People helping people

Fri, May 16 2008

—

Volunteer opportunities in the greater Newburyport area. Listing compiled by the First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist, 26 Pleasant St., Newburyport, 978-465-0602.

Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society, 63 Elm St. (Route 110), Salisbury, 978-462-0760, www.mrfrs.org. Volunteers needed to help out at its no-kill shelter, provide foster homes for kittens, and feed homeless cats.

Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity, 60 Island St., Lawrence. 978-681-8858. Jodi Weeks, contact. jodi@merrimackvalleyhabitat.org. Merrimack Valley Habitat builds homes, shares hope and changes lives. The organization moves families from overcrowded, dispiriting living conditions to safe, decent and affordable homes, providing the stability and foundation they need to build a better life. Construction and administrative volunteers are needed. Flexible arrangements.

Merrimack Valley Hospice, 360 Merrimack St., Lawrence, MA 01843. Lou LaBella, volunteer coordinator, 978-552-4522 or llabella@homehealthfoundation.org. Volunteer opportunities include working with patients and families directly, administrative support to hospice staff, fundraising and more.

Home Health VNA, 360 Merrimack St., Lawrence, MA 01843. Elaine Miller, volunteer coordinator, 978-552-4525 or emiller@homehealthfoundation.org. Home Health Partners seeks volunteers for administrative support, completing special projects, working with staff.

Merrimack Valley Nutrition Project, Meals on Wheels, 301 Main St., West Newbury, 978-363-5413. Volunteers needed for kitchen help and backup drivers to deliver meals.

Newburyport Art Association, 65 Water St., Newburyport. 978-465-8769. naa@newburyportart.org or www.newburyportart.org. Volunteer opportunities include exhibition installation support, organizing and hosting receptions, assisting with community outreach programs, gallery-sitting, small building upkeep projects and special events.

The Newburyport Education Foundation (NEF), 978-463-7893. E-mail cwalth@NewburyportEF.org or www.NewburyportEF.org. The Newburyport Education Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to generating financial resources to enhance the quality of public education in Newburyport. Volunteers are needed to assist with organizing and running events, planning and grant research.

Newburyport Maritime Society, www.maritimesociety.org. Custom House Maritime Museum, 25 Water St., Newburyport, 978-462-8681. Volunteers needed in a variety of areas.

Newburyport Youth Services, 60 Pleasant St., Newburyport. 978-465-4434. Andrea Egmont, supervisor of Youth Services. E-mail: aegmont@cityofnewburyport.com, or www.cityofnewburyport.com. Opportunities to help with programming or events.

No Place for Hate, Beth Horne, contact. 978-465-1871. A coalition of concerned people committed to providing a community that does not tolerate violence.

Nursing homes. Contact activities directors for an orientation. Typical activities are one-on-one room visits, writing or reading letters and stories, playing cards or board games, sharing your interests and skills, and helping with programs. Popular times are late-morning and mid-afternoon.

Amesbury Village Skilled Nursing and Rehab, 22 Maple St., Amesbury, 978-388-4682.

Brigham Manor Nursing and Rehab Center, 77 High St., Newburyport, 978-462-4221.

Country Rehab and Nursing Center, 180 Low St., Newburyport, 978-465-5361.

Harborside Health Care/Maplewood, 6 Morrill Place, Amesbury, 978-388-3500.

Port Healthcare, 113 Low St., Newburyport, 978-462-7373.

Seaview Retreat, 60 Mansion Drive, Rowley, 978-948-2552.

Opportunity Works, 10 Opportunity Way, Newburyport, 978-462-6144. Serves the developmentally disabled, providing training and employment in a sheltered workshop, and training in social and daily living skills. Volunteers are needed for quality control, driving, landscaping, special activities (music, art, exercise), big brother/big sister relationships, crafts, exercises, music and other leisure activity programs for older people in the Golden Opportunity Club.

Our Neighbors' Table, P.O. Box 592, Amesbury, MA 01913. 978-388-4863 or 978-388-3016. Rosemary Warner, director. Our Neighbors' Table serves homemade meals at Main Street Congregational Church in Amesbury on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 6 p.m., and opens its food pantry on Wednesdays from 4 to 6 p.m. and opens its food pantry on Wednesdays from 4 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Volunteers are needed as cook's helpers, servers and kitchen workers for the meals program and as sorters for the food pantry.

Parental Stress Hotline, 800-632-8188 (a Massachusetts-only number). A 24-hour, state-wide toll-free hot line to defuse parental stress. The hot line requires a one-year commitment to take telephone shifts on a state-wide toll-free hot line. Overnight shifts available in the volunteer's home via a call-forwarding system. Ten hours of training and mentoring takes place in Watertown.

Parents Helping Parents, 617-926-5008, ext. 101. nancy@parentshelpingparents.org. Child care volunteers needed to care of the children of parents attending a free and confidential parent support group Monday evenings, 7 to 9.

Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, 978-465-5753, ext. 31. Volunteer positions available in Visitor Information and as plover wardens at the refuge on Plum Island.

