the ywca of olympia needs volunteers to fill the following openings: day center hostess, serving homeless women for two-hour shifts during the winter months; office volunteers for four-hour shifts; and volunteers to stock the shelves of The Other Bank on Tuesdays. In addition, the YWCA always accepts donations of hygiene items such as shampoo and dish soap. Call Bree Lafreniere at 360-352-0593 to volunteer or donate.
The Center for natural lands management needs volunteers on Tuesdays and the second Saturday of each month to gather at a South Puget Sound prairie preserve to do critical environmental restoration work. Activities range from burning brush piles and planting native wildflowers and grasses, to native plant seed collection and cleaning. Call 360-570-0762 or email ssvolunteers@cnlm.org to volunteer.
The Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater Visitor & Convention Bureau needs volunteers to staff the visitor center on the Capitol Campus between 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Volunteers must enjoy greeting visitors and helping them locate information about the campus and Thurston County. Contact Cathy Mah at 360-704-7544 or cathy@visitolympia.com.
2012 thurston county wsu master gardener volunteer training Applicants must complete an application and attend an orientation session at Thurston County Extension Office in west Olympia to determine whether the program is the right fit. Registration is not required for the meetings, which are from 5:30-7 p.m. Nov. 29 and Dec. 7. Upon acceptance into the program, a $275 class fee will be due. To learn more and to download the application, go to county.wsu.edu/thurston. Click on the “Gardening” link on the left, then “Master Gardeners.” Applications are due Dec. 16.
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RETIRED & SENIOR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM (RSVP) places volunteers older than age 55 in a variety of positions throughout Thurston, Mason and Lewis counties. Opportunities include working in schools, food banks, shelters, museums, children and youth programs, adult support programs, advising the public about access to health insurance, tax preparation, office assistance and more. Assignments can be short projects or on-going. Contact Jeannie Roe Gruber at jroegruber@unitedway-thurston.org or 360-943-2773, ext. 20, or visit unitedway-thurston.org and select “RSVP.”
aarp tax-aide program needs volunteer tax counselors to provide free income-tax assistance and counseling to low- and middle-income taxpayers, particularly those ages 60 and older. Volunteers will be trained during December and January. Computer skills are required. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are welcome. Counselors will be expected to work a minimum of four hours per week. The program also is recruiting for technical people who have a computer hardware or software background, and front desk staff. To register, call 888-687-2277 or go to aarp.org/taxaide.
boots to shoes foundation was founded by two Washington businessmen as a way of showing their appreciation to military service members. Volunteer mentors start by attending a free mentoring workshop and then are paired with a veteran they meet with twice a month. Mentors provide insight into the civilian workforce and offer objective discussions of career goals and job search strategies. Go to bootstoshoes.org.
friends of paul grudis need volunteers to purchase and deliver nutritious snacks for the homework club at Evergreen Vista. Also needed are donations of housewares, bedding, towels and kitchen wares. Several volunteers are needed each month. Call Lindsay at 360-352-1315.
Dispute Resolution Center needs volunteers to help people resolve their conflicts with friends, neighbors, families, co-workers, landlords or businesses. Learn how to be a neutral listener for four hours per week. Call 360-956-1155.
kokua needs volunteers to be buddies to an adult with disabilities. Volunteers are partnered with an individual with similar interests to go on outings or visit in the client’s home. Must be age 18 or older, and pass a background check. Contact Randi Miller at 360-705-4665, ext. 120.
Providence St. Peter Hospital has gift shop volunteer positions available. Profits from the gift shops fund equipment for the hospital. Call volunteer services at 360-493-7482.
the Crisis Clinic of Thurston and Mason Counties needs help staffing its hotlines. Hotline volunteers offer free, anonymous, and confidential crisis intervention over the phone 24 hours a day. Volunteers receive training. For more information about the 60-hour training, call Jill at 586-2888, ext. 103, or go to crisis-clinic.org.
The North Olympia Fire Department needs volunteers to create websites, maintain vehicles, promote life safety education or work with teen fire cadets. Contact Lt. Derek Hall at 360-705-0234 or hall@northolympiafire.com.
The American Red Cross Mount Rainier Chapter needs volunteers to support military service members and military families with emergency communications and casework services. Call 360-352-8575.
Friend to Friend needs volunteers to visit with residents in nursing, assisted-living and retirement homes throughout Thurston County. Call 888-383-7818.
Rosie’s Place a nonprofit serving homeless and high-risk youth and their families has a variety of volunteer opportunities. Contact Susan Alexander at salexander@communityyouthservices.org or 360-943-0780, ext. 116.
Mason County Literacy needs volunteers for tutoring positions in math, reading, GED preparation and ESL (English as a second language). Volunteers also are needed for office work, child care and database management. Call 360-426-9733.
SafePlace needs volunteers and interns to provide support to those affected by domestic and sexual abuse. Call 360-754-6389, ext. 103.
City of Olympia Safe & Sober Driving needs to hear from those who have been injured or have had a loved one injured or killed by a drunken driver to share their stories with the DUI Victim Impact Panel. Call 360-753-8284.
