Volunteer Opportunities at the Community Enrichment Center in 2007

Food or Toy Drives – There is a year-round need for food in the Food Pantry. The Pantry is always short of food in January to March time frame and again during the summer months. Food drives during either period are particularly important. Toy drives in November and December provide toys for our Community Christmas project.

	Food Pantry Workers - Volunteers work between 7 am to 3 pm Monday, Wednesday and Thursday,7 am to noon on Wednesday and Friday and from 6 pm to 8 pm on Thursday nights. Volunteers inspect, clean, sort, stock, select and box food for clients, and register people when they come.
	Adopt-A-Family Program Mentors - Volunteers mentor homeless families in the Adopt-A-Family Program. A two-hour training class taught by the Director of the Adopt-A-Family Program outlines the expectations and boundaries for mentors. Mentors encourage their family as they make the difficult transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency. Mentors make telephone contact twice a month. Mentors keep their family’s case manager informed on any important issues that they may learn about in the family. Mentors have a lot of latitude in terms of the amount of time they spend with their family. Mentoring is a rewarding experience that can literally help change the direction that one family is taking. This can be the most fulfilling volunteer opportunity at the CEC.
	Special Events – The following special events need volunteers to put them on. These are once a year events that require a commitment on a single day.

1. Mother’s Day Dinner – May 11th - This is an evening dinner for the approximately 70 mothers in the Adopt-A-Family Program. Volunteers are needed to decorate the room, prepare food, provide gifts for the mothers, serve food, and clean up afterward. Individuals or groups can participate for all or a part of this event. The primary staff working this event is the case managers.

2. Back-to-School Carnival – Aug 25th This is an in-door Saturday event with games, food, crafts for the 130 children in the Adopt-A-Family Program plus some children from recent graduate families. Each child receives a complete set of school supplies and one school outfit (pants, shirt, underwear and a backpack). The hours are Friday afternoon for set-up and Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm.

3. CEC Golf Classic – Oct 2nd – Golfers are needed to organize teams for this event. On-course volunteers work for 4-5 hours. Other volunteers set up dinner tables, register golfers, or set up and label the door prizes. This event starts with the morning golfers at 7:30 am and runs until after dinner at 8 pm.

4. Community Christmas (Formerly The Adopt-A-Family Children’s Christmas Party) – Dec 15th (9am – 6pm). This is a Saturday event for the 200+ children in the Adopt-A-Family and Open Arms programs; also members of the Single Parent Family Network are invited to participate in this program. There are games, lunch, and singing of Christmas songs before Santa arrives with designated gifts for each child. Volunteers serve lunch, organize games, set-up and decorate the room, and clean up afterward. Hours are 10 am to 3 pm. Volunteers also help children select gifts for their parents and help parents select toys for their children.  

Individuals or groups can call Jeremy Harrison, Community Resources Director, to schedule a time.