Volunteer! column for July 8, 2012

Volunteer opportunities, provided by Volunteer! United (formerly Volunteer! Baton Rouge), are outlined in this column every Sunday. To learn more about these opportunities, contact the listed agency directly.

HEALTH PROFESSIONALS NEEDED FOR RED CROSS SERVICE, American Red Cross — Nancy Malone, [phone]: Health professionals are needed by the American Red Cross to provide essential disaster-related health care for those in need.

Every shelter needs the support of health and mental health professionals. RNs, LPNs, EMTs, doctors and nursing students receive additional Red Cross training to assist in their volunteer role. Red Cross Health Services utilizes a nurse-led model with nurses functioning at their individual scope of practice within a community setting; other health professionals work under the direct supervision of a nurse.

A free three-hour course will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday via online, which is easy to join. The training will include how to work in hurricane shelters, where thousands of volunteers are needed.

Sign up at http://www.batonrouge.redcross.org/hurricane-training or contact Malone for more information.

ADOPT A SENIOR DISTRIBUTOR, Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank — Bonnie Bordelon, [phone] or [e-mail]: Volunteers are needed to distribute Adopt a Senior boxes from 9:30 a.m. to noon on the last Wednesday of each month.

On-site training will be held for those age 18 and older. For more information, contact Bordelon.

FOSTER HOMES VOLUNTEER, APAWS (Ascension Parish Animal Welfare Society) — Jeanette Benedetto or Natalie Smith, [phone] or [e-mail]: APAWS is in need of more foster homes. Because the organization does not have a physical location, all of the animals are kept in foster homes until they are adopted. Foster chairs work closely with foster volunteers to ensure that the animals receive the medical care and resources they need until they are placed in their forever home. Contact Benedetto or Smith for more information, or visit the website, http://www.apawspets.org, and Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/apaws for updates and event announcements.

HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS, The Hospice of Baton Rouge — Betty Morris, [phone] or [e-mail]: The Hospice of Baton Rouge volunteers provide patient care and support services according to their experience, desire and training.

The group is seeking help with direct patient care, bereavement, administrative/office, fundraising and pet peace of mind. Assignment days and times are flexible depending on the need. For more information, contact Morris.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, Restoring Hearts Outreach Center — Attlah Burrell, [phone]: RHOC needs assistance with its second annual Back to School Community Rally from noon to 2:30 p.m. July 21 at the BREC Center, 7505 Independence Park.

There will be a mandatory meeting for all volunteers from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Restoring Hearts Outreach Center, 1821 Wooddale Court, Suite 210. If interested in this opportunity, contact Burrell.

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? Molly Vossler — [phone] or [e-mail]: Super Bowl XLVI champion Michael Clayton and friends will host a Baton Rouge Rush Mini Camp to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. July 28 at the Christian Life Academy football field. Volunteers are needed to assist with activities.

For more information, contact Vossler or visit http://www.BatonRougeRush.com.