* GETTING INVOLVED runs periodically in the...
* GETTING INVOLVED runs periodically in the Daily Pilot on a rotating
basis. For information on adding your organization to this list, call
(949) 574-4298.
ACADEMIC YEAR IN AMERICA
Costa Mesa families can host a German student and earn up to
$1,000 toward a number of travel-abroad programs. Danielle Carpino,
(800) 322-HOST.
ALS ASSN., ORANGE
COUNTY CHAPTER
The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Assn., which helps people who
have the disorder that is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, needs
volunteers. (714) 375-1922.
ALZHEIMER’S ASSN.
OF ORANGE COUNTY
Support group leaders, Visiting Volunteers, family resource
consultants and office volunteers are needed. Volunteers may work on
one-time projects or ongoing programs. Training sessions are
available. (800) 660-1993.
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
The Orange County Region of the American Cancer Society seeks
office volunteers. The society also seeks volunteers to answer calls
for the unit’s Helpline InfoCenter. (949) 261-9446.
AMERICAN CANCER
SOCIETY DISCOVERY SHOP
The American Cancer Society Discovery Shop needs unwanted goods
such as clothing, furniture, jewelry, accessories, antiques and
collectibles to fund the society’s research, education and patient
services programs. The goods may be dropped off at 2600 E. Coast
Highway, Corona del Mar. Volunteers are also needed from 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. Monday through Saturday at the same location. (949) 640-4777.
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
ROAD TO RECOVERY
The transportation program needs volunteers to drive cancer
patients to and from medical treatments free of charge. The required
commitment is a few hours each week or month. Drivers must have a
valid driver’s license and insurance and be at least 25. Volunteers
may use either their own vehicles or American Cancer Society vans.
(949) 261-9446 or scomer@cancer.org. The American Cancer Society is
also looking for volunteer speakers for its Speakers Bureau program,
which offers a free service to communities, schools and corporations
by providing trained speakers to address cancer issues. The
organization will train all interested volunteers at a special
session on Dec. 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Spectrum Club,
1535 Deerpark Drive in Fullerton. For reservations, call Florence
Dann at (949) 567-0604 by Nov. 22.
AMERICAN HEART ASSN.
The American Heart Assn. is looking for volunteers to perform
various general office duties in the main office and implement
educational and fund-raising events through Orange County. No
experience necessary. Training will be provided. (949) 856-3555.
AMERICAN HOME HEALTH
HOSPICE PROGRAM
The American Home Health Hospice Program needs volunteers to give
emotional support to terminally ill patients and their families in
the greater Orange County area. Training is provided. (714) 550-0800
or (800) 540-2545.
AMERICAN RED CROSS,
ORANGE COUNTY CHAPTER
The chapter needs volunteers to address community groups about Red
Cross services and to act as liaisons with the media in disaster and
emergency situations. Lynn Howes, (714) 481-5376.
ANIMAL NETWORK
OF ORANGE COUNTY
Become a bottle-feeder or take in pregnant cats at your home. Many
shelters kill pregnant cats upon arrival. Dogs and cats are also
available for adoption.(949) 759-3646 or www.animalnetwork.org.
ASSISTANCE LEAGUE
OF NEWPORT-MESA
Volunteers looking for varying levels of involvement are needed to
help the organization with its goal of helping children in the
community. (949) 645-6929.
ASSN. RENAISSANCE CREATORS
The Costa Mesa group sponsors and supports outreach community
service programs, such as the homeless sanctuary. Volunteers are
needed. (714) 540-5803.
BEST BUDDIES
The nonprofit organization is looking for volunteers 18 and older
to provide companionship for adults with developmental disabilities.
As a “Citizen Buddy,” volunteers will visit with a buddy twice a
month and call or e-mail them once a week. The organization also has
an e-Buddies program that forms friendships entirely over the
Internet. Volunteers for that program must be at least 12 years old.
(714) 546-1826 or www.bestbuddies.org.
BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS
The local chapter is looking for men and women older than 20 who
have lived in Orange County for at least six months and have been on
the job for at least three months to serve as big brothers or big
sisters for children ages 6 to 16 from single-parent homes. (714)
544-7773.
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA INC.
Volunteer opportunities for the Orange County Council include
fund-raising, program development and training to existing troops and
packs. (714) 546-4990.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS
OF NEWPORT-MESA
The three area clubs need volunteer coaches and arts and crafts
workshop teachers. Call for locations. (949) 642-2245.
BRAILLE INSTITUTE’S
ORANGE COUNTY CENTER
The nonprofit organization is looking for volunteers with a basic
knowledge of Windows 95/98, Microsoft Word and a willingness to learn
the adaptive equipment used by its students to participate in various
activities at the Oasis Senior Center in Corona del Mar. Volunteers
will tutor legally blind adult students using computers and other
adaptive technology. Mary Johnson, (714) 821-5000, ext. 2113.
