Volunteer Opportunities

Harrowgate Readers

During the school year, volunteers read to a small group of students for 1.5 hours each month on a Friday morning. An activity to reinforce the story follows and the school provides both the book and activity. These volunteers must enjoy being with children, must like reading, be good listeners and possess patience. Three or four adults will be in each classroom.

Helping Hands Volunteer

Helping Hands assists older adults and individuals with disabilities when they don’t have other resources available to help them fix their homes or maintain their yards. The office receives many calls seeking help with painting, building and installing ramps, mowing grass or raking leaves. This is a great opportunity for faith-based organizations, civic associations, neighborhoods, and businesses. Volunteers provide an effective work force to help improve their communities.

Information Desk Volunteer

Volunteers answer calls, provide information and document the call accurately and completely. The volunteer must have a desire to be of service and be able to respond to a wide variety of callers in a non judgmental manner.

Kiddy Buddy

Volunteers, 17 or older, will assist another adult in supervising children whose guardians are attending Kinship/Grandparent Connection, a support group for grandparents and other kin who are raising a child. Activities and a snack will be provided to the children.

Marketing Assistant

This volunteer will help create event announcements, press releases, creative signage, and articles for publications using the AP Style. The individual may serve on the newsletter committee or assist with grant research and writing. A good candidate for this position will be self-motivated, creative, well organized and artistic. The volunteer should also be skilled at Microsoft Office and able to work independently.

Office Volunteers

Office volunteers play a vital role in the daily operations of the Senior Advocate’s office. Responsibilities vary widely and may include:

• Answering phones
• Assembling training or information packets
• Computer work
• Filing
• Mailings
• Making copies
• Special projects as needed

Research Assistant

The volunteer will help research various programs, plans and costs and help inventory existing services for older adults.

Senior Ambassador Volunteer

During this 8-week program in the fall, the volunteer will help with the following tasks:

• Help to plan the program
• Networking with the class participants
• Prepare coffee and other beverages
• Recruit the instructors
• Setting up and working the equipment
• Setting-up and taking-down tables and chairs for the weekly Senior Ambassador meeting

The volunteer will assist class participants in planning a class project and will help however he or she is needed.

Special Events

These volunteers provide customer service and general support for a variety of special events sponsored by the Senior Advocate’s office. Because of the changing nature of our special events, duties may vary considerably. Essential duties include greeting participants, assisting event coordinators, working the event, and providing information about the activities during the event. Past events include:

• Care Giving Workshops
• Fun at the Fairground
• Health and Senior Fairs
• Senior Volunteer Hall of Fame
• Student Essay Contest
• Triad Senior Day

Special Projects for Children

Through meaningful activities and support, the individual will enhance the monthly or special event experience of the children who attend Kinship/Grandparent Connection meetings. The volunteer will help to plan and host fun and educational activities for the children in the group several times a year.

Telephone Reassurance Volunteer

Volunteers provide brief, daily telephone calls to elderly or disabled county residents to verify their well-being and provide a community connection. This service provides peace of mind and reassurance to the person living alone. Calls are made on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings and on Tuesday afternoons from the Senior Advocate’s office.

Triad Volunteer

The individual works with Chesterfield Triad to educate seniors and caregivers about programs, services, techniques and systems that aid in crime prevention and improve the quality of life for senior citizens. The program offers many free safety programs and services. For Triad Senior Day in May, the individual may help with soliciting donations, recruiting vendors, setting up, taking down and working the event.

Volunteer Coordinator

The individual must be self-motivated and reliable, have excellent organizational and communication skills, have a knowledge and understanding of the issues affecting older adults and have the ability to work cooperatively with different types of personalities.