Check out these volunteer opportunities
| Thursday, Nov 12 2009 11:48 AM
Last Updated Thursday, Nov 12 2009 11:48 AM
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) will be holding orientation sessions in Delano and Bakersfield for those interested in becoming CASA volunteers, to stand up in court for abused children. Volunteers make an 18-month commitment and donate an average of 10-15 hours per month. All volunteers must be screened and accepted to a 35-hour training program that begins in February 2010.
The Delano orientation will be held Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the Delano Civic Center, from noon to 1 p.m. Bilingual English/Spanish and male volunteers are especially needed in the Delano area.
The Bakersfield orientation will be held Wednesday, Nov. 18, at the CASA office, 2000 24th St., Bakersfield, from 5 - 6 p.m. Call Kate Kenney, 631-2272, to RSVP and receive an application.
Visit the CASA Web site, www.kerncasa.org, for more information.
Compassion Christian Center needs volunteers on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. to help sort, box and distribute food to local families and individuals who will be arriving to pick up the food. The center is located at 1030 4th St. in Bakersfield. Volunteers must be 12 years old and above. Call Lisa or Mary, 364-8792, if you can help.
HOLIDAY VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Operation: Soulwinner, Children's Network of Hope: Use your telephone skills to help Operation: Soulwinners collect toys, food and hot meals for kids for the holidays. Call Ray at 348-1002.
CALM needs volunteers to help with its annual "Holiday Lights" event from Nov. 29 to Dec. 30, from 5 to 10 p.m. each evening. They need 25 to 30 volunteers each night to serve as "trail elves" to give directions and assistance to those visiting the area. Ticket takers are also needed each night.
Orientation will be held each evening at 5 p.m. for new volunteers. Volunteers are welcome to serve one or more nights. All volunteers will receive a pass to return to the event on another evening to see the entire show. Refreshments will also be served. Contact Lana Fain at 871-1822 to sign up.
Home Instead Senior Care is looking for volunteers to help with its annual "Be a Santa to a Senior" program to make the holiday season more memorable for our senior citizens. Drivers are needed to pick up gifts from vendors. Wrappers will be needed at Glenwood Gardens Dec. 10 to wrap the gifts beginning at 6 p.m. Please bring holiday paper, tape and scissors with you.
Additional donations of gifts for seniors and holiday wrapping paper, tape and scissors will be appreciated, and can be dropped off at Home Instead Senior Care, 1234 Chester Ave., Suite 200. Additional delivery drivers will be needed Dec. 17-19 to help deliver the gifts. Contact Debra or Patty, 321-3235.
Jesus Shack is beginning to sign up volunteers to help with its "Kids Christmas" program. Volunteers will be needed to help collect, sort and wrap gifts for distribution to kids from ages 1-12. Wrapping parties are scheduled for Dec. 10 and 11. A second two-day wrapping party will be scheduled if needed. Call Gene or Kelly, 324-0638, to sign up.
For more volunteer opportunities, call the Volunteer Center of Kern County at 395-9787 or visit Volunteercenter.info.
