Volunteer Briefs for Oct. 21, 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.
SWAMP HAUNTED HOUSES, BREC’s Bluebonnet Swamp and Nature Center — Erin O’Neill, (225) 272-9200, ext. 143, or volunteer@brec.org: This Halloween, volunteer with a family-friendly event at the Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center. Helpers are needed to sit at trail stations with staff members and hand out candy to visitors, and help direct visitors from the parking lot to the trails and various other stations. Volunteers will also help at the face-painting station and to monitor “Creepy Cavern” and “Animal Morgue” rooms. The event will be from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday. Contact O’Neill for more information.
HAUNTED HISTORY, West Baton Rouge Museum — Toni Brantley, (225) 336-02422, ext. 16: Volunteers are needed from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday for a Halloween event. There will be trick-or-treating, crafts, games and storytelling on the grounds of the museum. Volunteers will assist in preparing the activities, and work with children during the event. Help is also needed with cleanup. Teens should be at least 16 years old. For more information, contact Brantley.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED, Capital Area CASA — Emily Hebert, (225) 379-8598: Capital Area CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Association, a nonprofit organization that recruits, trains and supervises community volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children, will hold its next volunteer training course beginning Jan. 8. CASA needs the help of community volunteers in order to continue to provide an advocate for every abused child who needs one. No special experience is required other than a willingness to get involved and to learn. Volunteers must be 21 years old. The first step to getting involved is to attend a brief orientation at the CASA office. Call (225) 379-8598 or visit online at http://www.casabr.org for more information.
NEED VARIETY OF VOLUNTEERS, Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Pam Nelson, (225) 383-7837, ext. 207, or pnelson@svdpbr.com: St. Vincent de Paul has several programs that are in need of volunteer support. The Day Shelter Program is looking for volunteers to care for children while their parents are attending life skills classes. Work is in shifts from 8:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Monday through Friday.
The Shelter Office and the Essential Needs Distribution Center are both in need of volunteers on a regular basis to answer phones and greet people at the door. Hours can be scheduled around availability. In addition, St. Vincent de Paul is looking for groups to sort and wrap toys in preparation for Christmas. For more information about any of the opportunities, contact Nelson.
LOOKING FOR A REWARDING VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE? GaitWay Therapeutic Horsemanship — Courtney Finnan, (225) 766-1614 or courtney@gaitway.org: GaitWay Therapeutic Horsemanship is an organization dedicated to improving the lives of people of all ages with cognitive, physical or emotional disabilities through the benefits of therapeutic riding and hippotherapy. The faith-built, volunteer-based center has volunteer opportunities for those with and without horse experience. A comprehensive training program will be provided for all those interested. For more information on how to become a volunteer, contact Finnan.