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These are just a few of the volunteer opportunities available through United Way's Volunteer Center. Check back frequently for more featured opportunities. You can also call Windy Brooks at the Center at 423-752-0316 to learn more about volunteering in our area.

“Project Homeless Connect” needs volunteers to help at the National Guard Armory (Holtzclaw Ave.) on January 26, 2012. Volunteer shifts are available for check in, station monitors, serving food, set up and break down. NEW!

Dade County Clothing Bank: Volunteers are needed to help with sorting and organizing clothes on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 12 noon or from 4 to 7 p.m.  Any amount of time, even just 1 to 2 hours, is OK. NEW!

Dade Organization Acting in Disaster (Dade County Disaster Relief): NEW!

• Individuals and groups are needed to help rebuild 4 homes that were damaged during the April 2011 tornados. Monetary donations are needed to help purchase building materials. 
• The following items are also needed: Newborn: blankets, washcloths, towels, shampoo, lotion, body wash, bottles, diapers (Newborn size) and wipes are needed If you can donate any of  these items, please take them to the Dade Co. Health Department (ask for Amber).

The Epilepsy Foundation of Southeast Tennessee - Volunteers are needed for the Chocolate Fling (annual fundraising event) Silent Auction committee to help develop and execute auction plans and secure items for the April auction.  NEW!

St Barnabas Senior Living Services - Volunteers are needed weekends or weekdays to share their talents by singing and performing for residents in both the assisted living and nursing home campuses.   NEW!

The Children's Home-Chambliss Shelter - Volunteers are needed to teach music lessons to teenage males who have from no music education to a minimal knowledge of instruments. The agency has some equipment (acoustic guitar, two keyboards, a piano, and a set of electric drums).  The youth are all interested in music and are eager to learn.  Volunteers must be able to work with the group once a week, at a minimum.  The Children’s Home has software to record and enhance performances. NEW!

Foster Grandparents Program – Volunteers are needed to serve twenty hours per week tutoring special-needs children. Foster Grandparents serve in one of 37 non-profit agencies, such as day care centers, mentoring sites, schools, hospitals, and Head Start centers.  Volunteers must be fifty-five (55) years of age or older, live in Hamilton, Bradley, or McMinn counties.  The mission of the Foster Grandparent Program is to encourage and engage senior citizens in helping to enrich the community and the lives of children. Foster Grandparents are matched to two or more children/youth that would benefit from a mentoring relationship and help them reach their full potential. NEW!    

Hozho Therapeutic Equestrian Services a horseback riding program for special needs children and adults, at-risk youth/teens needs volunteers for therapy and/or riding sessions, public relations/fundraising, and assisting with three annual events! NEW! 

The Chattanooga Food Bank: NEW!

• Sack Pack Driver- Driver needed on Thursdays to deliver food to 2 areas elementary schools  
• Food Sorters - Help sort produce donations, volunteers needed on Tuesdays and Thursdays
• Second Helping Volunteers - Help clean and organize food containers, volunteers needed on Fridays
• Emergency Food Prepares - Volunteers needed to assist with making food boxes

Alzheimer’s Association: Data entry volunteers are needed 4 to 6 hours a month and an office assistant is needed to help with answering the phones, help with mailings, filing and organizing NEW!

McKamey Animal Center: Need someone to walk, feed and play with animals who are awaiting adoption.  Volunteers are also needed to make follow-up phone calls and travel to off site locations with the adoption staff. NEW!

Signal Centers: Volunteers are needed to assist the Marketing and Development office with special events Monday – Saturday. NEW!

Chattanooga Community Kitchen: NEW!

• Thrift Store Volunteers - Must have excellent organization skills and be able to work with others.  Duties include sorting and hanging clothes, testing equipment.
• General Cleaning - Volunteers needed to help with sanitizing, must be able to be around bleach.   

