Volunteers

| The New Mexican

11/29/2007 -

Santa Feans are vibrant in their community spirit. If you want to volunteer, there are many opportunities to help — from animal care to scouting. If your group or organization needs volunteers, or if you have changes to your present listing,  send an e-mail to service@sfnewmexican.com.  

Listen: When it’s the most needed, listen to someone. Become a volunteer advocate, provide support and a listening ear to people in times of great difficulty.Empower callers who have experienced sexual assault, abuse or any type of trauma. Guide them to regain a sense of security by providing information and resources. Upcoming volunteer advocate training will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on June 13, and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 14 and 15; and from 6 to 8 p.m. on June 20 and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 21 and 22. For more information, send an e-mail to capodaca@sfrcc.org or call Cristina Apodaca, advocacy program supervisor, at 988-1951, ext. 13.

Assistance Dogs of the West: Need volunteers. Lots to do, flexible hours, community involvement. 986-9748.

Prairie dogs: Volunteers needed to to help save Santa Fe’s endangered prairie dogs. Become a volunteer and join the prairie dog feeding program and
prairie dog relocation efforts through People for Native Ecosystems, a nonprofit organization. Volunteers are asked to offer 1 to 3 hours per week. For more information, call 982-0496.

The Horse Shelter: The shelter serves New Mexico’s abandoned, abused and neglected horses, works to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome these animals and to raise awareness of their plight and this not so uncommon problem throughout the state. The shelter needs volunteers to help in many capacities — from mucking to horse care and construction projects; from computer work to fundraising and event planning — the volunteers can choose. The shelter is home to as many as 40 of the state’s neediest horses. Be a volunteer or adopt a horse and get involved with making a difference for these horses today. For more information, visit the Web site at www.thehorseshelter.org or call 505-471-6179.

Bridging the Worlds Animal Sanctuary: Volunteers needed to do laundry to help this organization that finds homes and sanctuary for healthy, adoptable dogs scheduled to be euthanized. Visit the Web site at www.bridgingtheworlds.org or send and e-mail to Beverly@BridgingTheWorlds.org or call 501-1887.

Española Valley Humane Society: Help us walk "every dog, every day." Play with a spirited companion in our new exercise pens. Stroll with a gentle buddy along the shaded Rio Grande. Your time and loving attention improves every dog's chance of getting adopted. This is a great family activity — but children under 15 years old must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, visit the Web site at espanolashelter.org or call 505-753-8662.

Felines & Friends: Reliable people needed for scheduled daily care of kittens and cats on display at Petco, 2004 Cerrillos Road. People also are needed to set up and staff the mobile adoptions from noon to 3 p.m. on alternating Saturdays and Sundays. Foster homes also are needed as well a volunteer fundraiser. For more information, send an e-mail to bobbi@felinesandfriends.org or call 316-CAT1.

Kindred Spirits Aniimal Sanctuary: Elder-care and hospice for dogs, horses, and fowl. We need volunteers for animal care and cuddling; massage, bodywork, creative sewing, grounds-keeping and handy person help. Please call Ulla, 471-5366.

Santa Fe Animal Shelter & Humane Society: Exciting, ongoing trained animal-care volunteer opportunities include dog walkers and trainers, pet brushing and grooming, cat and kitten cuddlers, house rabbit handling, staffing satellite dog and cat adoption center at PetSmart, in-shelter pet supply store, adoption counseling, assisting in spay/neuter clinic and mobile spay/neuter van, humane education, customer relations, clerical assistance. Other appealing volunteer options are available. Visit the Web site at www.sfhumanesociety.org or stop by the shelter at 100 Caja del Rio Road. Call 983-4309, ext. 106.

The Wildlife Center: Discover the ways that your time can impact the lives of injured and orphaned wildlife. Interesting volunteer opportunities are available at The Wildlife Center, New Mexico’s only wildlife hospital and education center. Opportunities include feeders, cleaners, the Intensive Care Unit, transporters, grounds and facilities maintenance/construction, special projects and office support. Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older. For more information, call 505-753-9505 or visit the Web site at www.thewildlifecenter.org.
 

