Volunteer Opportunities

Host A Birthday Party For Our Elderly Residents
Location:	Baton Rouge
Date/Time Commitment:	Monthly, Throughout the year (Available months in 2009 are July, August, October, November, December)
GROUP OPPORTUNITY! Help the elderly residents of Oak Park Plaza celebrate all of the birthdays they are having. Volunteer group would need to provide party items such as cake, plates and napkins and BINGO prizes!
Contact:	Greta Patterson

Host a Recreational Activity
Location:	Baton Rouge
Date/Time Commitment:	Flexible
GROUP OPPORTUNITY! Volunteer Groups can host an arts and crafts class, a movie and popcorn party, or any other fun activity at one of our residential facilities serving children, teens, adults with disabilities or the elderly. Groups will provide supplies and/or refreshments!
Contact:	Greta Patterson

Host A Collection Drive
Location:	Baton Rouge
Date/Time Commitment:	Flexible
Host a collection drive for those in need of the basics. Our programs are always in need of items such as toilet paper, household cleaning items, bath towels, personal hygiene items, razors and shaving cream, laundry detergent, and crossword/wordsearch puzzle books.
Contact:	Greta Patterson

Be A Videographer
Location:	Lake Charles
Date/Time Commitment:
Volunteers are needed to record events that occur and help create a video to highlight the programs provided to the community.
Contact:	Kay Vanchiere

Host A Household Item Drive
Location:	Lake Charles
Date/Time Commitment:	flexible
Host a Personal hygiene, canned food or toilet paper drive. Many of our programs provide these items to their clients - individuals and families that would not otherwise have the resources to purchase them.
Contact:	Kay Vanchiere

Teach A Class or Demonstrate A Skill
Location:	Lake Charles
Date/Time Commitment:	Flexible
Our Day Programs serve adults with a mental illness, and they enjoy learning new things. Come share your skill with them.
Contact:	Kay Vanchiere

Host A BINGO Game For The Elderly
Location:	Lake Charles
Date/Time Commitment:	Flexible
Host a BINGO game for the residents of Bayou Villa or Elton Place. These are our apartments for the elderlyin the communities of Welsh and Elton. They love the opportunity to socialize and win prizes.
Contact:	Kay Vanchiere

Volunteer With Our C.H.O.I.C.E.S. program
Location:	Lake Charles
Date/Time Commitment:	Flexible
C.H.O.I.C.E.S. is a recreational program for adults with mental illness in Lake Charles. Come play games or do crafts on weekday afternoons.
Contact:	Kay Vanchiere

Set Up A Recycling Program
Location:	Lake Charles
Date/Time Commitment:	Flexible
We need someone to establish a paper recycling program and haul off materials to the city of Lake Charles Green Team Mobiles.
Contact:	Kay Vanchiere

Display Our Information
Location:	Lake Charles
Date/Time Commitment:	Flexible
Help spread the news about our Pregnancy and Adoption Services Program by passing out information to doctors/clinics, churches, etc. around Southwest Louisiana.
Contact:	Kay Vanchiere

Host A Fundraiser
Location:	Lake Charles
Date/Time Commitment:	Flexible
Host a fundraiser to help support the services we provide.
Contact:	Kay Vanchiere

Help With Landscaping
Location:	Lake Charles
Date/Time Commitment:	Flexible
Our apartment complexes need planting, weeding, trimming and upkeep on their lawns and plants. Locations available in Lake Charles, Oberlin, Elton and Welsh.
Contact:	Kay Vanchiere

Make and Serve Lunch
Location:	Lake Charles
Date/Time Commitment:
Our Day Programs serve adults with a mental illness. This project is located on Kirby Street in Lake Charles.
Contact:	Kay Vanchiere

Volunteer Trainers Needed
Location:	Baton Rouge
Date/Time Commitment:	Flexible, Monday through Friday
Staff members working with people with disabilities or a mental illness need to complete training hours year-round. Knowledgeable and skilled volunteers are needed to provide trainings to staff. Topics May Include: •Stress Management •Nutrition and/or Physical Activity •Diabetes •People First Language •Understanding Seizure Disorders •Medication/Medication Administration •Self-Advocacy and Civic Engagement •Energy Management and Being “Green” •Sexual Abuse Awareness •Professio
Contact:	Greta Patterson

