Links   E-mail             Print            Advertisement

Here are this week's volunteer needs in the Yakima Valley:

* SENIOR VOLUNTEERS: The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) helps individuals, age 55 and older, put their skills and life experiences to work for their communities. The number of hours an RSVP volunteer serves is flexible. Currently, volunteers are needed at food banks, at meal sites throughout the county to help prepare and serve meals to seniors, as youth mentors and tutors, as Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) counselors and to knit cold-weather items for Project Warm-Up.

For more information, call Sirena at RSVP of Yakima County 574-1933.

* ARBOR FEST: The Yakima Area Arboretum is looking for 10 to 15 volunteers to help out with Arbor Feast on April 12 from 9:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. Volunteers will be assisting in booths helping children do projects. Booth projects include paper sombreros, reading nature stories to children, an animal-drawing area, wind spinners, plant a tree area and butterfly art.

An orientation will be held at the Jewett Center on the arboretum grounds from 5:30 to 7 p.m. April 8. A light dinner will be provided.

Call Doug at 966-5360.

* MANICURE ASSISTANCE: The Landmark Care Center of Yakima is looking for three volunteers to do manicures for residents. Volunteers are needed Tuesdays at 1:45 p.m. All potential volunteers need to have a criminal background check done by the agency before volunteering. For more information, call Kris at 248-4102, ext. 204.

* SENIOR COMPANION: Do you enjoy taking your neighbor to the grocery store? Are you always helping a friend with transportation? If you are 60 or older, you may be eligible to become a Senior Companion.

Volunteers are needed from 15 to 20 hours per week. A stipend and mileage reimbursement may be available. Applicants must undergo a background check.

Call Dona Ward, area coordinator, at 965-7100.

* WELLNESS HOUSE: Wellness House is looking for six volunteers to help in the office and six volunteers to help with Cancer Centers. The office volunteers would be answering phones, greeting clients, making reminder calls and performing a variety of other tasks. Volunteers are needed Mondays-Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 1 to 4 p.m. Cancer Center volunteers are needed during the morning hours. Training will be provided for both opportunities.

For more information or to volunteer, call the Wellness Center at 575-6686.

* CASA VOLUNTEERS: Volunteers are needed to be advocates for abused and neglected children in the community. If you are willing to commit time to making a difference in the life of a child, you will be trained to serve as an independent advocate. CASA volunteers have a variety of professional, educational and ethnic backgrounds. No special experience is required. Volunteers are selected on the basis of their objectivity, competence and commitment.

Call Anna Martinez at Yakima County Juvenile Court CASA at 574-2068.

* Volunteer Opportunities is prepared by Sirena Phillips, volunteer coordinator of Yakima's Retired Senior Volunteer Program. Contact her at 574-1933, 120 S. Third St. Suite 200B, Yakima, WA 98901, or sirena.phillips@co.yakima.wa.us.