Opportunities From: United Way of Pierce County

Volunteer Landscaper responsibilities will include:

Skills Requirements * Must be 18 years of age or older. * Able to lift, bend, kneel, and stand for extended periods of time. * An ability to relate in a nonjudgmental manner with individuals and groups within a wide range of problem areas. * Be able to operate a lawn mower, weed eater, and all other yard tools. * An ability to handle emergency situations. * An ability to maintain confidentiality. * An ability to work without direct supervision and complete task in an efficient manner.

Volunteers will restock shelves, sort donations, re-pack foods, and pack food boxes.

Drivers will pick up donations from area stores and warehouses and deliver to the Orting Food Bank. Hours and days vary. Must have access to a truck or trailer and have proof of insurance. Mileage is reimbursed.

Intake Coordinators sign-in clients each visit, enroll new clients, and help maintain client records in the computer. They also answer phones and do light clerical work as needed. Shifts available are Mondays 3-6 pm, Wednesdays 12-3 pm, and Fridays 9 am - 12 pm, as well as fill-in as needed.

As we are gearing up for school again, it is time to think about the kids we serve in our backpack program. We send backpacks of food on weekends to kids in our district in need of extra nutrition. We are restructuring the program this year to spread out the time commitment that this program requires to run smoothly.

Individuals to commit weekly to taking backpack bags to the schools on Thursdays and Fridays in the morning. If you cannot commit weekly, maybe it would be once a month or be willing to be a back-up driver.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please call or email us. We certainly appreciate our volunteers!

Shared Housing Services (SHS) is looking to add 3-4 caring community members to its Board of Directors. SHS serves individuals, families and young people experiencing housing instability or homelessness in Pierce County through it Home Sharing and Transitional Family housing programs.

SHS' is seeking community members who can offer expertise in such areas as marketing, finance, event planning, fundraising, etc. as well as diverse backgrounds, cultures, and life experiences that can be utilized to help SHS complete its mission and make a difference in the community.  

If you are interested in learning more about Shared Housing Services, what we do, and/or the governance and role of our Board send an email to shstacomapc@harbornet.com

Are you interested in creating areas for wildlife? Do you want to do your part to keep Pierce County wild? Now is your chance to become a Habitat Steward™! National Wildlife Federation and Tahoma Audubon Society are offering a specialized 24-hour training program to teach you how to help others create and restore wildlife habitat in backyards, schoolyards, and other community areas. Classes will be held on Wednesday evenings in October (10/18, 10/25) and November (11/8), with the exception of 1 class on Thursday, 11/2. These will take place at Adriana Hess Audubon Center (2917 Morrison Rd. W, University Place, WA, 98466). The training also includes 2 Saturday field trips on October 28th and November 4th. These field trips will be visits to natural areas in Pierce County, where we will learn about wildlife, habitat restoration and also participate in a volunteer stewardship event for Green Puyallup Day!

This training is engaging, fun and highly informative and you get to meet and interact with local conservation professionals and other similarly interested folks! Topics from speakers may include: rain gardens, native plants, habitat restoration, pollinators and birds, mushrooms and fungi, and much more!

 Cost of the training is $30 to cover classroom materials. Note: scholarships are available! No one will be turned down due to lack of funds. We will provide coffee, tea, and snacks at each training session. To register for the training, please visit http://nwfpierce.brownpapertickets.com or contact Anna @ WAEducation@nwf.org

Volunteer responsibilities vary as the organization's environment and needs change depending on the season, food deliveries, and the number of volunteers available on any given day. Some typical tasks are maintaining the community food and senior lunch tables, weighing and putting away donated food, breaking down bulk food and household items into smaller portions, maintaining the food storage room, and working on the Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets, among other tasks. Volunteers must fill out an application, contract, and civil rights training agreement.

Volunteer Position Description

Phone Operator

Work Location

2608 Center St Tacoma WA 98409

Purpose of the Position

This is a volunteer position responsible for answering the general phone line.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

(include, but not limited to)

·     Answer basic shelter questions

·     Transfer calls to appropriate shelter staff

·     Redirect Animal Control calls to the appropriate agency

Commitment of Time

Required to make a minimum commitment of one shift every other week.

Hours Volunteer can Work

11am-5pm Monday-Friday, and 9am-4:30pm on Saturdays

Levels of Difficulty

1=easy/5=demanding

(physical, mental, emotional)

Physical difficulty is level 1; all of the work will be done while seated at a desk

Mental difficulty is level 5; phone calls can range from individuals interested in adopting, to distraught pet owners searching for their lost pet, and more. Volunteers in this position will need to remember a large amount of information, and occasionally the position will require research or “detective” work to best help the individual calling the shelter.

Emotional difficulty is level 3; the position does require interaction with the public over the phone, and this can become emotionally draining and stressful, depending on the kind of calls received.