Re:Start - The Center For Adult Education: Volunteers needed to help as Instructional Assistants or Aides.  Duties will require tutoring adult students one-on-one or small groups to help master skills and manage classroom materials.  Flexible schedule, from 4 to 8 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays or 8:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.   NEW!

Hospice of Chattanooga: Tuck-In Callers are needed to help with patient calls to family members on Thursday afternoons.  If you are caring, compassionate and a good listener, you have what it takes. NEW!

United Way’s Volunteer Center: NEW!

• Volunteers needed to serve as Project Coordinators for upcoming events planned through the Volunteer Center.   

Disaster Related: NEW!

• United Way’s Volunteer Center - Volunteers (groups & individuals) needed to help with debris & tree request.   
• Catoosa County COAD - Volunteers groups with rebuilding skills are needed to help continue the rebuild work in Catoosa County. looking for Carpenters, Heating/Air Condition, Painters, Contractors, Electricians, Dry Wall Hangers 
• Open House Volunteers - Skilled and unskilled volunteers are needed to help with the construction rebuild and debris cleanup  in Apison, TN. 
• Cleveland-Bradley Community Action Network - Volunteer groups & individuals (skilled & unskilled) needed to help with construction rebuild in the Bradley County area.

Re:Start- The Center For Adult Education:

• Instructor’s Assistant - Work with students individually or in a small group to help them master the learning materials, assist with classroom orientation and management of classroom. Volunteer times are Monday/Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. or Tuesday/Thursday: 8:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Front Desk Receptionist - Help greet clients, and answer the phones. Volunteers are needed Monday and/or Wednesday: 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Chattanooga needs volunteers to mentor children ages 6 to 12 from single parent homes. Volunteers are only required to spend 4 to 6 hours a month - or two outings a month - with their match in the community-based program for at least one year, and 1 hour a week for the site-based program during the school year.

The St. Andrews Arts Academy seeks volunteers who want to make a difference in children's lives. The Arts Academy works to involve children in the arts and our community's cultural resources. The Academy operates Monday through Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m. during the school year. This is a great opportunity for passionate, experienced artists who want to teach and for people who can help out as general assistants. Duties could include reading to children, assisting with homework and art assignments, playing games, etc. Volunteers must be 18 years of age and be willing to submit to a background check.

Governor’s Mentoring Initiative, L.I.F.T. needs volunteers that are over 21, have an interest in dedicating four hours per month for six months to youth that are in need of positive role models.

Walker County CAT Team needs volunteers to call on families in Walker County. 

The Inner City Ministry of the First-Centenary United Methodist Church offers an after school program to serve children in grades kindergarten through middle school. Volunteers are currently needed to tutor and help with homework. Other duties include reading books to younger children, teaching math facts, calling spelling words, or helping with research papers. After homework is done, fun and educational games with the children are also encouraged.  Volunteer commitment is based on the individual. Volunteer hours are 3:30 to 5:45 p.m., Monday through Thursday. 

Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce - Volunteers are needed to help deliver career readiness programs to students during the school year:

• 8^th grade Career Crunch - Volunteers needed to set up displays and talk about their careers.  This career fair introduces students to potential careers and the education/training needed. 
• 9^th grade Reality Check - Volunteers provide students with an understanding of household budgeting and challenges in the grown-up world, while stressing the connection between education and income. 
• 10^th grade Get A Job - Volunteers visit individual classrooms and lead discussions on interviewing skills, completing job applications and dressing for success.  This activity prepares students for the 21^st Century Workforce by sharing the qualities that today’s employers are seeking in job applicants.
• 11^th grade Who wants to be a Millionaire? - Volunteers discuss real life examples showing how math and language skills, a good education and sound money management practices can help students live a more comfortable life and how lack of these can cause financial stress and prevent them from achieving personal and family goals. 
• 11-12^th grade College & Career Fair - Volunteers display information about their college/university and business while answering questions about future education and career opportunities.

