Volunteer Fort Bend is looking for people who are interested in helping local civic and nonprofit organizations.  Here are some current needs:

Help families outfit school children

Assist a local school district with cleaning, sorting, and folding clothing donations for low-income families with school-aged children.  Coming by on Tuesdays or Thursdays between 9 a.m. and noon or Wednesdays between noon and 4 p.m., you’ll help bring order to what would otherwise be a chaotic collection of children’s garments and make the process of matching the various items to individual children’s needs more efficient.

Handy Dans and Danielles wanted

Local corporations, churches, schools, and civic associations are needed to sponsor volunteer crews of 15-35 people (including a crew leader) to help repair the homes of frail elderly and disabled Fort Bend residents, especially those impacted by Hurricane Ike.   Assignments can include siding replacement, window repair, caulking, porch repair, step and wheelchair ramp construction, as well as yard cleanup and trash removal. Volunteer crews supply their own tools, ladders, scrapers, paintbrushes, hammers– and compassion. 

Advocate for victims of abuse

Be an advocate for women victimized by domestic abuse.  Volunteering with an organization that works to prevent violence against Asian women, you’ll help heal the hurt of past abuse and foster healthier interaction among family members in the future.  A comprehensive 40-hour training program will equip you to handle calls from your home, providing peer counseling when appropriate and referring women on to other needed services.    Knowledge of an Asian language is helpful but not required.

Additional opportunities:

-         Apply now to participate this summer in the Junior Volunteer Program for young people, ages 14 to 17, at a local Fort Bend hospital.

-         Interact in fun activities twice a month with a child (age 6 to 15) in need of an adult friend.

-         Musicians are invited to provide afternoon entertainment at a senior living community in Katy.

-         Teach life-skills classes to residents of a women’s shelter in Rosenberg.

-         Artists are invited to share their time and talents with at-risk children one hour a week for six weeks at local social service agencies.

-         Help provide food, tutoring, and recreational activities for Pre-K and elementary school children in a Stafford child-care program.

For more information on volunteer opportunities, call Volunteer Fort Bend at 281-499-9102, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Information on additional opportunities is available at www.VolunteerFortBend.org