CAMP LAUREL FOUNDATION
Camp Laurel is seeking volunteer counselors and medical staff for
Summer Camp and Teen Adventure Camp. The organization is dedicated to
providing educational camping programs free of charge to children
living with HIV and AIDS. (323) 653-5005.
CENTENNIAL EVENT COMMITTEE
Volunteers are needed to serve on a Centennial Event Committee to
celebrate the 100th anniversary of Corona del Mar in 2004. Community
input on the final form of that committee is also sought.
Information: (949)675-0501.
COMPANION HOSPICE
The Hospice is now recruiting volunteers to become a friend for
someone who needs that extra special caring at the end-of-life.
Become a member of a team whose goal is to promote quality of life
and comfort measures. Each applicant will receive 16 hours of
orientation and training. Information: (714) 560-8177,
volunteers@CompanionHospice. com.
COMMUNITY ANIMAL NETWORK
The network needs volunteers to help control the rising population
of wild cats in local neighborhoods. Volunteers would trap and
deliver cats to local veterinarians for spaying or neutering, and
then release them back to the property where they were found. The
goal of the program is to save the lives of stray cats. (949)
759-3646.
COSTA MESA
CIVIC PLAYHOUSE
The playhouse needs volunteers for ushering, backstage work,
mailings, typing, controlling lights and many other duties. (949)
650-5269.
COSTA MESA
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The society preserves and promotes the history of Costa Mesa and
the harbor area. Volunteers are needed for the archives, library,
museum, docent and public outreach programs. (949) 631-5918.
COSTA MESA
LITERACY COUNCIL
The Costa Mesa Literacy Center needs volunteer tutors to teach
English as a second language. People who want to learn English as a
second language are also encouraged to call. Call to register. (714)
435-3310 or (714) 545-3445.
LITERACY PROGRAM
The program is always in need of volunteer tutors. No professional
teaching experience is required. To attain certification, a series of
training classes must be completed. For more information, contact
Literary Services at the Newport Beach Library, (949) 717-3874.
COSTA MESA MS
SELF-HELP GROUP
The Orange County chapter of the national Multiple Sclerosis
Society has started a new self-help group in Costa Mesa for people
newly diagnosed or with minimal symptoms of multiple sclerosis, or
both. The group meets at 11 a.m. the second Tuesday of every month.
(949) 650-7659.
COSTA MESA
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Seniors 55 and older are invited to help staff the Westside
substation. Volunteers are asked to work two four-hour daytime shifts
per week. They would be responsible for answering phones, bicycle
registration, fingerprinting, data entry and assisting with other
citywide projects. Seniors who can speak Spanish and English are also
needed. Call for an application. Fred Gaeckler, (714) 754-5208.
COSTA MESA SENIOR CENTER
The multipurpose senior services facility at the corner of 19th
Street and Pomona Avenue seeks volunteers who can greet members and
the public at the front desk and volunteers for the Resource
Department with Excel computer experience and sharp telephone skills.
The Senior Meals program also needs people to deliver meals to homes.
(949) 645-2356.
COSTA MESA SENIOR CORP.
The nonprofit organization at the Costa Mesa Senior Center is
looking for new board members. The fund-raising and policymaking
board needs volunteers who will participate in monthly meetings,
occasional committee meetings and special projects. Candidates should
have connections in Costa Mesa and surrounding communities and an
interest in serving the community by helping seniors. (949) 645-2356,
ext. 16.
COURT-APPOINTED
SPECIAL ADVOCATES
Volunteers are needed to serve as advocates for abused, neglected
and abandoned children. Volunteers work one on one with a child for
three hours a week. (714) 663-9034.
DISPUTE RESOLUTION SERVICES
Volunteer mediators, case specialists and outreach assistants are
needed to help in a variety of mediation cases. Bilingual language
skills are needed for office volunteers and for mediators. (949)
250-0488.
EASTER SEALS
Easter Seals needs volunteers for ongoing clerical work, programs
for children with disabilities and special events. (714) 834-1111.
ENVIRONMENTAL
NATURE CENTER
The Environmental Nature Center provides quality education through
hands-on experience with nature in a 3.5-acre outdoor classroom.
Adult volunteer trail guides are needed to in the afternoon during
the week to lead children’s tours in the Center. Several other
volunteer opportunities are also available. (949) 645-8489.
FAMILIES -- COSTA MESA
This team of community-based organizations, which works to provide
youth and families with counseling, family support, health education,
mentoring, tutoring, after-school activities and kinship services,
needs volunteers in all areas. (949) 574-3976.
