Make a difference in your community. Volunteer!
There are many benefits from volunteering in your community ranging from employment opportunities, meeting new people, helping someone in need, to just feeling good about what you have done. In rural communities such as Sierra County, there is just not enough money or people to keep vital services and activities going. Thank goodness that many people step up to the challenge and volunteer their time and talents. Volunteers are the important providers of much needed services and activities in many communities; some organizations and events would not be possible without them.
Many people volunteer without even realizing it. Time spent at schools, churches and other organizations can be such a joy that participants don’t even notice they are volunteers!
Volunteer matching programs provide a central place where organizations can submit information about what kind of volunteers they need. This kind of centralized service makes it easy for anyone to find a volunteer opening that’s right for them. An example is the national web site at www.volunteermatch.org which matches volunteers with positions at non-profit agencies throughout the country. We hope to offer a similar service soon on this website – so citizens in Sierra County can quickly review the latest volunteer job openings in our own community.
If you are interested in volunteering, consider
offering your time to these local organizations:
Geronimo Trails Visitor Center & Geronimo Springs Museum Greet
people and answer phones. Call LaRena at 894-6600.
Retired Senior Volunteer Program Help at the Sierra County Fair or be a Senior Companion. (You must be 55 or older.) Call 894-3045.
Senior Joint Office on Aging Thrift Shop Help accept donations of items for a new thrift shop. Call 894-6641.
VITA Tax Volunteers Assist seniors and low income persons get their taxes done. Contact the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) at 894-3045.
Ombudsman Be an advocate for nursing home residents. Call (866) 842-9230.
Meal sites People are need to help with meal service, dish washing and general kitchen help at the Senior Center and Hacienda Orguello. Call 894-3045 or 894-6641.
Drivers Van drivers are needed to take senior citizens to doctor’s appointments. Call 894-6641.
DWI Prevention Program Clerical helpers are needed for general office tasks. Call 894-9265.
Humane Society 894-1694
Sierra County Arts Council Help support the arts. Call 894-0615.
If you know of more organizations that need
volunteers and would like to be included in our new volunteer matching
project, please contact me.
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