Volunteer Opportunities | Golden time

LC Valley Habitat for Humanity serves low-income residents of Nez Perce and Asotin counties by helping them build or improve a place they can call home. They welcome volunteers with various interests to help them work on Habitat’s vision of a “world where everyone has a decent place to live”.

For more information or to register, visit l-cvalleyhabitat.volunteerhub.com or call (509) 860-4865.

Current needs include:

• Pumpkin Volunteers – Help is needed for the service tent staff. Duties include welcoming guests, selling pumpkins and maintaining the crest.
• Grant researcher and writer, training available – Grant writing is a critical part of building homes.
• Social Media Specialist – Create and schedule posts for the various social media pages of LC Valley Habitat.
• Administrative Office Receptionist – Answer the phone and do light office work.
• Habitat ReStore – If you are a handyman looking to get out of the house for a few hours a week, this is the opportunity for you. People with skills in electrical, basic carpentry or furniture repair are needed.

The WA-ID Volunteering Center, in the Lewiston Community Center at 1424 Main Street, strives to provide individualized volunteer opportunities for those who wish to serve in Lewiston, Clarkston, Asotin, Pomeroy, Moscow and the Orofino region. You can find information and other volunteer opportunities at waidvolunteercenter.org or by calling (208) 746-7787.

Volunteer needs include:

• Museum Guides – Skills include meeting skills, a friendly personality, and the ability to answer questions about exhibits at the center. Training is provided.
• Tutors – America Reads needs tutors to help K-3 students become competent readers. Volunteers should be able to commit at least one hour per week for the school year. Background check required.
• Companions – The Senior Companion program offers support and respite care to the elderly and disabled. It allows older, low-income volunteers to help those in need of minor assistance continue to live independently. Senior Companions visit clients at home, but this is not a home care program.
• Food Bank Help – Volunteers are needed to repackage frozen and dry foods for distribution. Counter volunteers and drivers for morning food pickups are also needed.
• Meal Sites – Volunteers are needed for regular and substitute meal delivery drivers. A valid driver’s license and auto insurance are required.
• Opioid Information Instructors – Volunteers lead online classes through a Power Point-based curriculum and facilitate discussion based on audience questions regarding opioids, their use and elimination. Training is provided
• Project Warm Up – Craftsmen are needed to make hats, scarves, mittens and blankets (yarn is provided) and to help tie quilts. Completed articles are donated to local non-profit organizations.
• Medicare Navigation – The State Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program trains volunteers to help local seniors answer Medicare questions.
• Lewiston Town Library – Volunteer needs include book shelves, gardening, home delivery, photography, tech tutoring, genealogy, tech lab, youth services, and student assistance for their homework.
• Mobile blood drive canteen – Volunteers serve refreshments to donors immediately after donation, help maintain a comfortable atmosphere, chat with donors and answer questions while observing donors for possible adverse reactions.
• Disaster Services – As first responders to the American Red Cross, volunteers in the Disaster Action Team (DAT) provide comfort and direct assistance to those affected by a disaster as it begins the recovery process.

Interlink Inc. is a Clarkston non-profit organization that connects community volunteers with people who need help staying independent in their homes. To find out how to become a volunteer, call (509) 751-9143. Volunteer requests and additional information can also be found online at www.interlinkvolunteers.org.

• The Lewiston-Clarkston Valley is in dire need of summer drivers to transport the elderly and the disabled to medical and other appointments. Drivers can choose the number of hours they can work. The need is Monday to Saturday. Training is provided and drivers are compensated 56 cents per mile for each trip made.
• Drivers are also needed to do shopping and deliveries for people confined to their homes.

Meal on wheels in the valley provides daily in-home meals to seniors, housebound clients and clients with special needs in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley.

If you or someone you know would benefit from an in-home meal service, contact the office between 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. at (208) 799-5767 or by email at [email protected].

Golden Times publishes volunteer opportunities in the Lewiston-Clarkston Valley each month as a free public service. Agencies in the region can send information to [email protected] or Golden Times, PO Box 957, Lewiston, ID 83501. All submissions are edited for brevity and clarity, and will be released as space allows. Questions can be directed to editor Julie Breslin at [email protected] or (208) 791-6635. The deadline for the November edition is 5 p.m. on October 15.