United Way of the Capital Region

 

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Companion - An East Shore agency needs volunteer companions for individuals who are terminally ill. Duties are varied and could include helping patient caregivers with errands, sitting with patients and providing support. This opportunity is available during flexible daytime, evening and weekend hours. Applications must be reliable, compassionate, and comfortable working with individuals with terminal illnesses. Training and ongoing support are provided.

Weekend Volunteer Opportunity - An East Shore agency needs volunteers to cover four-hour weekend shifts at a medical facility. Volunteer duties include answering the phone, keeping common areas straightened, stocking supplies and interacting with families of sick children. Interested volunteers must be compassionate and have good people and listening skills. Training is required and provided by the agency.

Friendly Visitors/Shoppers- An East Shore agency needs volunteers for friendly visiting and/or food shopping for home-bound seniors residing on both the East and West shores. This opportunity offers extremely flexible scheduling and tasks can be done during daytime, evening or weekend hours. Interested volunteers should be dependable, friendly and enjoy interacting with senior citizens. Training and ongoing support are provided.

Drivers - An East Shore agency needs drivers on the first and third Wednesdays of the month to drive blind and/or visually impaired individuals to support groups in the Harrisburg area. This opportunity requires 3-4 hours of time. Interested volunteers should be friendly, outgoing and have reliable transportation. Mileage reimbursement is available if needed.

Mentors - An East Shore agency needs volunteers to mentor youth, ages 11-16, in conflict resolution skills on Wednesdays from 5-6:30 p.m. Training and ongoing support are provided. Interested volunteers should enjoy working with youth and be willing to obtain child abuse clearances and a background check (paid for by the agency).

Tutors - An area agency needs tutors and classroom aids. This opportunity is extremely flexible and offers both East and West Shore locations as well as daytime and evening hours. Interested volunteers should be friendly, patient and enjoy working with adult learners, many of whom are ESL students. Training and ongoing support are provided.

Animal Lovers - An East Shore agency needs volunteers to help prepare horses for riding lessons for people with disabilities as well as various farm chores. This opportunity has daytime, evening and weekend opportunities. Interested individuals should be able to work around all sorts of animals and comfortable interacting with children and adults with disabilities.

Central Supply Volunteer:  A West Shore agency needs volunteers to assist with applying stickers and coding items in central storage.  This opportunity is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays during business hours. The facility requires a test for tuberculosis which is provided to volunteers at no cost

Clerical Volunteer:  A West Shore agency needs volunteers to assist with basic office duties including filing, copying and collating forms.  3 or 4 hour shifts are available weekdays Monday through Friday.  A PPD test is required of all volunteers and will be provided at no charge by the facility.

 Gift Shop Volunteers:  A West Shore medical facility needs volunteers to wait on customers, run the cash register, stock shelves and help with light cleaning (dusting, straightening).  This opportunity is available daytimes, evening and weekends. A PPD test is required of all volunteers and will be provided at no charge by the facility.

Tutor and Life-Skill Instructors: An East Shore agency needs GED tutors and life-skill coaches to teach previously incarcerated women. The tutoring opportunity is available Mondays and Wednesdays 9 a.m. to noon and life-skills training is held Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to noon.                    

Information & Referral Volunteers:  An area agency needs volunteers to answer phones and provide information to callers.  The phones are staffed 24/7 with flexible scheduling during daytime, evening and weekend hours.  Volunteers also have the option of answering calls at home after a probation period.  Interested volunteers must be willing to complete a 40 hour training to learn about available resources and develop active listening skills. 2013 sessions will be offered in January, April, July and October.

Seamstresses/Sewers-Work from home using your machine at your convenience. Transform white cotton T-Shirts into reusable sacks or bags with three simple cuts and one straight seam.  Will deliver (or you can pick up) t-shirts and finished products.

Communications/Marketing - An East Shore agency needs a volunteer to assist the Communications and Marketing department with posting events on websites, exploring other event websites and work on projects as needed. Computer skills and experience with Microsoft Office as well as the ability to work independently are a plus.

