop leader and volunteer recruiter roles: Melanie Maxwell, 317-924-6890; [email protected]. Information for event coordinator/committee member role: Erika Loveland, 317-924-6008; [email protected].
The Columbus Salvation Army: Needs volunteers to work with the youth on earning badges and to teach musical instruments or singing. Training provided. Time commitment: 30 minutes to one hour per week. Volunteers also needed to assist Gleaner’s Food Trucks at various locations, sort and stock food in the food pantry and perform janitorial duties. Time commitment varies. Information: Amy Tompkins, 812-372-7118; [email protected].
Family Service Inc.: Needs volunteers to knit or crochet purple hats for The Caring Parents Program at Columbus Regional Hospital. Information: Lisa Teague, [email protected]; 812-372-3745.
The Columbus Bike Co-Op: Needs volunteers of all skill levels to help build bikes, complete repairs, be a greeter during shop hours and help with local events. Time commitment: Three hours each month on Monday or Sunday afternoons. Information: Margaret Trunck, 229-314-5103; [email protected].
America and Roby Anderson Community Center — State Street Area Association: Needs a volunteer to prepare mailing lists. Must have a knowledge of mailing list databases and 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. 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 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: Seeks two to three volunteers 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].
* 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. Volunteers 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. Roles needed: Museum floor, special events, school outreach, educational support and administrative. Volunteers 18 years of age or older must pass a limited background check. Time commitment varies. Information: Brittane Kinder, 812-378-3046; [email protected].
Thrive Alliance: Needs a volunteer translator comfortable speaking both 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. 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. Time commitment varies with each role. Information: Kashmira Mehta or Tracy Heaton de Martinez, 812-372-6918; [email protected].
* Just Friends Adult Day Services: Needs a volunteer to clean and maintain the 55-gallon freshwater fish tank on a monthly basis during open hours. Volunteers are also needed to function as either a senior companion, assisting with activities, conversation and games, or a walking coach willing to walk with participants at Mill Race Center. Information: Marilyn Clerc, 812-372-6415.
* Love Chapel: Needs volunteers at the food pantry to help with truck delivery, food stocking, janitorial duties and client intake. Time commitment varies per role. Information: Kathy Thompson, 812-343-5049, or Jane, 812-372-9421; [email protected].
National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP): Needs several volunteers over the age of 21 to provide child care during foster-parent support groups which meet in the evening twice a month on varying days. Volunteers must pass a background check.. Information: Danielle Nickerson, 812-344-6317; [email protected].
America and Roby Anderson Community Center Meal Site: Needs a volunteer to help with cleaning, serving food, picking up lunches at Columbus Regional Hospital and organizing and running activities. Time commitment: Flexible. Information: Kashmira Mehta or Tracy Heaton de Martinez, 812-372-6918; [email protected].
Armory Apartments Meal Site: Needs a volunteer to help with cleaning, serving food, picking up lunches at Columbus Regional Hospital, and organizing and running activities. Time commitment: Flexible. Information: Kashmira Mehta or Tracy Heaton de Martinez, 812-372-6918; [email protected].
* Bartholomew County Humane Society: Needs volunteers for animal feeding, cleaning and other tasks. Volunteers also may be needed to provide foster homes for special needs animals and those recovering from injury. Information: 812-372-6063; [email protected].
Bartholomew County Historical Society: Needs volunteers to help make costume patterns, sew simple projects and pressing. No experience necessary. All volunteers will receive a background check. Time commitment: Two to three hours per week Wednesday through Friday. Information: Anna Barnett, 812-372-2505.
Columbus Animal Care Services: Needs volunteers to walk dogs, socialize cats, clean and assist with occasional events. Time commitment: Varies, two-hour shifts are typical. Information: Alyssia Burriss, 812-376-2505.
Columbus Regional Health: Needs volunteers in gift shop, information desk, reception and patient-care areas. Information: Mary Campbell, 812-376-5305 or [email protected]; crh.org (click on Foundation and Community, then volunteer opportunities).
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].
Horizon House: Needs volunteers to help with sorting, stocking, child sitting, light maintenance and other tasks. Information: Michele Lee, 812-372-8407.
Mill Race Center: Needs four or five volunteer drivers to pick up patients at their homes and transport them to doctor appointments. Volunteers must use their own vehicles and be available for three-hour shifts. Information: Dan Mustard, [email protected].
* Orphan Grain Train: Needs volunteers for a range of tasks at the 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: Needs volunteers to provide companionship to patients and families, help with clerical tasks or work fundraising events. Time commitment varies depending on volunteer’s availability. Volunteers participate in an orientation program, training and ongoing education. Information: Emily Summers, 812-314-8044; [email protected].
Turning Point: Needs volunteers to provide 90-minute weekly child care. Information: 812-379-9844, ext. 107; [email protected].
* Sans Souci: Needs volunteers to hang clothing, sort donations and stock shelves. Time commitment varies. Information: 812-314-2930; [email protected].
Advocates for Children: Court-appointed special advocate volunteers ages 21 or older needed for casework and court case preparation. Time commitment: 10 to 15 hours per month. Information: Rick Scalf, 812-372-2808, ext. 3312; [email protected].
* Book Buddies program: Needs volunteers to listen to a child’s reading once a week in one of the 12 public elementary schools. A one-hour training session and background check will be provided. Time commitment: One hour per week during the academic school year. Information: 812-376-4461; [email protected].
Boys 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: Needs 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 in understanding and supporting the college-entry process. Volunteers must complete an application and pass a criminal background check. Information: Luz Elena Michel, 812-314-8636; [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. Volunteers must be screened and pass a background check. Information: Joe Joyner, [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].
Thrive Alliance: Needs volunteers to participate in activities with and visit 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].
Boys & Girls Club: Needs daily volunteers to act as positive role models and interact with the youth. Time commitment: Minimum of two hours after school and/or during holiday and school breaks. Volunteers are also needed to provide general homework help for club members of all ages. Time commitment: Minimum of one hour after school Monday through Friday and/or during school breaks. Volunteers are also sought with a background in science, technology, engineering and mathematics to be part of a team to develop lesson plans and teach to club members Grades K-6. Time commitment: Flexible. All volunteers must be screened and pass a background check. Information: Joe Joyner, [email protected].
Boys & Girls Club — Healthy Habits Cooking Instruction: 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 and kitchen practices. All volunteers must be screened and pass a background check. Time commitment: Two to four hours each Tuesday and/or Thursday afternoons. Information: Joe Joyner, [email protected].
Boys & Girls Club — Spanish Learning Center: Needs a volunteer bilingual teaching assistant to help kids ages 4 to 12 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: Needs volunteer mentors to teach a kit that introduces robotics through a 12-week curriculum. Volunteers must be screened and pass a background check. Time commitment: One-hour minimum after school Monday through Friday and/or during school breaks. Information: Joe Joyner, [email protected].
Foundation for Youth: Needs volunteer coaches and scorekeepers to mentor youth in Grades K-12 in basketball, teaching the importance of teamwork and the value of good sportsmanship. All volunteers must be screened and pass a background check. Time commitment: Two hours twice a week Monday through Friday. Information n: Joe Joyner, [email protected].
Foundation for Youth — Columbus Youth Camp: Needs volunteers interested in working outdoors to assist with trail maintenance, repairing bridges and cleaning up cabins for next season. Time commitment: Flexible. Information: Joe Joyner, [email protected].