UTC’s Upward Bound, Math and Science needs volunteers to serve as tutors for Math, Science and English. Volunteers are also needed as Mentors.

Unity Ministry needs volunteers for the after-school tutoring program at the East Lake Courts Community Center.  The hours are 3 to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Even one day a week can make a difference. The focus is to help kids with their homework and to help them use the library and computer lab. 

The First Tee of Chattanooga needs program volunteers to help with data entry, participant check-in, coaching support assistants, and as volunteer coaches. It also needs volunteers to help with building repair and maintenance, such as plumbing, painting, remodeling, and masonry.   

The Arts & Education Council needs volunteers to help with administrative tasks in the office including PR and event coordination. 

Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy is looking for volunteers to fill the following roles:

• Mentors
• Office Clerks
• Library Attendants
• Group Discussion Facilitators/Moderators
• Career Speakers 
• Health and Wellness Mini Class Instructors 
• Reading and Mathematics Tutors
• Front Office Receptionist/Greeters 
• Science Lab Assistants 
• Classroom Attendants/Assistants 
• Expeditionary Learning Chaperones

The Chattanooga History Museum needs Volunteers for the following positions:

• History Presenter is needed to assist staff with historical presentations that are geared towards elementary age students; daytime hours, some experience preferred.
• Office Assistant is needed to help with general office duties such as mailings, filing, and some data entry; flexible hours.

The Interfaith Homeless Network needs an office volunteer in the Family Day Center to be responsible for entering data into Service Point, (the Homeless Management Information System). Flexible day(s) and hours available.

Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga:

• Construction Workers - Help provide labor to build a Habitat for Humanity home. No construction experience required, all tools provided. Task range from building walls to painting the interior of the home.  Must be 18 years or older.
• Partner Family Advocate - Become a mentor to one of the partner families by providing knowledge and support during the Habitat for Humanity process, must be 18 years or older.
• Event Planner - Help coordinate Habitat Humanity events.
• ReStore Volunteer - Help process donations, assist customers with purchases and helping on the donation truck.
• Marketing Advisor - Help promote Habitat and spread the word about substandard housing in Chattanooga.  This position will assist staff in the creation of a comprehensive marketing plan for all aspects of Habitat for Humanity.
• Construction Crew Leader Assistant - Help lead projects from framing, installing siding/blue board, painting, installing trim and finishing work, must be 18 years or older.   

The A.I.M. Center is looking for volunteers who are interested in being an AmeriCorps Member.  The following positions are available: Job Mentoring, Education Specialist, Peer Specialist, Benefit Specialist and Intake Assessment.  Volunteers must be 18 years or older and commit to one year.  The A.I.M. Center offers area residents disabled by a mental illness a place to develop or regain the vocational and social skills necessary to become productive and contributing members of society.
 

Hope for the Inner City is seeking adult volunteers to be mentors for participants in CORE job classes. Participants are unemployed or under-employed people seeking to learn soft skills and job values for today's marketplace. Mentors provide encouragement, informal accountability and support.

Hope for the Inner City needs volunteers to call program graduates on Friday mornings to gather information regarding their employment status and/need for further support.

The Center for Individual and Family Effectiveness needs volunteers for the following positions:

• Clerical/Office Assistant- filing, updating forms, auditing files, answering phones
• Computer Networking Consultant - professional with expertise in networking servers,  estimating costs, installing, and performing maintenance.

Unity in the Community needs volunteers for Saturday community outreach projects in the East Lake and East Chattanooga communities. Volunteer projects are from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon.

Partnership for Families, Children & Adults will offer training for volunteers to answer the Crisis Hotline or to serve as a Court Advocate or Sexual Assault Advocate.  Sessions will be conducted by staff and professionals from the community.  Meals will be provided. Volunteers will shadow trained Hotliners upon completion of the course. Hotliners may choose the 4 hour shifts in which they will answer the phone from their own home.   