Skills

Required:

·     Exceptional customer service skills

·     Basic computer knowledge and typing skills

·     Professional verbal and written communication

Desired:

·     Previous experience as a receptionist or other experience answering phone calls in the workplace

·     Ability to retain new information quickly

·     Ability to switch-task

Expected Working Conditions

The working conditions described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential function of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Subject to animal bites and scratches. Exposure to chemicals, prescribed drugs such as antibiotics, topical mediations, etc, and cleaning products. Exposure to zoonotic (animal transmitted) diseases.

Number of Volunteers Needed

3 volunteers daily, Monday-Saturday

How often do volunteers need to work on site?

Volunteers work on-site at all times.

Tools and equipment provided

·     Phone with headset

·     Computer

·     Mouse

·     Keyboard

·     Basic office supplies

Tools and equipment volunteers can bring if desired

N/A

Project Start Date

Ongoing

Orientation/Training

Volunteers must attend General Volunteer Orientation.

Learning Opportunities

(Skills/Knowledge)

Restrictions

Volunteers must be at least 16 years of age.

Supervisor(s)

Charthy Irvin; Customer Care Supervisor

Alex Ropes; Volunteer Manager

Extra Comments

Last updated

08/07/2017

Looking for volunteers who enjoy putting things together, and take pride seeing their finished product. Join us any weekday, Mon-Fri between 9am-1pm and help assemble dressers, desks, nightstands, tables and more! We have hundreds of boxes just waiting to be assembled.  

*All tools are provided

*No experience required

*Great for retirees who want to stay busy and active

*Great for people out of school, unemployed or who need to find something to keep them active

*See families take home the furniture sometimes ON the same day you build it!

Come join in the fun! It's a terrific team-building activity. Ikea generously donates furniture to NW Furniture Bank to share with families in need.  We have hundreds of boxes just waiting to be assembled by your build team!  Perfect for businesses, churches, schools and other groups.

*Group size 5-20

*All tools are provided

*No experience required

*This is our post popular group volunteer activity! 

Build Groups typically join us Saturdays at 9am or on weekday afternoons at 1pm and assemble furniture for 3-5 hours depending on the project and time availability.  

Volunteers needed for Food Bank and special events.

A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is a volunteer appointed by the Court to advocate for the best interest of a child who is alleged to have been abused or neglected. In order to do this, the CASA/GAL must investigate the facts of the case, recommend a course of action to the Court, explain the Court's findings to the child, facilitate the resolution of the presenting problems, and monitor progress.

Volunteer in our detention center to work directly with our staff to house juvenile offenders in a safe, secure, and humane living environment where they are cared for and supervised by professional, well-trained staff. We believe that detention, while providing community protection, can also provide residents with an opportunity for constructive and positive change.

Assist a Probation Officer in monitoring juvenile offenders and verifying compliance with court orders. RESPONSIBILITIES: Work directly with the assigned Probation Officer. Provide good, positive role modeling, while maintaining a professional demeanor. Maintain contact with youth, parents, outside agencies and schools, via telephone or in person, and report back to the Probation Office.

Participate as a member of a three-person Board which meets with juvenile offenders and their guardians to explain and offer Diversion as an alternative to Court proceedings. In those cases where families desire Diversion, the referring offense and circumstances surrounding it will be discussed. The Community Board (CAB) will then determine consequences designed to hold the youth accountable.

Assist Guardian Ad Litems in advocacy of children that are involved with the Juvenile Court due to abuse or neglect.  Monitor court orders, visit children to ensure safe and stable home, prepare court reports, attend shared decision making meetings.  Learn about the court system, foster care system and the department of social and health services.  Great volunteer opportunity for people interested in social work, social justice, and advocacy.  

Harvest Leaders are the point person leading volunteers on urban fruit harvests and organizing logistics like food bank drop off and record keeping. Since all volunteers get to take home a portion of the harvest, Harvest Leaders have access to fresh fruit all season long. This is the perfect opportunity for people who like to preserve food and who want to give back to the community. Becoming a Harvest Leader is a way to meet new friends and gain experience leading small groups. All Harvest Leaders receive training from Harvest Pierce County staff in early summer.

We need Coordinators in North/West End Tacoma, Gig Harbor, South Tacoma, Eastside/South End Tacoma, Central/Hilltop Tacoma, Parkland/Spanaway, University Place/Fircrest, Lakewood/Steilacoom, Puyallup, and other locations.

Coordinators commit to lead a weekly harvest on a consistent day (which may include multiple sites), commit to the entire season (July through mid-October with fall months being the busiest), record all harvest details and help orient volunteers on site, bring equipment for harvests and deliver fruit to food banks.

Coordinators must be organized and independent workers, able to problem solve and alter plans as needed, flexible, and able to respond to emails and phone messages in a timely manner.

Reliable transportation to transport equipment and fruit is necessary for the position. We will reimburse your mileage. Vehicles need the ability to transport a 6-8 foot ladder. However, if you do not have a vehicle or it cannot transport a ladder, we have a van that you can likely use for the duration of fruit harvesting.

Mileage reimbursement and $100 stipend provided. Fruit Scouts should be prepared to commit to at least three hours per week. Additional training may be required. To apply, please contact Harvest Pierce County.

