Opportunities To Volunteer

DANBURY — The Volunteer Center of Western Connecticut is a leader in strengthening the community by connecting people to volunteer service.

Current volunteer opportunities follow. Call 203-797-1154, send email to volunteers@VolunteerDanbury.org, or visit VolunteerDanbury.org for more information on these opportunities.

*A grant writer needed for a holistic organization that would like to turn their ideas into sustainable programs. Volunteers can work from home.

*Parent mentors are needed once a week to go into the Danbury office of a family resource agency for two hours during office hours and provide telephone support to first-time moms. They especially hope some Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking volunteers could be available to help.

*A gift shop volunteer is needed in Danbury on Tuesday afternoons or Thursday mornings to keep items neat, help clients with selection, and handle the recording of sales.

*Board members are needed at many area nonprofit agencies to assist with the organizational structure and strategic planning of the agency.

*A landscape architect/engineer needed to design a wetlands boardwalk for a youth-driven environmental project at a passive recreation park in Danbury.

*Website updating is needed for a mind, body, spirit organization to maximize their messages.

*Radio readers are needed to read the newspaper for the visually impaired for up to two hours anytime during the weekday hours of 8 am to 7 pm. Volunteers must be able to commit to a weekly time. The studio is located in Danbury. Minimum age to volunteer is 17.

Wish List

The Volunteer Center also has a continuing wish list of items from local organizations. Current requests include the following:

*A heavy-duty paper shredder (must be able to handle staples) is needed so that a developmentally delayed adult can continue with his paying job at a nonprofit agency.

*A canister vacuum cleaner for an area nonprofit to help them keep their offices clean.

*Arts and craft supplies for classes at a Danbury mental health program.

*Baby layette items (new, general items for newborns) for a community family volunteer project scheduled for late March. This project will assemble items into baby bags to be distributed to needy families. This could be a great group project.

Contact The Volunteer Center at the phone and email options given above to help with these items.

Special Events

*A Build a Better Board workshop will be held on Tuesday, February 23, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, at The Volunteer Center office, 58 Division Street in Danbury. This interactive workshop provides current board members or nonprofit staff members with an opportunity to improve the composition and effectiveness of their nonprofit board.

Registration is requested and can be done by calling 203-797-1154.  Leave your name and phone number.

*Also, training for hotline volunteers to assist with domestic violence or sexual assault calls will be held from 5:30 to 9 pm on March 25 and continuing to June 7. After completing all sessions and the application process participants will be eligible to be a hotline volunteer. Minimum age is 18.