FAMILY VIOLENCE PROGRAM of Cleveland is looking for volunteers to assist in their shelter and/or office.  Training is provided by the agency and a commitment of 4 hours a week for 8 months is required. Volunteer needs are:

• Provide a one hour meaningful/uplifting program for children (newborn to 13)
• Assist with various office duties 
• Assist staff with different community and public relation events (fairs, distribute flyers & brochures, PSA’s and other public relations needs)
• Organize and execute speaking events and other presentations
• Assist with volunteer recruitment
• Assist Court Advocate in working with clients
• Sort and store donations
• Help maintain the 24 hour hotline at the shelter
• Assist with shelter cleaning
• Assist with yard work

Dade County Clothing Drive needs volunteers to help sort and process clothing.    

Chattanooga Furniture Bank: Responsible volunteers needed to help with furniture pickups and loading & unloading of furniture once a week.  Potential volunteer drivers must have their own insurance.  Volunteers are needed 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. 

Northside Neighborhood house needs a volunteer to help research and price vintage items/collectibles that come into the thrift stores.  Volunteer needed at least 4 hours once a week. 

Partners for a Livable Chattanooga want you to be a buddy to those who lack skills needed to use a computer or the internet. Volunteers are needed to assist adult learners to “get online”. If you have basic computer and internet skills, volunteer now to assist with classes.

Goodwill Industries needs volunteers for the following positions:

• Peer Mentor - must be between 18-21 years of age, commit to one year of mentoring youth in at risk situations with disabilities between the ages of 16 -17 years old.  A minimum of 4 hours per month is required.
• Regular Mentor: must be 21 years of age or older, commit to one year of mentoring youth in at risk situations with disabilities between the ages of 16 -17 years old.  Must pass a drug screen and background check. A minimum of 4 hours per month is required. Six hours of training is required.
• GADA (Goodwill Assistance Dog Academy) puppy raisers: Must attend 25 hours of training, commit to one year, and pass a background check.
• Photographer for special events: intermediate to advanced photography skills required.

Greater Chattanooga Area Red Cross needs volunteers in the following areas:

• Special Events – Represent American Red Cross at various evening, weekday and weekend events. Duties include sharing the mission and program services of American Red Cross.
• Disaster Service - Join the Disaster Service Team, help respond to local disasters, develop new skills, and ship out to help with disasters around the county.
• Community Disaster Education Presenter - Share your passion to help others by teaching. Volunteers will help present disaster curriculum. Prior teaching or public speaking a plus.
• Health & Safety Department Volunteer: help with data entry, class setups, stuffing envelopes and filing. Some lifting of boxes required.
• Fundraising and Special Events Volunteer: assist with planning special events and fund raising activities

Rosewood Supportive Services needs volunteers to provide Meals on Wheels to elderly and disabled individuals in Hamilton County.  Drivers are needed to help make deliveries – they leave the main facility between 9:45 and 10:15 a.m. and return around noon.  Families can even participate – it works well when an adult drives while a responsible child delivers the food to the door.  

Partnership for Families, Children and Adults needs volunteers for the following departments and positions:

• Services to the Elderly and Homemaker Services Visitor: Make regular visits to a senior client
• Services to the Elderly and Homemaker Services Shopper: Shop for (or with) a senior client 
• Services to the Elderly and Homemaker Services “Mr/Ms Fixit:” On-call to assist clients with a wide-range of needed home repairs, from hardware replacement to construction and rebuilding.
• Services to the Elderly and Homemaker Services House and Garden Helper(s): Individuals or groups; one-time or ongoing; Help to maintain client homes and/or yards with clean up, painting, etc. 
• Services to the Elderly and Homemaker Services Ombudsman Representative: Advocate for the elderly and disabled in long-term-care facilities (preliminary training required of all volunteers and students; student participation is limited to those requiring internships of 200+ hours).
• Services for the Deaf Visitor: Visit a lonely client. (American Sign Language required for this volunteer job)
• Services for the Deaf Office Assistant: Assist in the office; greet visitors. (American Sign Language required for this volunteer job).