Pettengill House, Inc., P.O. Box 5551, 13 Lafayette Road, Salisbury, 978-463-8801. Joan Bukoskey, volunteer coordinator. The Pettengill House is a nonprofit community social service organization serving the greater Newburyport area. A variety of volunteer opportunities exist, including help with office work, food pantry, special events and fundraisers, and special programs.

Salvation Army, 40 Water St., Newburyport, 978-465-0883. Volunteers needed to assist elderly, visit nursing homes, do odd jobs, youth programs, feeding programs, food pantry, seasonal (holiday) help. Also, organizations, groups and businesses are needed to prepare and serve a community meal to approximately 80 people every Thursday. A three- to four-hour commitment is required. A group of six to 12 is required. Also, the Salvation Army seeks volunteers for its Christmas Red Kettle fundraiser. A one- to two-hour commitment is required.

The Samaritans, 24-hour suicide prevention hot line, 866-912-4673. Volunteers trained to take shifts responding to hot line calls.

Shared Caring Hospice Inc., P.O. Box 564, Newburyport, 978-462-1210. Trained volunteers needed to work with the terminally ill.

Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm, 5 Little's Lane, Newbury, 978-462-2634. Bethany Groff, contact. Volunteers needed in historic house museums in Newbury as well as docents, for clerical work, at the reception desk at visitor's center, for special events and more. Training provided.

Strongest Link Aids Services, 5 Federal St., Danvers, 978-777-5885. Volunteers needed for office support and transportation services for people living with HIV and their families. Support also needed for annual holiday program.

Tobacco Education Program, Newburyport City Hall, second floor, 978-465-4434. Opportunities range from administrative support to manning booths at community health events. Youths encouraged; community service credit opportunities.

Turning Point, Safe Recovery Program and Main Stream Housing Program, P.O. Box 548, 5 Perry Way 21, Newburyport, 978-462-8251. These programs serve women and children who have become homeless due to domestic abuse and/or substance abuse.

Women in Transition, Salisbury. 978-750-1900, ext. 3725, e-mail hb187@hotmail.com. Heidi Bumpus, contact. Women in Transition is a pre-release facility program that serves women offenders. It houses 24 women and provides services for 12 women who are on electronic-monitoring status. Most of the women are guilty of nonviolent, drug-related offenses. The program aims to help women identify the reasons why they went to prison and find solutions, as well as to help them make a successful transition back to their communities by encouraging after-care treatment. Women in Transition is looking for volunteers to lead weekly or monthly groups on domestic violence, parenting, or nutrition, and to teach hobbies, such as knitting, are also welcome.

YWCA, 13 Market St., Newburyport, 978-465-0981. Volunteers needed at the pool desk, after-school day care program and for specific projects.

American Red Cross, 31 Green St., Newburyport 978-462-8243. Volunteers needed in all programs and support areas including disaster relief workers, health services instructors, receptionists/secretary, blood drive aides and coordinator of medical equipment loan program.

Anna Jaques Hospital/Amesbury Health Center, 25 Highland Ave., Newburyport 978-463-1150. Forty-three different volunteer assignment opportunities exist, from direct support with patients and their families to assisting in office areas. Flexible arrangements.

Assisted Living Center, 19 Beach Road, Salisbury 978-463-9809. www.assistedlivingcenter.org. The Assisted Living Center in Salisbury is a nonprofit organization providing an affordable community residential environment for older people seeking a safe alternative to living in an unsafe environment alone or in a nursing home. Volunteers are needed for direct resident involvement, including entertainment, performances, companionship, leading discussion groups, arts, crafts, baking with the residents, and driving residents to stores and appointments; organizational support, including fundraising activities, grant-writing and telephone fundraising; and residence support, including gardening, housekeeping and painting. Charitable contributions to the Residents Activities Fund. are also welcome.

Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Merrimack Valley, Maple Street, Salisbury 978-462-7003. www.boysandgirlscluboflmv.com. Jim Keenan, contact. The club needs volunteers of all ages to work in the office, as athletic coaches, recreation assistants, cooking instructors, homework tutors, arts and crafts instructors, and on fundraising.

Community Action Inc., Community Partnership Program, Head Start Program, 447 Merrimac St., Newburyport 978-499-8357. Community Action needs a variety of volunteers. The Head Start Program is a federally funded day care for low- and moderate-income families. The Community Partnership Program is a state-funded grant program providing funds for the care of children from low- and middle-income working families.

Community Giving Tree, Leslie Levenson, contact; 978-500-3947, e-mail communitygivingtree@comcast.net, www.communitygivingtree.org. Volunteers needed to run small collection drives in Newburyport, Rowley, Merrimac and surrounding communities. School supplies are needed in August/September, winter coats in November, and baby equipment, infant clothing and toiletries year-round. Girl Scouts, religious groups, high school clubs, community service groups, social groups and individuals receive marketing materials, supplies and support to sponsor two-week collections. Community Giving Tree distributes collected items to social workers who work directly with families in need.

Companion Care Program, Pentucket Medical Association Building, 1 Parkway Road, Suite 3120, Haverhill, 978-372-8118. Part of the Elder Outreach Program, volunteers are needed to visit and provide companionship to elders in the Merrimack Valley.

