Finding ways for Sacramentans to give back to the community is as easy as clicking your mouse.
Hands On Sacramento
Prospective volunteers can search for project suited to their interest and time commitment on Hands On Sacramento’s Web site, Handsonsacto.org. The site’s easy-to-use search engine will list results that include the agency’s name, type of interest, impact areas, and suggestions on what type of volunteer is best for that project. For example, some listings are ideal for beginners as wel as families. The listings also include dates of the projects as well as if any dates are full, if available.
Volunteers must register and create a free login account on Handsonsacto.org. Although it is a free service, Hands on Sacramento will occassionally ask users for a voluntary contribution.
For youths interested in volunteering, there are some requirements. Youths ages 14 to 18 must register online, submit a youth waiver form signed by a parent or guardian, and await notification from Hands on Sacramento that the waiver has been received. Youths ages 1 to 13 must submit a youth waiver form signed by a parent or guardian including an e-mail address and a project of their choice, await for Hands on Sacramento to register you online and sign you up for your project, and then await contact and confirmation of your registration from Hands on Sacramento.
Families are encouraged to volunteer together, however, you must check the age requirements per project.
If by any chance you can’t a project with HOS, they do have a referral service.
Recent volunteer opportunities include serving lunch with Sacramento Loaves & Fishes, bingo assistants with the Asian Community Center of Sacramento Valley, and foster youth mentor with Wonder, Inc.
VolunteerMatch
This San Francisco-based group runs a Web site to match volunteers with projects. They provide plenty of listings for Sacramento. According to its Web site, more than 1,000,000 visitors use the site and is a used as a recruiting tool for more than 50,000 nonprofits.
VolunteerMatch.com has an easy to use Web site that prospective volunteers can sign up for a free login account and search for projects by zip code. Once volunteers obtain an account, they can also upload a volunteer resume, receive monthly electronic newsletters, and receive e-mail alerts of upcoming opportunities. Users can also e-mail a friend or a group about a volunteer opportunity, or make a donation online.
Projects include areas such as advocacy and human rights, children, disabled, gay, lesbian, hunger, immigrants, justice, seniors and women.
There is also an Emergency Response page to match volunteers with immediate disaster areas throughout the country.
Recent volunteer opportunities include front office help with St. John’s Shelter for Women and Children, shade tree planting with the Sacramento Tree Foundation, and activities coordinator with Mercy General Hospital.
Volunteer Center of Sacramento
The Volunteer Center of Sacramento has opportunities for individual, group or corporate opportunities. Although on its Web site, groups and corporation are encouraged to call in to find volunteer opening.
There aren’t a lot of listings, but they have information on upcoming as well as ongoing events. Prospective volunteers can fill out an online form to register with the center. The completed form can be submitted online, by mail or via fax.
Recent volunteer opportunities include adopt-a-familty this chirstmas with Volunteer Center of Sacramento, reader assistant for the blind with The California Council of the Blind, and make-a-wish winter wine and food fest with Make-A-Wish.
City of Sacramento Volunteer Program
The City of Sacramento also provides volunteer information to help individuals find services and programs to suit their schedules and interest. Not only does the City of Sacramento Volunteer Program Web site provide information on opportunities with nonprofits, but also for the local government.
Although some of the projects listed with the City of Sacramento Volunteer Pogram allow volunteers to be as young as 12 years old, others may require volunteers to be at least 18 years old.
Programs include animal care, arts and crafts, community service projects, and tours. The Web site lists short-term and city-wide ongoing opportunities.
Recent short-term volunteer opportunities include holiday holiday helpers for the City of Scarmento’s Caring Neighborhoods Program and Eskaton’s TLC program, volunteer income tax assistance volunteers with the City, and graphic designer for The Ethel Hart Senior Center.
Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services
Sacramento Food Bank & Family Service volunteers can participate in many of the ogranization’s programs, including mentoring, preparing meals, teaching and providing clothing to women and youths.
The organizaton also provides opportunities for face-to-face interaction or behind the scenes opportunities for shy volunteers.
There are age requirements to volunteer with the food bank. Volunteers must be 18 years old or older. Youths ages 16 to 18 must have permission from a parent or guardian to volunteer, while youths ages 10 to 15 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to volunteer.
The Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services Web site does not offer a listing of projects, but prospective volunteers can call the organization at (916) 456-1980 to find more information.