Retired & Senior Volunteer Program of Chester County invites potential volunteers age 55 and older to attend the 6th annual “Sock It To Us” Campaign Kick-Off and Volunteer Recruitment Event on Wednesday, Sept. 30, from 9-11 a.m. at the Chester County Art Association Exton Studio, next to Boscov’s on first floor of the Exton Square mall. The only admission fee is one or more pairs of new socks, to be distributed to shelters and programs serving the homeless and disadvantaged in the county. More than 3,800 pairs of socks were collected last year. Enjoy light refreshments, learn about the wide variety of volunteer opportunities available and tour the galleries of the studio where 35 percent of your purchase price may be deducted from your federal income tax, lay-away is available for the early Christmas shopping. RSVP at 610-696-4900, ext 14 or rsvp@familyservice.us.
The Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County, Inc. is seeking dedicated volunteers to provide hotline counseling and direct services to victims of crime in Chester County. The organization relies heavily on volunteers during the evening and weekend hours. The next Volunteer Sexual Assault Training class begins Thursday, September 10. Training classes are held in West Chester on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6-9pm. For more information please call 610-692-1926 or email volunteer@cvcofcc.org.
Animal Welfare Project located in Valley Forge is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a professional re-training center for homeless horses and dogs. They will be adopted as pets, sporting animals, or work in Community Service (Search & Rescue, Therapy, etc.) Volunteer opportunities include: Board Members with a background of professional skills, Graphic Designer to create and send Digital Newsletter announcements, Videographer to create short videos. For more information on how you can help contact Karen Filson at 215-603-1991 or email volunteercoordinator@animalwelfareproject.org.
Surrey Services for Seniors, located in Berwyn, is seeking volunteer driver escorts for senior neighbors who can no longer drive. As a driver escort, you would use your own car to take seniors to and from medical appointments or Surrey-sponsored activities. For the most part, the health care appointments are centered between Lankenau and Exton, with most between Bryn Mawr and Paoli. However, there are occasional requests for rides to Philadelphia hospitals. As an escort, you can choose the assignment based on familiarity with the area and convenient times. To be an escort you must be a licensed, insured driver with human relations skills and you must pass a DMV check and a criminal background check. For more information contact Linda DiMaggio at 610-647-6404.
The Women’s Exchange, a nonprofit, volunteer-staffed consignment shop with proceeds benefitting various community service organizations, is looking for new volunteers to help customers. For information, call the shop at 610-696-3058 between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and leave you name and phone number. The shop is located at 10 S. Church St., West Chester.Meals on Wheels of Chester County is in need of volunteers to deliver meals in West Chester, Coatesville, and rural areas of Chester County. Requires 1-2 hours per week or month. Call Terry Scott at 610-430-8500.
The Revolutionary War Brandywine Battlefield site, Route 1, Chadds Ford, is looking for volunteers to become tour guides/interpreters and to work in the museum shop handling museum sales and asociated duties. Tour guides will perform guided tours of the historic site including its two restored houses that were used as headquarters during the battle. Training will be provided. Those with past retail experience are needed as museum shop retail clerks. Volunteer time is very flexible based on your availability. Volunteers are needed to provide guided tours or coverage in the museum shop – mid afternoons until closing. Visitors center closes 4:30 p.m and park closes 5 p.m.For information, call 610-459-3342 or go to http://www.brandywinebattlefield.org/ and submit a volunteer application on line.
Thresholds in Chester County seeks men and women volunteers to teach decision-making skills to men and women inmates at the Chester County Prison in Pocopson. All that is required is one hour of each week for a term of eight weeks, after attending a training weekend to learn the program. Upon completion of the training, they will then decide if they want to teach in the prison. There is no obligation to do so. In fact, the skills they learn may be useful in their own lives, whether they teach or not. The training will be held in West Chester, at the Chester County Government Services Center, on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The volunteer must attend both sessions. Thresholds has been taught for more than 30 years. It teaches individuals to understand the difference between reacting to situations and making conscious decisions. They learn that their actions have short-term and long-term consequences for which they must take responsibility. By learning how to set goals, and then how to achieve them, our clients learn how to gain control over their lives. Upon completing the program, inmates are better equipped to cope with life when they return to the community. For more information, or to sign up, call Richard Bergesen at 610-436-6469 or by e-mail at RBergesen@verizon.net .
The American Heart/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) is looking for volunteers to become “voices of power” through its stroke prevention program, spreading the prevention message and implementing the program geared toward stroke avoidance. To become a Power Ambassador or for more information, call the AHA/ASA at 610-234-2457.
The Chester County Art Association promotes participation in the arts through education, exhibitions and community outreach and offers a variety of volunteer opportunities at its West Chester and Exton locations. Volunteers are needed to help with art show openings, exhibition set-up, public art events, art camp, Exton Square Studio classes, technology support and building maintenance. Volunteer assignments are available during weekday, evening and weekend hours. For more information and a volunteer application, call 610-696-5600 or visit the CCAA Web site at http://www.chestercountyarts.org/ .
The Domestic Violence Center of Chester County is seeking volunteers to help victims of domestic abuse and their families. A training program is provided for individuals who would like to volunteer in the areas of adult and child counseling, child care, legal advocacy and public education. Volunteers are also needed for special projects such as moving furniture, cleaning and organizing, and landscaping. For more information, contact Terry Moody at 610-431-3546, ext. 16.The Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County is seeking volunteers to provide hotline counseling and direct services to victims of crime in Chester County. The organization relies heavily on volunteers during the weekend and evening hours. For more information, call Asha Sahijwani at 610-692-1926 or e-mail ashas@cvcofcc.org.
The information above was from The Daily Local News
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