Be A Buddy - Share
Location:	Lafayette
Date/Time Commitment:	Flexible
Share your time with an individual who has a mental or physical disability.
Contact:	Debra Williams

Special Event Support
Location:	Lafayette
Date/Time Commitment:	Flexible
Volunteer groups can host special events such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, the Fourth of July, etc. Groups will provide refreshments and decorations.
Contact:	Debra Williams

Host a Fundraiser
Location:	Lafayette
Date/Time Commitment:	Flexible
Host a fundraiser to help support the services we provide.
Contact:	Debra Williams

Clerical Work
Location:	Lafayette
Date/Time Commitment:	Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 - 4:30 p.m.
A volunteer is needed to do clerical work for the Waiver Program, which supports individuals with Developmental Disabilities.
Contact:	Debra Williams

Cosmetologist Needed
Location:	Lafayette
Date/Time Commitment:	Flexible
Volunteers are needed to give haircuts, styles and grooming techniques to students in our Alternative School and Juvenile Day Programs.
Contact:	Debra Williams

Educational Speakers Needed
Location:	Lafayette
Date/Time Commitment:	Flexible
Be an educational speaker at one of our programs to teach sign language, health and wellness, fire safety, etc.
Contact:	Debra Williams

Host a Collection Drive
Location:	Lafayette
Date/Time Commitment:	Flexible
Host a collection drive for those in need of the basics. Our programs are always in need of personal hygiene items, razors and shaving cream, winter caps and mittens, socks, underwear, belts, insect repellent, and sunscreen.
Contact:	Debra Williams

Help With Landscaping
Location:	Lafayette
Date/Time Commitment:	Flexible
Volunteer groups are needed throughout the year to help with planting, weeding, trimming, and overall upkeep of our apartment complex, River Oaks.
Contact:	Debra Williams

Host a Christmas Party
Location:	Lafayette
Date/Time Commitment:	Flexible
Provide Christmas gifts and decorations to students at our Alternative School and Juvenile Day Program.
Contact:	Debra Williams

Host a Sports Activity
Location:	Lafayette
Date/Time Commitment:	Flexible
Host a good game of basketball, or football for youth at our Alternative School and Juvenile Day Programs.
Contact:	Debra Williams

Collect Toiletry Samples for The Homeless
Location:	Baton Rouge
Date/Time Commitment:	Flexible
Think of some creative ways to collect those free bottles of shampoo, conditioner, lotion and tiny bars of hotel soaps from your friends and neighbors. They might be cluttering up your bathroom drawers now, but they can be put to great use at our Drop-In Center which provides shower facilities, laundry services and case management to homeless adults.
Contact:	Greta Patterson

Make Brown Bag Lunches
Location:	Baton Rouge
Date/Time Commitment:	Flexible
Make and deliver brown bag lunches for our Drop-In Center or one of our residential programs. Groups, families or scout troops can make lunch bags with sandwiches and snacks and deliver them to a program. Volunteers provide all items and supplies.
Contact:	Greta Patterson

Be a Substitute Receptionist!
Location:	Baton Rouge
Date/Time Commitment:	Varies
INDIVIDUAL OPPORTUNITY. If you are retired or have a flexible schedule during the week, volunteer to be a substitute receptionist for our programs. You name will be put on a "sub" list for our programs to call if one of our regular receptionists is ill or is going on vacation. If a sub is needed, the program will call you and you can accept the job or pass on the opportunity if you are unavailable. Volunteer Orientation is required.
Contact:	Greta Patterson

Make a Quilt for an Abused Child or Teen
Location:	Baton Rouge
Date/Time Commitment:	flexible
Do you belong to a quilters' circle or just enjoy quilting or sewing on your own? Use your talents to make quilts/blankets for abused, neglected children and teens who are entering residential treatment. Nothing says "home" like a blanket made just for you!
Contact:	Greta Patterson

Answer Phones at The Reilly Center for Children and Families
Location:	Baton Rouge
Date/Time Commitment:	The third Thursday of the month from 10:30-1:00
INDIVIDUAL OPPORTUNITY! Once a month, our Reilly Center Staff has a staff meeting. A volunteer is needed to answer phones so that all the staff may participate. Prior experience answering business phones is necessary. Volunteer Orientation is required.
Contact:	Greta Patterson

