Volunteer briefs for Oct. 28, 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.

DO YOU LIKE CATS? Cat Haven – Candy Ray, [phone] or [e-mail]: Cat Haven is seeking volunteers for PetSmart Adoption Center Caretaker. The Caretaker provides daily care of all the cats at its offsite adoption centers. The work includes cleaning cages, providing food and water, monitoring the health of each cat, and providing socialization for individual cats. Volunteers must be 18 or older. Contact Ray for more information.

SUNSHINE SOCIAL, BREC Therapeutics Department – Erin O’Neil, [phone] ext. 143 or [e-mail]: Come out every third Friday of the month from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. to help set up for the Sunshine Social dance. The BREC Therapeutics Department offers programming to adults in the community with disabilities. Volunteers will help with serving food and welcoming participants. The dances take place at BREC’s Womack Center at 6201 Florida Blvd. Contact O’Neill for more information.

DO YOU LIKE SHARING OR TEACHING? The American Red Cross – Barbara Bourgeois, [phone] or [e-mail]: Volunteers are needed to work with the community outreach program to help neighbors learn how to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Volunteers will be trained to share preparedness education information at community health fairs and presentations to faith-based groups, senior groups, organizations and the general public. To learn more, contact Barbara.

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. Sought are volunteers to assist 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 Betty.

EMPOWER LOUISIANA’S SENIORS TO PREVENT MEDICARE FRAUD, Louisiana Senior Medicare Patrol, Sunny Lawless [phone]: Bilingual volunteers are needed to help share Medicare fraud prevention information with seniors of Hispanic communities. Contact Lawless for more information.