Volunteering

Experts tell us that people volunteer their time and talents for a variety of reasons. The desire for affiliation, to work with others, to receive recognition and affirmation, and to attain that deep-down sense of achievement that comes from a job well done are all important factors. Whatever the motivation, each year hundreds of individuals call to ask United Way Information & Referral, "How can I be a volunteer?" The following are just a few of the many ways you as a volunteer can make our community a better place to live.

• Be an adult role model and friend to a child 7 to 14 years old who needs you. Big Brothers/Big Sisters, 375-2525.

• Encourage your community organization to Adopt-A-Highway and keep litter off our roadways. Alachua County Public Works, 462-0056.

• Tutor a child, help a teacher, or perform tasks that help our schools run smoothly. School Board of Alachua County, 955-6760.

• Are you retired? Alachua County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) has over 75 work stations available for volunteers over 55. Call Ann Snavely at 373-7814.

• The Alachua County Crisis Center trains crisis intervention volunteers to be empathetic listeners to meet the challenges of its 24 hour Crisis Hotline. Call Paul Bramblett at 372-3659.

• Do you love horses? The Retirement Home for Horses in High Springs needs volunteer groomers. Call Pete or Mary Gregory at 454-1001.

• Habitat for Humanity volunteers build hopes and dreams...and houses! Call 378-HOME.

• Deliver nutritious meals to homebound elderly persons through SantaFe Community Care for the Elderly, 336-3822.

• Vocal Eyes volunteers record reading material to students with disabilities. Call 392-1261.

• Respite volunteers sit with a homebound person so that a caregiver may have a few hours to run errands, shop, or take a much-needed rest. Call Sister Clare at Catholic Charities, 372-0294.

• Emergency shelters for the homeless need volunteers to serve meals and more. St. Francis House, 378-9079 or Salvation Army, 376-1743.

• Learn conflict resolution skills as a small claims mediator volunteer. Call Jean Sperbeck at 374-3666.

• Help raise the dollars needed to fund 27 local health and human service organizations as a United Way Campaign Volunteer, or help decide how those dollars will be used as a United Way Allocations Volunteer. Call Paula Guerrein at 378-1343.

• The Alachua County Library District utilizes volunteers in a variety of capacities. Call Carol Kiely at 334-3943.

• Are you an Internet Maven? Teach others how to "surf the bitstream" as a volunteer with the Alachua FreeNet. Contact Nance Lempinen-Leedy at 334-3939.

• Christians Concerned for the Community coordinates volunteers who deliver food, run errands, move furniture or do whatever must be done to help people in need. Call Lynn Groce at 371-1768.

• There are many other volunteer positions too numerous to list here. Our community is fortunate to have a Volunteer Center which serves as a clearinghouse for training and placement. The Center is also a resource for corporate volunteers. Call 378-2552.

• United Way Information & Referral Specialist Volunteers link callers with questions and problems to resources with answers and solutions. Want to help? For any problem, any question, anytime, or to become an Information Specialist Volunteer, call 375-4636. That's 375-INFO!