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Connecting Volunteers with Community Needs
| BULLETIN BOARD (A listing of immediate volunteer needs in the Stateline area)These are some of the many current volunteer opportunities around the Stateline area. If any of these volunteer opportunities interest you, feel free to register yourself as a volunteer and indicate your interest and you will be contacted by our agency within two business days: |
Not for Profit agencies looking for volunteers, and individuals willing to volunteer for these or other activities, please call (608)-365-1278 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or leave a message; fax 608-368-3268 or e-mail us at info@vacbeloit.org. The Voluntary Action Center is a Stateline United Way agency.
LEEPS (Language Enriched Exercise Plus Socialization)
Very special volunteers are needed for a very special program. LEEPS volunteers serve as the key component of the Language Enriched Exercise Plus Socialization Program. Volunteering with LEEPS helps to spread the word about Alzheimer’s disease, increases the physical abilities of participants, provides valuable services to the community and gives the volunteer the opportunity to be part of a new research project in our community. LEEPS Volunteers go into participants’ homes or to the gym to exercise with them, as well as into the community to socialize. Meeting with their participant twice a week for approximately four hours, volunteers should be able to commit for at least three months, or one school semester. Training is provided to individuals who are at least 18 years of age, patient, dependable, possessing strong communication skills, and willing to consent to background and driving record check; willing to work one on one with a person with memory loss, willing and able to assist with exercises and go on outings in the community.
DPI/VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America)
Over fifty students would benefit from the volunteer service of lunch time mentors at Hackett and Gaston Elementary Schools. The objective is to give students a positive, consistent adult role model who is not connected to her/her academics or home life. Each mentor shares lunch time once a week with their assigned student for approximately forty-five minutes per week—talking, reading, or playing board games—no academic work. Volunteers must be committed to the relationship with the student and be able to pass a mandatory background check.
UW COOP EXTENSION
The Extension Center is conducting a nutrition and health class at St. Thomas Church in Beloit, and needs volunteers to staff the child care area from 5:30 – 8:30 pm on four successive Mondays starting in February. Volunteers must be over the age of 18, good with children, and able to take instructions. Speaking Spanish is a plus, but not required. Individuals will be responsible for: 1. providing children (ages 2-8) with a safe place to play and learn 2. sharing nutrition activities/physical activities to be provided by UW Extension 3. follow a lesson plan outline provided by UW Extension - individuals are also invited to make their own nutrition lesson plan for youth. Volunteers will meet one time to look at activities and plan the classes - the meeting will last 90 minutes.
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS
Although Big Sisters are also welcomed, Big Brothers Big Sisters is especially in need of Big Brothers. There are young boys who have been on a waiting list for two years, simply for lack of male volunteers. Volunteers must be at least 18, have a valid drivers license and be able to pass a background check. Big Brothers meet with their little brothers two or three times a month for a few hours at a time. Volunteers can mentor a child on their own or with their spouse, as a Big Couple. In the community based program the Big and Little are able to go out and do things that they both enjoy or discover new things in their community. There is also a Lunch Buddies program in Beloit. Volunteers in this program must also be 16. They meet weekly with their buddy during the child's lunch time at the school that the child attends.
BELOIT INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
The Beloit International Film Festival requires the help of special volunteers to create atmosphere and service that is truly world class. Volunteers should commit to the event now in order to take full advantage of the training and coordination that will be offered. If you would like to help out at the Beloit venues you can get on the volunteer list now and enjoy the event as well as making it enjoyable for the guests, film makers, and residents who will attend.
“Connecting Volunteers with Community Needs”
YEAR ROUND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
For Year Round Opportunities (below) we encourage you to fill out an Individual Volunteer Registration
Beloit Regional Hospice The Beloit Regional Hospice is offering Volunteer Training for prospective workers. The training program offers end-of-life education and runs for 8 weeks. Some of the topics covered are: communication and family dynamics, active listening, spirituality, pain and symptom management, dying, death and the grieving process.
Junior Achievement of Rock County Junior Achievement of Rock County is looking for volunteers to help children at Gaston and Morgan Elementar y, grades 1-5, with hands-on classroom activities. Volunteer dates and times are flexible, but fall into the normal school hours.
CASA of Rock County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) are needed in Rock County. CASA volunteers are dedicated individuals who help guide foster children through the legal system. CASA volunteers maintain weekly contacts with their foster child and monthly contacts with all social workers, school personal, and mental health providers.
Boys and Girls Club of Beloit
The Boys and Girls Club is looking for volunteers to spend time/play with children ages 6-18 any Monday through Friday from 2:30 – 8 p.m. Assistance can range from homework help to computer lab aid/network, poms, sports, to just helping out.
Stateline Literacy Council
The Stateline Literacy Council is in need of tutors to help Stateline adults improve reading skills as well as over-all English proficiency. English as a Second Language (ESL) Training is provided numerous time of the year. Tutors do not need to know how to speak Spanish to help someone learn English.
Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful – Rockton, Roscoe
Every Saturday volunteers are needed at the RecyclingCenter in Roscoe. Shifts are only 1 1/2 hours long . Volunteers work once every 6-8 weeks or based on their availability.