Santa Fe Performing Arts: Front of house help is needed for the  upcoming performances of the new play Little Ghost by Jason Yurcic. Performances take place  at 7 p.m. on June 6, 7, 13, 14 and at 2 p.m. on June 8 and 15 at the Armory for the Arts Theater. Volunteers are needed to take tickets and usher. In exchange, volunteers attend a performance free of charge. For more information or to sign up to volunteer, send an e-mail to jenice@sfperformingarts.org or call Jenice Gharib, deneral manager, at 982-7992.

Center for Contemporary Arts: Assist with construction, art installations, painting, box office, ushering, and office duties, 982-1338.

Fine Arts for Children & Teens: Seeks volunteers to help children in visual-art studio classes for approximately four hours a week at schools and other sites. Training and supervision is provided. Send an e-mail to teacher@factsantafe.org or call Keelan at 992-2787.

Georgia O'Keeffe Museum: The 2008 docent training will be frrom 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursdays from Sept. 18 to Dec. 11. Become a member of a special corps of volunteers at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. Train to be a docent who guides tours for adults and children. The 13-week course focuses on O’Keeffe, American Modernism and touring techniques. For docent training information, send an e-mail to christina@okeeffemuseum.org or call or Christina Dallorso Bush at 505-946-1007.

The Monks' Corner: The store at 235 Don Gaspar Ave. is part of the outreach of the Monastery of Christ in the Desert. Volunteers are need to assist the store with preparations for special events and for the Internet store. For more information, send an e-mail to themonkscorner@gmail.com or call Jenny at 982-1915.

Georgia O'Keeffe Museum: Volunteer opportunities are available, including assisting with education programs, working in the Research Center, interacting with visitors at the Visitor Services desk or in the Museum Store, assisting with special projects, working on Special Events and much more. For more information, send an e-mail to sward@okeeffemuseum.org or call Sylvie at 946-1013.

Ghost Ranch: Seeking volunteer tour guides for the Georgia O’Keeffe Landscape Tour. Guides lead 2 to 4 tours a month mid-March through mid-November. Training and lunch is provided. Contact karenb@ghostranch.org or call 505.685.4333 for further information.

KSFR 101.1 FM: Santa Fe public radio seeks volunteers for the news department. Will train in all aspects of reporting, writing and audio production. Call 428-1383.

Museum of International Folk Art: Work on photographing and packing pieces from
collections, training provided, 476-1216.

Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian: Volunteers are needed as gallery hosts and docents, as support staff in the Case Trading Post, at special events, and in the library and offices. Volunteers are invaluable to making the Wheelwright Museum function smoothly. Volunteers can serve on a weekly, monthly, or as-needed basis. For information, send e-mail to Diana at pr@wheelwright.org or call 982-4636, ext. 107.

Santa Fe and La Bajada Visitor Information Center: Volunteers needed to staff the centers and to meet and greet visitors. Call 670-0613 or 424-0823.

Santa Fe Children's Museum: Adults and teenagers are needed to help children interact with exhibits, facilitate visitors' experiences in the greenhouse and gardens, help care for plants and animals, assist visiting artists and scientists and work in the museum shop. The staff provides monthly orientation and training sessions for new volunteers. To volunteer or for more information, call 989-8359, ext. 117.

Santa Fe Playhouse: Volunteers are needed to be house managers, light and sound technicians, lobby personnel and more. Santa Fe Little Theatre, d.b.a., Santa Fe Playhouse, was founded in 1922, and is at 142 E. DeVargas St. For information, send an e-mail to playhouse@santafeplayhouse.org, visit the Web site at www.santafeplayhouse.org or call 988-4262.

Seniors Reaching Out: needs performers and readers for Readers Theater to perform in elementary schools and for elders. Call Suzanne at 988-5522.