St. Barnabas Nursing Home needs volunteers to assist residents with weekly bingo game on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. and Fridays at 10 a.m.  Volunteers are also needed to help out with weekly parties on Fridays at 1:30 p.m.

Therapeutic Recreation Services for the Chattanooga Parks and Recreation Department needs volunteers to help with recreation programs and special events.  This department provides leisure and recreation opportunities for youth and adults with physical, cognitive, and/or emotional disabilities.

Hutcheson Medical Center needs volunteers in the following areas: Information Desk, Valet Parking, Courtesy Shuttle, Women’s Center Information Desk, Patient Menu Service, Battlefield Auxiliary Breast Cancer offices, Fuller Cancer Center, Battlefield Imaging, Intensive Care Family Waiting Area and Same Day Surgery. 

North Georgia Health Care Center (new non-profit primary health care center) needs clerical, receptionist, greeter and class registration volunteers.  

The Tri-State Therapeutic Riding Center needs new volunteers. The center provides horseback riding and equestrian education for individuals with disabilities. Volunteers are needed in all areas - helping in horseback riding lessons, barn management, fundraising, public relations, etc.  Hours of operation are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Alzheimer’s Association needs volunteers Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for receptionist and general office.  Duties include answering phones, greet visitors, help prepare bulk mailings, data entry, etc.

The Samaritan Center:

• Blood Pressure Nurse/Doctor - Take client’s blood pressure, and provide expert advice concerning medical issues the client might be having. 
• Donation Sort Assistant - Must be able to lift up to 20 pounds and stand for duration of time volunteering.  Great project for a small group or children accompanied by an adult.  Sorting mostly clothes.

Hospice of Chattanooga is looking for volunteers to regularly visit patients in their homes, assisted living facilities, and local hospitals.  In addition, the organization is also in serious need of volunteers who can work in the office as support staff helping with filing, mailings, phone calls, etc.  All volunteers must be compassionate, kind, and supporting.

The Humane Educational Society needs a large number of volunteers.  On a daily basis, HES cares for approximately 500 animals and they need dedicated and caring volunteers to make it happen!  Volunteer opportunities available: Dog Walking, Washing & Socializing, Cat Cuddling, Match-Making (Pets & Families), Petsmart Off-Site Adoptions, Trap Neuter Release Team, Petsmart Cat Crew, Spay Patrol, Photographing Animals, Writing Animal Bios, Kennel Cleaning, Lost Pet Inspecting, Poop Scooping, Errands & Pick-ups, Office Help, Landscaping and more. 

TN Humane Animal League/Pet Placement Center- Volunteers are needed to help with administrative task and to assist with cat & dog caretaking. This is a great opportunity for Youth (15 and younger must be accompanied by an adult).

Lookout Mountain Conservancy needs volunteers at John C. Wilson Park to assist with park maintenance (mulching, weeding, etc).  Volunteers and leaders meet on the first Thursday and third Saturday of each month from 5 to 7 p.m. and again on the second and fourth Thursdays from 7 to 9 a.m.

Chattanooga Zoo needs volunteers on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays to help with animal care and exhibit maintenance.  Openings are also available for Docents, who will interact with the public and provide information on exhibits and animals.

The McKamey Animal Center needs volunteers ages 16-years-old and older to work 2 to 4 hour shifts.  Volunteer opportunities include assisting in off-site adoption events on the weekends, socializing cats and dogs to keep them happy while they wait for their new homes, and greeting potential adopters when they visit the Center. 

The Corporation for National and Community Service was formed to engage Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to meet community needs. Each year, more than 1.5 million individuals help meet local needs through a wide array of service opportunities. These include projects in education, the environment, public safety, homeland security, and other critical areas through the Corporation's programs.  To learn more about these program log on to http://www.nationalservice.gov/ .