Fruit Scouts are volunteers who commit to registering new fruit trees for gleaning and checking on registered fruit trees to make sure they are healthy and ripe for picking. This is a great independent volunteer opportunity. Whether you like to walk, bike, or have a car to get around, fruit scouts are an important part to making sure that healthy fruit gets harvested. Fruit Scouts receive training in early summer to learn basic fruit tree care and maintenance. They are also responsible for taste testing the fruit to make sure it’s ready for eating!

We need Fruit Scouts in North/West End Tacoma, Gig Harbor, South Tacoma, Eastside/South End Tacoma, Central/Hilltop Tacoma, Parkland/Spanaway, University Place/Fircrest, Lakewood/Steilacoom, Puyallup, and other locations.

Fruit Scouts commit to scouting trees on a consistent day and ideally commit to the entire season (July through mid-October with fall months being the busiest). They bring pest management resources and fliers for fruit owners and report and record fruit assessment.

Fruit Scouts must be personable, an independent worker, able to respond to emails and phone messages in a timely manner, and have reliable transportation (biking or driving).

Mileage reimbursement and $100 stipend provided. Fruit Scouts should be prepared to commit to at least three hours per week. To apply, please contact Harvest Pierce County.

The Veggie Co-op is a volunteer-run program managed by the Pierce Conservation District (PCD) through its program Harvest Pierce County that coordinates individuals to come together as a community to grow food on a farm scale on land provided by the Franklin Pierce School District on E 96th and Waller Road in Tacoma, WA. Volunteers attend weekly work parties where they work, grow, and learn as a group, instead of stewarding rows individually as typical in most community gardens. The produce is divided 50/50 among emergency food sites and volunteers. Veggie Co-op is a free program and is open to all participants.

Volunteers ages 15 and under should be accompanied by a parent. The minimum requirement is 3 hours per week. Work parties are 3 hours long and offered several times a week. Typically the work parties happen in the morning hours to avoid working the hottest part of the day. Contact the Program Coordinator for the current work party times. Veggie Co-op runs from February-November annually, and volunteers are expected to commit to the season but are welcome to take up to 5 weeks off. Volunteer groups are allowed, but request no more than 15 per group. The registration period for Veggie Co-op is December 15th through January 31st, and then there will be volunteer orientations in February. Once someone registers they will be contacted about the dates of these orientation sessions if they would like to attend weekly work parties. If a group would like to volunteer with us for a one off event, then they will be trained by staff on site. More information: http://piercecd.org/276/Veggie-Co-op

The Gleaning Project is a volunteer program of Harvest Pierce County and the Pierce Conservation District that works to reduce the amount of produce wasted in our community, provide more fresh food to those in need, and build community. This community based effort is a response to the dramatic increase in the number of people seeking food assistance in our county. Most farmers are never able to sell everything they produce. Even if the produce is fresh, sometimes farmers are limited by regulations and aesthetics. Harvest Pierce County staff work with local farmers and organizes groups of volunteers to glean produce from their fields that they can no longer sell. The bounty is then distributed to food banks, meal sites, and community organizations. We also support volunteers to glean leftover food from vendors at Pierce County farmers markets. Fruit Trees can be abundant producers. Many people have fruit trees on their property that produce more than they can handle or never even get harvested! We work to prevent fruit waste by organizing volunteers to harvest trees at the homeowners request and share the bounty with local food banks and shelters

Youth under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Individuals can register to volunteer by visiting www.piercecountygleaningproject.org and then sign up for a gleaning event through the website events page. At the event they are given training on the spot by the Harvest Leader. During the spring months we also offer occasional New Volunteer Trainings at our office for folks who have never gleaned before. But the primary method of training is through our volunteer leaders and so a formal training is not required before someone starts gleaning.

Become a volunteer support group facilitator and make a difference in a caregiver's life. Provide help and hope in a trusting place.

We are currently recruiting facilitators for dementia specific caregiver support groups in Lakewood.

We provide excellent trainings, ongoing support, resources, and continuing education opportunities. A screening and application process is required.

Individuals who are often best qualified as support group facilitators include working or retired social workers, nurse and other healthcare professionals, educators, clergy, counselors, and former family caregivers. Commitment of at least one year is required.

Attributes of a facilitator

Be a part of the team! For more information in Washington contact:

Linda Whiteside, Director | Community Support at 1.800.848.7097 or 206.529.3875, email lwhitesi@alzwa.org

 Our Volunteer Ushers welcome our guests, assist them to their seats, hand out programs, and ensure their safety, comfort, and satisfaction with their experience here.  

Greeters welcome museum guests, distribute maps, and encourage subscription to the museum's award winning e-newsletter, En Route, through the collection of patron emails. Greeters will also answer general questions and provide information to guests entering the museum.

Museum Educators lead K-12 audiences in the discovery of automobile-themed curriculum topics in the subjects of American history, math, science, literacy, and the arts through a guided museum experience.