* 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.

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 fundraising 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) 619-5155.

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 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 fundraising 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.

FRIENDS OF ORANGE COAST INTERFAITH SHELTER

The Friends of the Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter meet the first

Thursday of each month to plan projects and events that benefit

homeless families. FOCIS is the shelter’s only fundraising arm. (949)

640-8828.

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. 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.

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. (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.

MOBILE MEALS

Volunteer drivers are needed to help deliver nutritious meals to

homebound, frail or elderly clients incapable of shopping and cooking

for themselves. (949) 645-8050.