Clean-up our Courtyard
Location:	Baton Rouge
Date/Time Commitment:	flexible
Help us maintain our memorial courtyard at our Community Living and Vocational Services program! Our participants and staff enjoy using the courtyard as a peaceful place to take a much-needed break. Groups would provide the plants, mulch and labor to beautify our courtyard.
Contact:	Greta Patterson

Clerical Volunteers at our CLVS Programs
Location:	Baton Rouge
Date/Time Commitment:	Must be able to volunteer during regular business hours Monday through Friday.
INDIVIDUAL OPPORTUNITY. Help support our staff who support those with disabilities by becoming a clerical volunteer. Volunteers would assist staff with filing, computer work, etc.
Contact:	Greta Patterson

Lead an Exercise Class!
Location:	Baton Rouge
Date/Time Commitment:	Weekday evenings; 2 or more times a month. Ongoing commitment is required.
Our CLVS programs support adults with disabilities. Help keep the people we support and our staff get healthy by leading an exercise, yoga or dance class several times a month. Volunteer orientation is required.
Contact:	Greta Patterson

Teenage Volunteers Can Join VolunTEENS!
Location:	Baton Rouge
Date/Time Commitment:	Weekends and breaks during school year, variable in the summer
VolunTEENs is a program run by Volunteer Baton Rouge! and United Way. Volunteers of America regularly submits projects for VolunTEENs. These projects are specifically geared towards teenage volunteers and usually volunteers do not need to provide any supplies for the projects.
Contact:	Greta Patterson

Host A Holiday Party for Our Seniors
Location:	Baton Rouge
Date/Time Commitment:	Flexible
Spread a little holiday cheer and help the senior residents of Oak Park Plaza celebrate an upcoming holiday! Volunteer group would need to provide party items to serve about 40 people (plus your volunteers). The group can provide entertainment with music and also provide items such as cake, cookies and beverages.
Contact:	Greta Patterson

Creative Crafts
Location:	Baton Rouge
Date/Time Commitment:	Flexible
Volunteer groups can host a craft project for one of our facilities or community homes by making decorations or crafts with a holiday theme. Groups can use construction paper and craft supplies to create items to be distributed to one of our facilities. Volunteer groups will need to provide all supplies for the project.
Contact:	Greta Patterson

Holiday Decorations
Location:	Baton Rouge
Date/Time Commitment:	Flexible
Volunteer groups can consider decorating one of our facilities or community homes. Volunteers can think of some creative way to decorate resident’s doors or decorate one of the homes for an upcoming holiday.
Contact:	Greta Patterson

Help Support A Resident With Cleaning At Our Residential Center
Location:	Baton Rouge
Date/Time Commitment:	Monday – Wednesday; any time between the hours of 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Help support the residents of Baton Rouge Resident Center with basic cleaning. The residents are in constant need of help with light housekeeping such as dusting and vacuuming. The center will supply all supplies needed.
Contact:	Greta Patterson

Make Dinners For The Residents At Baton Rouge Residential Center
Location:	Baton Rouge
Date/Time Commitment:	Flexible
Volunteers can make individual frozen homemade dinners for the residents. This could be anything that they could heat up and eat, such as spaghetti, chili, vegetable or chicken soup, etc. At least 14 dinners would need to be made. Can be done anytime and delivered to program.
Contact:	Greta Patterson

Help Maintain A Flower Bed
Location:	Baton Rouge
Date/Time Commitment:	Baton Rouge
Help maintain a flower bed at Baton Rouge Residential Center by pulling weeds and raking or volunteers can help by supplying plants for the beds.
Contact:	Greta Patterson

Make Frozen Casseroles For Our Elderly Residents At Dumas House
Location:	Baton Rouge
Date/Time Commitment:	Flexible
Volunteers can cook, assemble, and freeze casseroles/dinners that can be defrosted on nights when the residents need a quick meal. Volunteers are not limited to casseroles! Large amounts of spaghetti sauce, chili, or soup can also be made and frozen. Each meal/casserole should contain at least 10 servings. Can be done anytime and delivered to the program.
Contact:	Greta Patterson