Volunteers

Local Service Agencies Seek Volunteers

Volunteers are needed for this year’s annual Day of Sharing sponsored by the Douglas County Housing and Homeless Coalition.

The event this Friday, Dec. 2 provides a hot meal and winter supplies to the needy. 

This year is the fifth anniversary of the event, held at St. Joseph’s school gym, 630 W. Stanton, in Roseburg from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Coalition does more than just the one Day of Sharing. Penny McCue, a member of the Coalition, explains, “Our goal is to develop affordable housing opportunities to end homelessness in Douglas County.” 

For residents without a home, the Coalition is opening a Warming Center on Thursday, Dec. 1 located at the Liberty Christian Fellowship or Unity Church on Winchester Street.

Ian Smith, a volunteer coordinator for the Coalition, states, “The Warming Center is an emergency shelter that provides a hot meal, a warm and safe place to sleep and breakfast the next morning.”

Smith adds, “We expect to be open about 30 nights this season, based on annual weather statistics.”  Due to funding limitations, the Warming Center can only open when temperatures drop below 30 degrees even though freezing is 32 degrees.

“Because the volunteer resources available to us are limited, opening the shelter when temperatures reached 32 degrees would almost double the days we would be open. At this point this just isn’t feasible,” Smith explains.

The Center is requesting donations of the following items:  blankets, sleeping bags, backpacks, winter coats (adult large and up), hygiene supplies, Long John bottoms and tops (all adult sizes), socks, gloves, and 8’X 10” or 10”X 12’ brown or green plastic tarps.

Donations in the form of checks, gift cards, meal certificates, groceries, gasoline, and lodging are also welcome. Checks or money orders can be mailed to UCAN, Attn: Penny, 280 Kenneth Ford Drive, Roseburg OR, 97470 while other donations can be dropped off at their offices on Kenneth Ford Drive. Receipts are available. 

The Coalition is not the only organization seeking volunteers.

United Community Action Network coordinates assistance throughout Douglas County. They help with energy bills, rent, Head Start, and the Confidence Clinic, just to name a few services.  UCAN is also the local food bank.

Potential volunteers must fill out applications to establish and address safety concerns.  For some volunteer positions, background checks or credit checks are required.

Volunteer Opportunities in Douglas County

·Dial a Friend: Sponsored by the Douglas County RSVP, this program provides a security check and socialization to people living alone who are ill, lonely, or homebound. Volunteers make regularly planned daily or weekly phone calls.

·Fish Food Pantry: The pantry packages food boxes for low income families and seniors.

·Douglas County Long Term Care Ombudsman: Volunteers learn how to advocate for residents in long term care facilities.  Training is provided.

·Phoenix School: Volunteers mentor and tutor students.

·Project Literacy: Volunteers assist tutors in the office.

·Roseburg Town Center: Volunteers are needed to answer phones.

·Saving Grace Pet Adoption Center: Multiple diverse opportunities for volunteering are available.

·Senior Health Benefits Assistance: Sponsored by the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services and the Douglas County RSVP., SHIBA trains volunteers in Medicare, Medicaid, and Supplemental Insurance to provide counseling at community based sites or in homes. Volunteers will make referrals to federal, state and county offices and can identify potential insurance violations.

·Tax Aid: Volunteers will be trained in the most current tax regulations. The program, active for more than 20 years, assists low to moderate income families, seniors and the disabled with federal and state tax forms. Tax sites are scheduled throughout Douglas County from February through April 15 each year.

·Wolf Creek Job Corps: Experience in construction and crane operation needed to assist students during an eight week course in construction. Greeters are also needed to meet and assist arriving members.

·YMCA: Greeters are needed to meet and assist arriving members.

The Mainstream is a student publication of Umpqua Community College.