Big Brothers and Big Sisters
Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Rock and WalworthCounty are in need of volunteers to mentor children ages 6-14 years of age. Volunteers will determine their own times; schedules are very flexible. Volunteers need to have a car, valid auto insurance and driver’s license. Training and orientation are provided. Lunch Buddies meet at the child's school one day a week during the child's lunch time. They do not meet the child any other time. This is a great opportunity for volunteers who are very busy but still want to be a mentor to a child.
Voluntary Action Center
The Voluntary Action Center is looking for volunteers to help with its non-profit grant writing center. Volunteers should be good writers, with time to commit to the grant writing process. Past grant writing experience a plus, but training is also available. The VAC office can also use volunteers for occasional clerical help and special projects.
The United Arts Alliance – Janesville
The United Arts Alliance is a coalition of individuals, artists and nonprofit arts organizations serving the RockCounty area. It is in need of individuals who support, encourage, and/or would like to participate in the arts to help with the organization and implementation of local performances and exhibits, as well as planning and other activities. All ages of volunteers welcome!
Beloit Fine Arts Incubator
The Beloit Fine Arts Incubator is looking for a volunteer to help cover hours of operation. General tasks include greeting customers, answering phones and gift shop sales. At times the BFAI may have mailings and could use help with folding, stuffing envelopes and applying postage.
Hackett School – Kids Club
Combining elements of two former programs (the Bobby Program and Hackett After School), Kids Club is looking for volunteers to work one on one with students on math and reading skills. Individuals can work one day a week, either from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. or from 12:30 – 2 p.m.
Caritas
Caritas needs volunteers on the morning shift, 9:30 - 11:30 am, to hang donated clothing in the Clothing Room and to serve as Clothing Room Hosts/Hostesses. The afternoon shift, from 12:30 - 2:30 pm, needs volunteers to pack groceries for Food Pantry clients. Caritas also needs drivers with larger vehicles (vans or pickups) to help transport food to the Food Pantry when needed.
Beloit Meals on Wheels
Beloit Meals on Wheels is looking for reliable, caring people, with valid drivers licenses, to pick up meals from the office on Public Ave. and deliver them to a provided list of addresses. Meals on Wheels is also looking for volunteers, on a regular basis, to call and remind volunteers of their scheduled meal delivery times and locations. This activity can be done from your home and takes only about an hour of your time.
Alzheimer’s Support Center – Janesville
Volunteers are needed for general office work in 2-4-hour shifts; even once a month volunteers can be accommodated. Training is provided.
AIDS Network
The Aids Network is in need of volunteers to answer phones and commit to agency outreach projects.
Beloit Domestic Violence Center
The Beloit Domestic Violence Center invites Beloit area residents to volunteer at the Center. We have need for qualified individuals to assist our staff with children’s activity/educational groups, twice weekly. Other projects include: occasional clean-up, painting, sorting and organizing donations, yard work, and minor repairs. Times and schedules are flexible.
Sexual Assault Recovery Program (SARP)
Family Services of Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois is looking for females over the age of 18 to respond to callers through the 24 hour hotline as well as to support sexual assault victims at both Beloit Memorial and Janesville Mercy Hospital. Volunteers must have transportation and a cell phone and pass a background check. SARP provides the training and additional refresher courses. Once the volunteer is qualified, she serves on call on scheduled days (12 hour shifts) but can otherwise go about normal activities. Staff works closely with each volunteer to provide the necessary support and supervision.
Scoville Senior Center
Scoville Senior Center is in need of volunteers to help residents move in and out of assisted living, as well as help in transporting residents to and from doctor’s appointments. Some residents need help getting their apartments ready for quarterly inspections and others need help grocery shopping because they have difficulty reading the labels. Servers are also needed for the center’s lunch program.
Welty Environmental Center and Friends of the WEC
Welty Environmental Center and the Friends of Welty Environmental Center offer you many things to do to help others learn more about the outdoors and, in the process, assist those who aid them in doing so. You can assist with programs or lead one. You could fill receptionist and/or clerical positions at the Center or help with building maintenance. Those with technical, computer, or writing skills could design and produce promotional items, write feature articles for the Warbler and for public media, or help the center improve its public relations efforts. Still others could assist with business and development matters.
City of Beloit
The City of Beloit uses volunteer help in these areas: perennial and annual flower bed planting and care, litter removal, stream bank cleanup, assistance with special community events, office assistance at the senior center, performance of community surveys, studies and research of parks and leisure services related topics, Adopt-A-Highway litter removal program, and participation in Friends of the Parks organizations.
SMILES (Special Methods in Learning Equine Skills)
SMILES is a center where individuals with disabilities learn about how to care for and ride horses. Normally, volunteers will act as side handlers, assisting the center’s staff handling horses while special education groups or individuals come into the center. Other volunteer needs are for barn work, horse handlers, and other miscellaneous jobs.
Angel Museum
An historic location with an historic collection, the Angel Museum of Beloit has an ongoing need for volunteers in these areas: greeting visitors, serving food in the café for special events and tours, gardeners (spring, summer and fall), custodial and handyman positions, and individuals with computer skills to assist with data entry.
***If any of these volunteer opportunities interest you, feel free to register yourself as a volunteer and you will be contacted by our agency within two business days.
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