VOLUNTEER

Volunteer at the Center

Volunteers from the community are the lifeblood of the Center - they outnumber our paid staff members 10 to 1, putting in an average total of 60,000 hours annually.

Interested in getting involved at the Center on a regular basis?  We have a wide range of volunteer placements and we ask that everyone attend an orientation and training session held here.  During that time we'll go over the scope of services we offer, the mechanics of our programs, and the available placements we have.

Future Volunteer Orientation Dates:

Wednesday, May 7 2008

6:00 - 7:30 p.m

Thursday, June 5 2008

6:00 - 7:30 p.m

Meet at the front desk - no need to pre-register.  Applications will be filled out at the session.  Please keep in mind that everyone must come to one of these sessions before beginning work of any kind here.

Volunteer Opportunities:

* Front Desk

1. Overnight Shifts 11 pm – 7 am
2. Weekend shifts between 7 am and 11 pm
3. Evenings 6 – 10 or 11 pm (except Wednesday and Monday)

* Children's services Volunteer Opportunities

1. Tutoring:
Monday-Thursday 2:30-4:30pm (4-5 volunteers each day)

2. Evening Childcare:
Monday 5:30-7:15pm (3-4 volunteers)
Tuesday 6:30-7:45pm (4-5 volunteers)

3. Daytime Childcare needs:
Monday-Friday 8:30-12:30pm (2 volunteers)
Monday-Friday 12:30-3:00pm (2 volunteers) 2:30-5:00pm (2 volunteers)

4. Literacy Education:
Friday 10:30am-noon computer assistant for computer instructor and Wednesday 1:00pm-4pm reading assistant for reading instructor.

5. Family Library:
Thursday 5:30-7:30pm (2-3 volunteers)

*Residential Operations

1. Week days, hours can vary

* Adult Basic Education

1. Tutors for GED preparation and other tests, etc. – Monday 9 – 11:30 am, Monday – Thursday 1 – 4:30 pm, Thursday 5:30 – 8 pm, and Mondays 6:30 – 8:30 pm

2. Volunteers to offer administrative assistance, write newsletters, teach computer classes, run special events (i.e., bingo, poetry jams, movie nights, book club, etc.)

* Early Childhood Development

1. Mondays through Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. – Noon to assist with one (physically challenged) child for playtime, mealtimes and activities

* STAR

1. Administrative assistance for job training/retention program
2. Tutors for career resumes, cover and thank you letters, job searches – Monday – Thursday 1 – 5:00 pm, and Monday – Thursday 5:30 – 8 pm (two at a time)

* Transitions

1. Volunteer week days to assist Transitions Specialist with guest needs upon move-out from Center, and with CFH van transportation of guests to St. Vincent de Paul Society (preferably Thursday morning)
2. Assist with administrative duties (Wednesday or Thursday afternoon)
3. Help one 86-year old guest with keeping his apartment (off-site) clean and tidy (once every two weeks)
4. Two people to help with basement storage (Sunday and Thursday at 6, Monday and Wednesday at 12:30

* Volunteer Assistant

1. Work with volunteer coordinator to handle paperwork for scheduling
2. Data entry

* Exercise Room

1. Monitor guest use of the exercise room
2. Shifts available 7 days a week, morning, afternoon, evening

For these and other volunteer opportunities, please contact Peter Lombardo at plombardo@cfh.net or (574) 282-8700.

We also offer various opportunities for groups and organizations to come in and participate in a "done-in-a-day" project.  Please call Peter Lombardo at (574) 282-8700 x 344 for more information.