Category: Unpaid
Volunteer Fund Raising Consultant
Read Me a Story!
Short-term, Work-From-Home Opportunity
The Delaware Association of Nonprofit Agencies (DANA) is seeking two volunteers to assist with the updating of the Directory of Grantmakers in Delaware last published in 2006. The duration of the project is 3 months. Volunteers may work at DANA or from their own homes (after instruction at office). Hours and days are flexible. Functions to include mailing information to foundations, updating electronic forms, making calls to foundations and preparing data spreadsheets.
For more information, contact Mary Cella at nycella@verizon.net.
Client Interviewer - Faith Center
Project Consultants for Nonprofits
Interested in a short-term project that utilizes your professional skills?
Enjoy helping nonprofits to build organizational capacity?
Miss working with other professionals to achieve meaningful goals?
Then Project Consultants for Nonprofits just might be the organization for you. We are a self-managing team of experienced people 50+ who provide consulting and short-term assistance to help nonprofits get things done. You can join the PCN management team or just register your skills with us and volunteer when an opportunity of interest comes up. Our past projects have included facilitating a retreat, writing an annual report, developing a marketing plan, revising a training curriculum, conducting focus groups, designing a survey and more. Individuals wanting to become consultants or organizations seeking assistance can go to our website or contact Jessica Snow at jsnow@newarkseniorcenter.com.
Teach Inmates Decision-Making Skills
Going to prison is not the most popular volunteer endeavor. Yet, this is exactly what a special group of people do in the Thresholds Decision Making program. For an eight week period volunteers go into correctional institutions in the state to teach inmates how to make better decisions in their lives. Volunteers must take one day of training, fill out security clearance forms, attend a security meeting and recieve a volunteer badge before they can enter the prison classroom.
Each student inmate is assigned their own teacher. The inmate and teacher sit at a table across from each other in a prison classroom, each with a Thresholds workbook and together discuss and complete the exercises. The format of the program is one of the reasons it is so successful. Because it is not conducted in a traditional classroom style, it eliminates the usual tension, and peer pressure to not look dumb, stupid, or even too smart. It takes into consideration the reading levels of inmates, many of whom have dropped out of school in the 9th grader or earlier. Individual attention is the key to the success of this program. Since 1999 Thresholds has graduated 345 inmate students in 43 eight-week cycles.
To learn more about volunteering with Thresholds contact RSVP.
Contributed by Lynn Kroesen.
Retired Scientists to Partner with Teachers to Enhance Science Education
Wilmington Hospital's Volunteers Provide the Personal Touch
Don't wait for Congress to pass their health care reform package. Make a difference yourself by volunteering now to support the medical staff at Wilmington Hospital. You will be surprised at the many different ways you can become involved:
- Courtesy Cart- Drive the hospital's "golf-cart" type vehicle around the campus bringing patients and visitors to and from the parking garage to the main entrance.
- No One Dies Alone - Sit with patients when no family or friends are present.
- GetWellNetwork - Help patients navigate the hospital's state-of-the-art TV/computer/internet system which is being installed in
every patient room at the hospital. - ACE Unit (Acute Care of the Elderly) -Visit or play games with patients in this 14-bed unit for the elderly.
For more information, contact Debby Vandiver, Program Manager, RSVP New Castle County, by emailing deborah.vandiver@state.de.us or calling 302-255-9882.
Habitat for Humanity Volunteer
Now that you have time what will you do with it? Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County loves retirees! Can you help lend a hand on one of our construction sites? If you can, you'll be joining our talented pool of "regulars" who volunteer on a regular basis. Come help Habitat build new homes and rehabilitate some of the foreclosed houses in and around New Castle County. Our regulars come for the mission, but stay to learn new skills and make new friends. To sign up or learn more information contact Susan Fox of RSVP, New Castle County at susan.fox@state.de.us or call 302-255-9690.
Editor's Note: For information about volunteering with Habitat for Humanity in Kent and Sussex Counties contact:
- Kent County: Contact Carol Lettieri, Director, RSVP, Kent County at rsvp.director@modernmaturity.org or call 302-734-1200, x129
- Sussex County: Contact April Willey, RSVP, Sussex County at april.willey@state.de.us or call 302-856-5815.
RSVP Brings a Matter of Balance to Delaware
Chances are you know someone who has fallen or who is afraid of falling. A Matter of Balance is a proven program designed to help people manage concerns about falls and increase physical activity. RSVP is looking for volunteers to help provide this program.
A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls is conducted in 8 two-hour sessions and uses group discussion, problem–solving strategies, videos and gentle physical exercise. Older adults learn positive coping methods to reduce fear of falling and remain active and independent.
A Matter of Balance coaches help participants become more confident about managing falls by believing that they can increase their strength, find ways to reduce falls, and protect themselves if they do fall. In addition, participants report that they have increased the amount they exercise on a regular basis.
A Matter of Balance coaches need good communication and interpersonal skills, enthusiasm, dependability and a willingness to lead small groups of older adults. Coaches also need to be able to lead low to moderate level exercise.
There will be an information session to learn more about becoming A Matter of Balance coach on Wednesday, September 9 at 1 PM in the Charles Debnam Building, 1901 N DuPont Hwy., New Castle. If you would like to attend or want more information, please contact Debby Vandiver, A Matter of Balance Coordinator at 302-255-9878. In Sussex County, contact MaryAnn Hook at 302-856-5815 for information about upcoming trainings.
Creekwatchers - Nanticoke Watershed Alliance
Volunteers are needed in the Seaford, Laurel and Bridgeville areas to become "Creekwatchers". Nanticoke Watershed Creekwatchers regularly collect samples of river water at established locations, analyze the samples, and produce a report on the river's health each year. Their work indicates where trouble spots are, which areas are out of balance, and helps citizens and local officials decide how to bring the river back to health. The Creekwatchers' Annual Water Quality Report continues to guide decisions on how our communities grow and develop as well as overall clean up efforts. Creekwatchers are trained by alliance staff to operate high-tech scientific water monitoring equipment. For more information contact April Wiley of Sussex County RSVP at 302-856-5815 or by e-mailing April.Willey@state.de.us.
Help Operate An Afforable Grocery Store for the Needy
The Market, a mini grocery store sponsored by the Food Bank of Delaware, is looking for volunteers to assist with Market operations in the Catholic Charities building located in Wilmington. Volunteers will open the market, do inventory, run the cash register, and close the store. Training is provided. For more information contact Susan Fox at RSVP, New Castle County at 302-255-9690 or by e-mailing Susan.Fox@state.de.us.
Computer Instructor
The Claymore Senior Center needs your help! To be able to continue to offer introductory computer classes at a very nominal fee we need to utilize volunteers to teach the classes. If you or someone you know is computer literate and willing to volunteer their time to teach others basic computer skills, CLAYMORE NEEDS YOU! For more information, contact Donna J. Mansure at 302-428-3170 ext. 101 or e-mail theclaymoresc@msn.com.
The Wilmington City Gardens Contest Needs You!
OK, admit it. Wouldn't you like to check out your neighbor's gardens instead of just getting a quick peek over the fence? As a volunteer with the Wilmington City Gardens Contest you can. The event scheduled for July 11, 2009 is in need of:
- Hosts- Sign up for a morning or afternoon shift and receive two free tickets for the garden tour.
- Judges- You will receive training on the judging criteria, be matched with a team and be provided with a map and lunch.
- Photographers- Take pictures of the gardens entered in the contest.
For more information, contact Susan Fox, New Castle County RSVP, at 255-9690 or e-mail Susan.Fox@state.de.us.
Be BIG at the Biggs Museum of American Art!