SITE Santa Fe: Volunteers needed for development, education, membership programs, and special events; contact Katy Hill at 989-1199, Ext. 14, or e-mail katy@sitesantafe.org.

Windhorse Team: Forming a team of people with youthful energy, abstract artists, dancers, etc. to help a youth recovering from psychosis. He needs people who can do everyday chores with him in a way that grounds his spirituality. Call Anhara at 983-5564.

Wise Fool New Mexico: Assist with the local performance troupe’s box office, theater/studio setup, and performances, 505-629-9728, wfcabaret@gmail.com.

The African American Performing Arts Center: A center in Albuquerque has volunteer opportunities for docents, individuals who enjoy interacting with the public at the visitor reception desk, working on special events, assisting with special projects and many many more exciting activities.  Send e-mail to DonaldL.Jordan@state.nm.us or call Donald L. Jordan at 505-222-0777.

Santa Fe International Folk Art Market: Volunteers needed as artist assistants, market assistants, ticket collectors, greeters, cashiers, water sellers and other duties for the market on July 12 and 13. For more information, send and e-mail to volunteer@folkartmarket.org or call 476-1186.

Casa Real Health Care Center: Looking for volunteers to help with activities such as birthday parties, outings, bingo, reading to residents, writing letters, answering phones and simply visiting with our residents. If you would like to be a volunteer, please contact Ramona McLaren at 984-8313.

Infants and todders: Volunteers are needed to care for infants and toddlers while their mothers attend a weekly, two-hour on-site parent education/therapeutic group. Those who volunteer will learn about early childhood development while helping mothers in need. The program is at the Santa Fe Community Infant Program, 805 Early St. For information, call Ann at 995-0410.

Los Rios: The hospice of Española is seeking volunteers in a loving community service environment. Call Dick Lumaghi, 505-747-2525.

Muchas Mamas and Parent-Aide programs: Volunteers provide in-home support for families with newborn infants and/or children of any age. Are you a compassionate individual with a couple of hours a week to spare? Are you committed to working towards healthy families?  If so, call Belle Ponder at 988-1951, ext. 142.
 
Presbyterian Medical Services Early Headstart: Volunteers are needed to provide child care on group family nights, held twice a month from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Ability to speak Spanish is helpful. Call 982-4484, ext. 12 or 955-1201.

Quality Continuum: Hospice & Home Healthcare at 522 St. Francis Drive is a hospice provider in Santa Fe and also Las Vegas, N.M. It seeks people with a gift to comfort others who have only a short time to live. Volunteers spend a few hours a week and are offered free classes to get certification in this special calling. For more information, call Renee Padilla, bereavement coordinator at 888-425-1211.

St. Elizabeth Shelter:  Volunteers are needed to work four hours, once a week, at the front desk. Volunteers also are needed to cut guests' hair every week or two weeks. Other volunteer positions are available, including a once-a-month opportunity to purchase or prepare dinner for 40 guests. Call Maria at 982-6611 ext. 111 for more information.

Santa Fe Rape Crisis & Truama Treatment Center: Needs dynamic, engaged volunteers to support new mothers, help families, make presentations in schools, answer the help line, monitor court cases of sexual violence, do puppeteering and jewelry making and handle various administrative duties. For more information, call Cristina at 988-1951.

Therapeutic riding: Volunteers needed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for Therapeutic Horseback Riding Program. The program provides therapy and recreation to persons with disabilities. Volunteers receive training, experience is not necessary. Call 470-1815 or 988-7621.

Upaya Metta Refuge Program: We offer support to those with life threatening and chronic illness and their care-givers. Weekly support group. Quarterly workshops. Contact Jean or Judith at 986-8518.

Youth Shelters and Family Services: Volunteers needed for outreach to at-risk and homeless youth. Caring people are needed to offer direct service for our shelters; help in the Kids Can Cook program; and, give assistance with development/funding and human resources. Visit the Web site at www.youthshelters.org or call 983-0586, ext. 11.