Mentors for Homeless Moms—A faith-based agency in Harrisburg needs mentors for single homeless mothers moving towards self-sufficiency.  Volunteers must be willing to commit to a minimum of one year building a warm supportive relationship.  Training and on-going support for volunteers are provided. 

Homeless Mom Support Volunteers— A faith based agency in Harrisburg needs volunteers to assist single homeless mothers with transportation, babysitting, job search assistance, and other services.  Training and on-going support for volunteers are provided.

Library Assistants-Volunteers, age 14 and older, are needed to help library patrons with downloading and accessing electronic  library materials.  The position requires basic understanding of e-Readers and e-Audio players and a commitment to serve one or two (1-2) hours each week.  The ability to troubleshoot digital device compatibility is extremely helpful.  Support and training on Overdrive software is provided as needed.  These positions require patience working with all types of people with all levels of computer experience.  The libraries open at 10 AM and close at various hours, at locations throughout Dauphin County.

Road to Recovery Drivers-Drivers are needed to transport patients to and from medical appointments in the Capital Area Region. A valid driver’s license and clean driving record are required. Some reimbursement for gas is available.

Look Good Feel Better & Wig Fittings-Licensed cosmetologists are needed to perform 1-2 hour make-up application and wig fitting sessions with cancer patients. Make-up is provided by the agency. There are various times and locations available.

Sidewalkers-Volunteers are needed to be sidewalkers at a horseback riding program for individuals with disabilities. Volunteers should be comfortable walking next to a horse and spotting the rider. Experience with horses is not necessary. Classes are held Wednesday evenings.

Committee Members-Bring your skills to the table if you are interested and have a passion to help homeless families regain independence. Committee members are needed for Human Resources, Public Relations, IT-Tech and Finance. 

Day Center-A West Shore agency needs volunteers to staff a day center.  Duties include answering the phone, assisting guests, administrative tasks and interacting with children. Daytime hours are available 7 days a week for 3 hours.  

Van Driver- A West Shore agency needs drivers who are comfortable driving a 15 passenger van from the West Shore to various local sites. Families are transported in the morning and returned to site in the evening. Total time requirement per day is 1.5 hours. Must proved drivers license and current copy of driving record.

Nursing Unit Rounder-An East shore medical facility needs volunteers to assist the clinical staff with patient care for 3-4 hour shifts.. Duties include delivering ice water, answering call bells, assisting patents with meals, sitting with anxious or lonely patients and helping stock medical supplies. Volunteers should be comfortable around patients and clinical staff, be proactive and outgoing. Parking is free and lunch voucher provided.

Clerical/Office Assistants-A local medical facility needs volunteers to assist with typing, filing, data entry, scanning and answering phones in the Family Care Clinics. 4 hour shifts are available weekdays. Both East and West shore locations provide free parking and a lunch voucher.

Gift Gallery Associate-A local medical facility needs volunteers to work in the gift shop. Duties include waiting on customers, stocking/organizing displays and inventory, managing cash register and light cleaning. 3-4 hour shifts are available 7 days a week. Both East and West shore locations. Free parking and lunch voucher are provided.

Registration Coordinator-Volunteers are needed at a local clinic to manage a registration desk, open and close the clinic, manage the flow of patients and be the liaison between registration desk and doctors. This opportunity is available twice a month on Fridays with shifts of 8-8.5 hours.  Volunteers should be energetic, reliable and compassionate.  The ability to speak Spanish is would be a plus.

Skilled Handyman/Laborer-A West Shore agency needs a handyman/laborer to work along side their maintenance coordinator one day a week. Duties would include helping to lift items that require more than one person and general maintenance. Criminal and child abuse clearances are required.

Volunteer ESL Tutors:  Adult volunteer tutors are needed to provide support to Carson Long Military Academy’s international students, one evening a week from 7:00-8:00 p.m. during the school year, with a focus on vocabulary and reading aloud.  Carson Long, the nation’s oldest boarding school to provide military leadership training, is an all-boy school, enrolling college and career preparatory students in grades 6-12.  Carson Long is located just off the square in New Bloomfield, Perry County, PA

Furniture Bank Volunteers: A West Shore agency needs volunteers to assist clients in selecting furniture and household goods, unpacking donations and stocking shelves, helping clients take selections to their vehicle.These opportunities are available Monday, Wednesday and Friday for 3-4 hour shifts.  Help is also needed to make phone calls to arrange time and dates for donation pick-ups.  The hours for making calls is flexible.