FISH -- MOBILE MEALS
Call (949) 642-6060 to help Friends in Service to Humanity with
the Mobile Meals program and provide ongoing emergency assistance to
those in need. Both always seek volunteer assistance in a variety of
areas. (949) 645-8050.
FRIENDS OF THE BALLET MONTMARTRE
The Friends need volunteers who want to help talented local
dancers perform in professional theaters. For 30 years, the
organization has provided the community with quality Russian ballet
training, helping youth develop strong discipline skills, build high
self-esteem and achieve dreams of being a professional dancer. (714)
241-7424.
FRIENDS OF THE COSTA MESA LIBRARIES
The Friends is a support group for the three libraries in Costa
Mesa. Help with fund-raising events and help promote library programs
and services in our community. (714) 556-4396.
FRIENDS OF THE
NEWPORT BEACH LIBRARY
The bookstore needs donations for book sales. Good quality
children’s and nonfiction books are especially needed. They may be
left at any of the branch libraries -- Balboa, Mariners or Corona del
Mar -- or in the special book closet next to the Friends Book Store,
at 1000 Avocado Ave. Volunteers are needed to staff the used book
store, which is inside the entrance of the Central Library.
Volunteers must be members of the Friends of the Library and are
asked to work one three-hour shift per month. (949) 759-9667.
GIRL SCOUTS
Girl Scouts of Orange County needs volunteers who will be trained
as troop leaders, serve on special committees and give lectures,
demonstrations or classes. (714) 979-7900.
GIRLS INC.
OF ORANGE COUNTY
Volunteers are needed to offer educational and enrichment
opportunities for girls and boys. (949) 646-7181.
HOSPICE PREFERRED CHOICE
Volunteers are needed to help make a difference in the lives of
terminally ill persons and their families. Volunteers would assist
them with nonmedical needs such as providing respite for the primary
caregiver, running errands, reading to the patients and weekly social
visits. The organization is also looking for clerical and bereavement
volunteers to assist with office duties. Training is provided. (714)
980-0900.
HUMAN OPTIONS
The organization shelters, counsels and educates abused women and
children. It is looking for volunteers. (949) 737-5242, ext. 24.
JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE
OF ORANGE COUNTY
Volunteers are needed for Project Caring, which provides
socialization and cultural experiences to the Jewish residents and
others at Fairview Developmental Center in Costa Mesa. Volunteers
“adopt” a facility to provide programming of Jewish content to the
residents on a monthly basis. They must take a TB test and undergo a
fingerprinting background check. Volunteers are also needed to
provide comfort and support to the Jewish terminally ill and their
families. The group sponsors an ongoing Jewish healing support group
for people with chronic illness at 7 p.m. Thursdays at the Jewish
Family Service, 250 E. Baker St., Suite G, Costa Mesa. Free.
Preregistration required. (714) 445-4950.
JUNIOR LEAGUE
OF ORANGE COUNTY
The organization of women, committed to promoting volunteerism,
developing the potential of women and improving communities through
the work and leadership of trained volunteers, is seeking new
members. (949) 261-0823.
KAISER PERMANENTE
HOSPICE SERVICES
Volunteers are needed to spend four hours per week visiting
patients or doing errands for them or their caregivers in communities
near volunteers’ homes. (562) 622-3805.
LAGUNA GREENBELT INC.
Volunteers are needed to assist Laguna Coast Wilderness Park staff
and James Dilley Preserve staff and docents with hiker registration
and general public orientation. (949) 488-0287.
LAGUNA SHANTI
Laguna Shanti, an organization that works with persons with HIV or
AIDS, is seeking caring volunteers to assist with running the front
office, delivering meals, providing transportation and providing
complimentary therapies such as massage, acupuncture and chiropractic
care. Lisa Toghia, (949) 494-1446.
LIFELINE LIVING CENTERS
Mentally ill adults rely on the Newport Beach center for
residential housing. It needs professional fund-raisers to support
and maintain this resource.
LUV-A-PET CENTER
Volunteers who love to work with cats and kittens are needed at
the Luv-a-Pet Center at PetsMart in Costa Mesa. Information: (949)
451-3272.
MASTER CHORALE
OF ORANGE COUNTY
The performing arts organization needs volunteers for computer
input, ticketing, filing and handling phones. (714) 556-6262.
MENTOR PROGRAM
YMCA Community Services needs mentors to make a lasting effect on
a young person’s life. Students 10 to 18 years old are matched with
mentors to improve their school performance and self-esteem while
developing positive peer and adult relationships. (714) 549-9622,
ext. 35.
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