Odyssey Hospice: Volunteers are needed to provide companionship for patients and respite for caregivers. Other volunteer opportunities include flower arranging and delivery, arts and crafts for patients, music therapy, and administrative duties.  Extensive training is provided.  For more information, visit the Web site at www.odsyhealth.com or call Diana Mamalaki-Montoya at 988-5331 .

County Fire Districts: All Santa Fe County Fire Districts need volunteers — men and women interested in becoming a volunteer firefighter or an EMT volunteer. Support volunteers also are needed to help with administrative duties. For more information, call Peter Hodge, volunteer coordinator, at 780-1402.

New Mexican Children, Youth and Families Department:  Each year, thousands of abused and neglected children in custody need short or longer-term foster care, and hundreds of these children become available for adoption. Foster parents receive a monthly stipend plus financial help with daycare. Medical coverage is provided for each child in the home. All foster- and adoptive-parent training is free and takes place evenings and weekends. To learn how you can make a real difference in the life of a New Mexico child, call 800-432-2075.

Teambuilders Counseling Services: Children in need of short-term and long-term treatment foster care. Treatment foster parents receive training, support and compensation. All foster-parent training is free and takes place monthly. Call 471-5006.

Kitchen Angels: Dependable and enthusiastic volunteers are needed to assist with the preparation or delivery of meals to homebound Santa Feans living with chronic conditions. It is about a 2-hour commitment, once a week. Kitchen Angels is at 1222 Siler Road. For more information, visit the Web site at www.KitchenAngels.org or call 471-7780.

Heifer International: Santa Fe’s Heifer International club is seeking volunteers to help with local activities, including Heifer’s Fair October 4th in Albuquerque.  Participation opportunities include staffing informational booths, speaking to civic groups, introducing Heifer’s free education program to schools and planning a “hunger dinner.”  Help end hunger in our life-times. Send e-mail to heifersantafe@yahool.com or call 988-4044.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern New Mexico:  stimulates children and empowers them to pursue their dreams. You can help. Visit the Web site at www.bbbsnorthernnm.org or call 983-8360.

Court Appointed Special Advocates: (CASA) program for volunteers who serve the abused and neglected children of Santa Fe, Los Alamos and Rio Arriba counties. Child advocacy, in and out of the courtroom, is a gift a volunteer makes to the community and to the young victims. No specialized background is needed. Training is provided. Send e-mail to info@CASAfirst.org or call 820-1500.

Mentormoms: A unique volunteer-based support program that matches community volunteers with pregnant teenagers. Volunteers provide one-on one support to a teen through the pregnancy, birth and first year of the child's life. Volunteers receive ongoing training. Call Lisa at 424-9789, ext. 107.

American Cancer Society: Volunteers lend strength to the fight against cancer; they make a difference in our community. Volunteer opportunities are available for individuals interested in special events, assisting with special projects, including assisting cancer patients at the Cancer Resource Center, and much more. If you interested in getting involved or learning more about the Society send an e-mail to gloria.martinez
@cancer.org or call Gloria at 820-3538.

American Red Cross: The Tierra Del Sol Chapter is seeking volunteers for the main office and the disaster-services division. For information, visit the Red Cross office, or call 505-747-7106 or 866-895-7106.

Big Brothers Big Sisters: Help organization celebrate 25 years of Bowl For Kids’ Sake and change kids’ lives in Northern New Mexico. Visit the Web site at www.bbbsnorthernm.org or call 983-8360.

Casa Cerrillos: A community for previously homeless people, is a branch of St. Elizabeth Shelter. Volunteers are needed to drive residents to various appointments, to do office work and to assist with community activities. Call Katherine at 471-3456.

New Mexico State Agency on Aging: Volunteers needed to help protect Medicare. Work part-time in the Santa Fe office, taking information from callers about Medicare fraud, waste and abuse. Call 866-842-9230, ext. 112 for more information.