Drivers for Veterans: Help veterans arrive at scheduled medical appointments by volunteering to drive a van from the Camp Hill/Harrisburg area to the Lebanon VA Hospital and back. The starting time is 7:00 am and the trip is usually completed by 2:00 pm. No CDL required but a clean driving record is a must. A $6.00 food voucher for the canteen is provided.

Special Event Opportunities: Relay for Life:  Join a team and fund-raise year round or help day of event with set-up and tear-down or join a committee that has monthly meetings. Making Strides Against Cancer 5 k walk. Join a team, fund-raise as a team or help with day of event activities.

Assistive Technology Library Volunteers:  An East Shore agency needs volunteers to catalog, maintain and clean toys and adaptive equipment that is lent to families whose children have disabilities. Computer knowledge is helpful to assist with the check-in/check-out system. A time commitment of 2-3 hours once a twice a week is requested. 

Computer Lab Assistant: An East Shore agency is looking for volunteers to monitor use of on-site computer equipment and assist clients with their on-line employment searches, answer basic questions about Microsoft office programs, e-mail and search engines. Resolve basic issues with printer such as adding paper, toner and clearing jams. Customer service, patience and problem solving skills are are a must.  The opportunity is available Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to noon.

Pennsylvania Hope Ride: Pedal your way from Hershey to Philadelphia to help the American Cancer Society.  Join the ride for 1 or 2 days as an individual or as a team. June 29-30 

Flu Shot Clinic; Nurse Volunteers: Nurses are needed to administer flu shots at clinics throughout the East and West shore area. Clinics are open 1-3 hours, September through November, weekdays and Sundays, daytime and evenings.

Flu Shot Clinic; Clerical Volunteers:  Clerical volunteers are needed to complete insurance information paperwork at clinics throughout the East and West shore area. Clinics are open 1-3 hours, September through November, weekdays and Sundays, daytime and evenings.

Record Review Nurse:  An East Shore agency needs RN's or LPN's to review patient records for a quarterly record review. The opportunity is available weekdays during regular business hours and is available immediately. Any amount of time may be volunteered.

Clerical Volunteer: An East Shore agency needs clerical volunteers to assist with data entry, faxing, photocopying and answering phones. Computer skills are a plus. The opportunity is available weekdays, during regular business hours. Length of shifts is flexible.

General Office Help: A West Shore agency needs general office help. Duties include basic computer entry, filing and materials preparation. Hours are available Monday through Friday, morning and evening. 

Concert Volunteers: To take tickets, usher, and work coat room for HSO Classical (Masterworks) and Pops concerts.  Season runs October – May with an orientation date in mid-September.  Please sign up to serve as a concert volunteer at  http://harrisburgsymphony.org/volunteer.html.  Upon receiving your inquiry/sign up, you will be contacted to designate available dates for which you would like to volunteer.  Perk:  Free admission to HSO concert.  Hours: 1 hr and 45 min prior to concert start til concert end (roughly 4 hours).  Concerts are on Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons.  For more information, go to  http://harrisburgsymphony.org

One Day Event Volunteers: Volunteers are needed for a large one day event to be held September 25, 2013 at the Farm Show Complex and Expo Center. Project Homeless Connect will bring together 70 organizations, agencies and churches that provide services and match them with homeless men, women and children in need of assistance. Volunteers are needed as ambassadors, greeters, registration and to help with daycare. For additional information or to sign up,  please visit  http://cachpa.org/volunteerphc.asp

Clerical and Research Volunteers: An East Shore agency needs volunteers to do data entry, scanning, electronic filing and assistance with community statistics research. Familiarity with Office Word and Excel are a must. The opportunity is available daytime hours Monday through Thursday for 4 to 7 hours per day. Free parking is available.

Visit here to volunteer for any of these or other opportunities