Council on Aging, 40 Water St., Newburyport 978-462-8650. Drivers needed to take elders to doctors' appointments and shopping. Friendly visitors also needed for elders.

Cushing House Museum, 98 High St., Newburyport. 978-462-2681, e-mail hson@greennet.net, www.newburyhist.com. Jay Williamson, contact. The Cushing House Museum is the home of the Historical Society of Old Newbury and contains a collection of antiques. The museum also sponsors lectures and community events, and provides tours of the building and collection. Volunteer opportunities available in many areas. Call 978-462-2681.

Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley Inc., 800-892-0890, ext. 380. Contact Rose McGarry, director, Ombudsman program. Elder Services needs advocates to visit nursing home residents. Flexible hours, mileage reimbursement and training provided.

The Elms, 53 Friend St., Amesbury, 978-388-3373. The Elms is an alcohol- and drug-free residence for men. Donations of food and household supplies are welcomed.

Emergency Management — Civil Defense Volunteers, Office of Emergency Management, National Guard Armory, 59 Low St., Newburyport, 978-465-4424. Volunteers needed to fulfill all roles in emergency operations center and respond to the public in emergencies. Training, equipment and recognition provided. Uniformed branch of city government.

Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport. www.firehouse.org. 978-462-7336, ext. 12. Informational meetings are scheduled for the first Monday of the month at 7 p.m. to learn more about becoming a volunteer. Opportunities include ushering (with the opportunity to view a show), working in the box office, helping in the office by copying, doing mailings, typing, making phone calls and other office jobs; putting up posters around town, clipping newspaper articles to keep the Firehouse history, and helping out back stage.

Friends of Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Refuge Headquarters and Visitor Center, 6 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport. Kate Toniolo, 978-465-5753. Volunteers needed to help staff The Plover's Nest gift shop and bookstore. The store will be open Saturdays and Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., starting in May. Volunteers will help customers and act as cashiers. Training will be provided.

The Garden Committee of the Maudslay State Park Association, e-mail gardenwork2@earthlink.net, 978-462-4731. Sandee Liversidge, contact. The historic gardens at Maudslay State Park in Newburyport need volunteers for garden planning, fundraising, special events, help at lecture series and hands-on gardening.

Harbor Schools Inc., 26 Rolfe's Lane, Newburyport, 978-462-3151. The residential treatment center provides prevention and after-care services for young people ages 13 to 18 having severe special needs, and for families in crisis. Volunteers are needed to help with special school events, tutoring, classroom assistance, big brother/big sister roles, and sharing interests (arts, crafts, music and recreation).

Historic New England, Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm, 5 Little's Lane, Newbury. 978-462-2634. Volunteers needed at historic house museums in Newbury to assist with a variety of positions, including docents, clerical work, shifts at the visitors' center reception desk special event volunteers and more. Training provided.

Home Health Foundation, 360 Merrimack St., Building 9, Lawrence. 978-552-4525 erotolo@homehealthfoundation.org. Elaine Miller, contact. Home Health Foundation, a nonprofit organization serving northeastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire, offers services designed to support and enhance care, services, outreach and events. Opportunities exist in Lawrence, Chelmsford, Newburyport, Haverhill and Peabody. Volunteers are needed for direct mail projects, clerical and data entry support in the office, staffing fundraising events, sharing experiences through the Speakers' Bureau, and making phone calls to homebound elders through the "Friendly Voices" program. Volunteers receive mileage reimbursement, access to training, free admission to events and a supportive work environment. A commitment of four hours a week on an as-needed basis. is required.

Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center (formerly Women's Crisis Center), 2 Harris St., Newburyport, 978-465-0999 (office) or 978-388-1888 (24-hour crisis hot line). A community partner for 25 years. Serves victims of domestic and family violence in the communities of Amesbury, Salisbury, Newburyport, Georgetown, Groveland, Newbury, West Newbury, Rowley and Merrimac. Volunteers are needed for the annual Walk Against Violence. Other volunteer opportunities include answering the hot line, legal advocacy, child advocacy, Rapid Response team, outreach, special events, fundraising and administrative assistance. Training provided.

Link House, 37 Washington St., Newburyport, 978-462-7341. The Link House is an alcohol and drug residential rehabilitation program. Transportation needed to appointments and meetings.

Lowell's Boat Shop, 459 Main St., Amesbury. 978-834-0050 or info@lowellsboatshop.com. Volunteers needed for education, office operations, development, building, grounds and docks, and general boat shop maintenance.

Mass Audubon Society, Joppa Flats Education Center, 978-462-9998, ext. 3. Melissa Vokey, contact. E-mail mvokey@massaudubon.org. www.massaudubon.org. Joppa Flats Education Center on Plum Island Turnpike in Newburyport welcomes volunteers with or without a birding background. Volunteer opportunities include working at the front desk, interpreting from the on-site bird blind, helping with children's, school and adult programs; and providing grounds maintenance. Volunteers receive regular training, discounts on local programs, invitations to special events and reciprocity with other nonprofit groups.