Volunteer Opportunities

SPECIAL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY:

Help the Homeless Get Resources at South Bay Connect Day

BCHD will be participating with other local community partners in the first South Bay Connect Day. This health fair will provide resources to connect the homeless or those at risk of being homeless to government and community-based agencies providing direct services (e.g., health screenings, dental exams) and information (e.g., legal assistance, health education). We will also be serving a meal, handing out giveaways and hosting a raffle throughout the day. Volunteers can assist at this event in the following ways:

• Set up (7-9am). Set up pop-up tents, tables, chairs, banners, barriers, etc.
• Greeters/Attendants. Make participants feel welcome, help them find services, direct them to staff, hand out maps/information for event, etc.
• Service Ambassadors. Provide assistance and support to service providers, hand out giveaways, assist participants when standing in line, etc.
• Clothing Drive Assistants. Organize clothing giveaways and assist participants in finding correct sizes.
• Food Servers. Serve participants food and drinks, clean tables, help participants with “to go” boxes, etc.

Date: Wednesday, June 30th

Shift Time: 9am-2pm (Volunteers may assist with set-up starting at 7am)

Location: Alondra Park (corner of Manhattan Beach Blvd and Prairie, Lawndale)

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VOLUNTEER WITH YOUTH:

AdventurePlex Summer Camp Volunteers

Help us keep children energized and engaged throughout the summer with AdventureCamp. Volunteers assist our campers during the week with on-site arts and crafts classes, gardening lessons, rock-climbing and ropes course sessions, and other fun and educational activities to keep our campers moving and engaged. A volunteer orientation will kick off this summer opportunity on June 18th. Application and screening required before orientation.

Volunteer Description

AdventurePlex Gardening Volunteers

AdventurePlex is offering a gardening component to their summer camp this year and needs a volunteer to share very basic gardening skills with the campers. Rotations of groups of 10 campers will come to the garden for hands-on experience. Lead groups in weeding, pruning, harvesting and planting vegetables and herbs. Shift times are Wednesdays and Fridays starting June 23 – August 27. Gardening experience required.

Volunteer Description

Clubhouse

The Clubhouse is a babysitting service for children 3 months and older that is provided for members of the Center for Health & Fitness and participants of wellness classes, lectures and workshops. Clubhouse volunteers answer phones, schedule appointments, sign children in and out, and participate in arts and crafts, reading and games. They also assist staff with projects on an as-needed basis.

VOLUNTEER WITH ADULTS

Center for Health Information and Emergency Preparedness

The Center for Health Information and Emergency Preparedness is a free health education library that’s open to the public. The library is filled with up-to-date health-related materials available for checkout. We are seeking volunteers who can help the public find information to address their health concerns and questions. Must be computer literate and customer service oriented.

Volunteer Description

GrowWell Administrative Volunteers

The GrowWell program enhances the health of 0-5 year olds by providing information and referrals to parents in order to connect them with community resources. GrowWell Administrative Volunteers will assist the GorwWell Coordinator in conducting research regarding local services, collecting information from community partners, growing the GrowWell resource database, etc. Application, interview, and screening process must be completed. Training will be provided by staff.

Volunteer Description

Medical Reserve Corps

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a group of nearly 100 medical volunteers supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General. MRC supplements medical and mental health care in the event of large scale disasters. Grant funded, the MRC provides emergency preparedness kits and other services to the community.

Volunteer Description

South Bay Auxiliary

South Bay Auxiliary (SBA) is a community service organization housed at BCHD. Members have been helping the three beach cities through service and philanthropy since 1958. Today, members assist BCHD with various tasks to better serve our visitors as well as the rest of the community. The SBA also gives donations to local organizations and provides scholarships to local students pursuing a career in the health field. Volunteer opportunities include:

• CAPS Group - Knit lap robes for terminally ill children

• Crafty Critters - Create crafts for patients at retirement/nursing homes

• Gift Shop - Assist customers in the gift shop

• Lobby Front Desk - Greet, escort and provide guests with resources

VOLUNTEER WITH SENIORS

MoveWell In-Home Exercise Volunteers

Do you want to motivate people to become stronger and healthier? Are you interested in helping our senior community? Then this new program is perfect for you! Community Care Services is currently looking for individuals who would like to volunteer for a new in-home exercise program. Our In-Home Exercise Specialist will visit the client and perform a fitness test to determine exercises that would be most beneficial for each individual client. A volunteer will be matched with each client to assist them with their tailored exercise plan at their client’s residence. Volunteers will also call their client to follow up with them throughout the week to see how their exercises are coming along. Application, interview, and screening process must be completed. Training will be provided by staff.

Volunteer Description

Errand Volunteer Program

Sometimes this smallest need is the one factor that keeps them in their own homes and out of a facility! Help homebound seniors and adult disabled beach cities residents live independently in their own homes. Drive clients or run errands, such as grocery shopping or picking up prescriptions. What a fun and rewarding way to help others! Application, interview, and screening process must be completed. Volunteers receive training and ongoing support from professional staff. The next training will take place Fall, 2010.

Volunteer Description

Friend to Friend Program

The clients visited by our Friend to Friend volunteers are usually isolated and homebound. The social visit from their volunteer each week is normally their only special activity. Some of our clients have shared with us that without their Friend to Friend volunteer, they wouldn’t see anyone throughout the whole week. These volunteers provide a link to the community that our clients have been missing and desperately need. The next training will take place Fall, 2010.

Volunteer Description

Peer Counseling

A Peer Counselor is a contemporary who has received specialized training in listening without advising to assist clients who need emotional support from time to time. Peer Counselors provide a safe environment for processing client’s feelings and life transitions as well as a nonjudgmental “ear” that family and friends may not be able to provide. The next training will begin February, 2011.

Volunteer Description