United Way of Santa Fe Country: Dedicated, compassionate and competent volunteers are needed to be a contact for community members seeking information and referral to health and human services through our 211 Program at the UWSFC administrative office. Excellent communication skills are a must, bilingual ability is a plus. Flexible schedules offered with a minimum commitment of two hours per week during business hours Monday through Friday. Thorough training is provided.  For more information, call 505-982-2002.

Upaya Zen Center: Volunteer opportunities are available in the office, kitchen and housekeeping. Earn retreat credit, up to 80 percent of the total cost of a retreat, for hours volunteered. Send an e-mail to registrar@upaya.org or call Roberta at 986-8518, ext. 12.

Santa Fe Botanical Garden:  Volunteers needed to help with adult and youth education, outreach, maintenance and restoration at the two wildlife preserves — the Leonora Curtain Wetland Preserve in La Cienega and the Ortiz Mountain Education Preserve near Cerrillos as well as the new botanical garden at Museum Hill. Help with special events and various tasks. Work weekly, monthly or as-needed. Visit the Web site at www.santafebotanicalgarden.org, send an e-mail to bot_gardens@sfccnm.edu or call 428-1684.

Pecos Wilderness:  Become a Citizen Scientist and make a real contribution to community stewardship of public lands and natural resources. Volunteers needed to collect data in the spectacular Pecos Wilderness with Seventh Generation Institute.  Project includes mapping of invasive plants, inventory and condition assessment of camp sites, restoration projects, public outreach, and surveys of visitor numbers, activities, knowledge. Training provided. Field season approximately June 15 - Sept 30.  For additional information and to apply visit the  Website at www.seventh-generation.org

Raptor count: Volunteers are needed to join the trained observers of HawkWatch International in the Sandia Mountains to monitor the migration of the raptors flying north to summer nesting grounds. The staff will be on site daily — weather permitting — from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the next two months. The peak migration season is mid-March to mid-April and the count will end May 5. Those who volunteer are asked to bring water, extra clothing, sunscreen, food, binoculars and a camera. To schedule a field trip, for directions, and other information, visit the Web site at www.hawkwatch.org or call 255-7622.

Prison Project of Santa Fe: We need volunteers to respond to requests for information from prisoners nationwide and organizing the newsletter. Call 982-9520, or mail to P.O. Box 1911, Santa Fe, N.M. 87504.

Foster Grandparent Programs: This program recruits seniors to work with children in classrooms at school, at Head Start or at a day-care center. Seniors provide guidance and support to students who are at risk of falling behind in their school work. In sum, the seniors fill the roll of grandparent to the at-risk student. Volunteers must be 60 years old or older and qualify by income for federal programs. A tax-free stipend of $2.65 an hour will be paid as well as $5 a week for mileage reimbursement. Call Melanie Montoya at 955-4761.

Senior Companion Program: This program recruits seniors to visit other seniors in nursing homes and private homes. Volunteers are matches with the seniors who need companionship on a regular basis. Volunteers must be 60 years old or older and qualify by income for federal programs. A tax-free stipend of $2.65 an hour will be paid as well as $5 a week for mileage reimbursement. Call Melanie Montoya at 955-4761.

Let's Read: Volunteers needed to teach adult reading, GED or ESL. Minimum 1 hour per week. Training and supervision provided. Call Española Let's Read office at 505-753-9300. Ask for Frances or John.

The Santa Fe Boys and Girls Club:  We need math and reading tutors. Reward yourself by giving a child the gift of learning. Tutors in reading program for first- and second-graders are needed from 4-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at the club, 730 Alto St. No commitment is needed. Volunteers just come when they can. For more information, call Lou Finley at 988-7278.

Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails:  Volunteers needed to offer opportunities to girls through scouting. Troop leaders needed at Atalaya, Salazar and Sweeney elementary schools and other locations in Santa Fe. For information on volunteer opportunities, send e-mail to dwexler@gs-nmtrails.org or call Dita Wexler at 983-6339.