weekend volunteering

This is not a volunteer event. This is a fun activity to participate online.

Send a surprise Halloween message to a young patient at Texas Children’s Hospital! Sign a card on this link, and they will hand-deliver the card to young patients at the hospital. There is no cost to send the message but would need to provide First and Last name, Email, and zip code. You would get an periodic email from Texas Children’s Hospital if you submit the details.

https://give.texaschildrens.org/site/R?i=zqvILPVOQeq9cM4zTf77gQQLI6kzwoiNCS3tdA9Z2SuBF-kwHS1N-w

Here are some websites to look for volunteering opportunities after the impact of Hurricane Milton and Helene. These are just a few websites with volunteering opportunities. If there are any other areas and volunteering opportunities you would like to share, please email me at weekendvolunteering@gmail.com

Florida

Volunteer Florida – https://volunteer.volunteerflorida.org/search?sort_c=&sort_o=&opportunity_id=&page=1

Hurricane Help Florida: https://hurricanehelpflorida.org/

American Red Cross Central Florida: https://www.redcross.org/local/florida/central-florida/volunteer.html

North Carolina

North Carolina Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster: https://www.ncvoad.org/volunteer/

Hands on Ashville/Buncombe: https://www.handsonasheville.org/

How to volunteer in Western North Carolina: where to volunteer, send help for Asheville and surrounding areas: https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news/local/2024/10/18/how-to-volunteer-in-western-north-carolina-and-asheville-after-helene/75735714007/

Tennessee

Volunteer Tennessee: https://www.tn.gov/volunteer-tennessee/disaster-services/disaster-volunteer-opportunities.html

Tennessee Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster : https://www.tnvoad.org/volunteer/

Are you interested in learning about farming and harvest? Volunteer opportunities are available on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and Sundays for farm tasks like weeding, planting, etc.

There is a 2 hours per week minimum requested for volunteers.

If you’re interested in volunteering, please send email to HarvestGreen@Agmenity.com

Looking for volunteers to monitor shelter partners via social media and to share news, ideas, questions via Facebook Group. Liaisons can choose to monitor one or more shelters.

This is a virtual position that can be performed anywhere in the United States. The time commitment is one hour weekly. Additional hours are available if a volunteer would like to contribute more time. Volunteers determine their work schedule.

If interested, see below link:

https://www.idealist.org/en/volunteer-opportunity/77ed2684216c479c8e40779640b2a1b5-help-save-dogs-virtual-volunteers-needed-shelter-liaison-who-will-let-the-dogs-out-woodstock

Remote Phone Agents Needed to Support Crisis Cleanup

• Volunteer from the safety of your home
• Your personal phone number is masked by the Crisis Cleanup platform
• Support local residents who call the hotline to report property damages

Many local organizations use the Crisis Cleanup platform to 1) identify homes that require cleanup service of some sort, and 2) deploy volunteers to those sites to perform the work. Phone bank agents are responsible for entering complete and accurate information in the Crisis Cleanup platform as reported by residents who are calling Crisis Cleanup to report their needs. We are recruiting individuals to serve as a phone agent for Crisis Cleanup to do the following:

• Listen
• Manage expectations
• Enter the callers’ requests on the Crisis Cleanup platform

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Complete a level one criminal background check.
2. After responding to this need you will receive an email from a Volunteer Houston team member with a link to a ZOOM training that will occur on Thursday Feb 25th @ 5 – 6 pm. Participation in this training is mandatory.
3. After completing training you will be provided a link to register for various phone bank shifts.
   1. Each shift is 3 hours
   2. Earliest shift starts at 8 am, latest shift ends at 8 pm
   3. Agents are needed now through March 5th
   4. You are asked to return calls from residents and enter their info in the platform during your shift. You may or may not be making calls during your full shift. It is completely dependent on the number of residents calling for assistance.

YOU MUST LOG IN TO THE Volunteer Houston PORTAL TO OFFICIALLY RESPOND TO THIS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY.

***ONCE YOUR BACKGROUND CHECK IS APPROVED YOU WILL RECEIVE AN EMAIL STATING “ACTION REQUIRED | You passed your background check!” 

Who knew February 2021 would bring unexpected troubles to many in Texas? The Winter Storm of 2021 has hit many Texans hard. Faced with power outages, no electricity, and frozen pipes, many Texans had difficulty keeping warm in cold, freezing temperatures. Without electricity, some also faced problems with making food. Then there are water boil notices that popped up shortly when power gradually came back. Not to mention, there are many facing water and structural damages to their homes in the aftermath. It seems like a never-ending mess, but thank goodness, this weekend brought overall good temperatures. Hopefully many were able to take advantage of the good weather to get things back in order and fix anything that needs to be fixed.

If you would like to help out, here are some goods sites that mentions volunteer opportunities related to the Winter Storm 2021 situation in Texas.

Texas Monthly: How to Help Texans Recover from the Winter Disaster:

Houston Food Bank: Winter Storm 2021 Volunteer Opportunities

How to volunteer or donate to Austin residents amid historic winter storms

Here’s some ways to help San Antonio and Texas winter storm victims

How to Help Feed People In Need During Dallas’s Winter Weather Crisis

Interfaith Ministries’ hosts the annual event Meals on Wheels Thanksgiving to help feed homebound seniors in the Greater Houston and Galveston areas.  

Virtual volunteers are needed for the Friendly Neighbor Call Team which will have volunteers call seniors on Thanksgiving Day morning to give holiday greetings. Each volunteer will be given a list of approx 10 seniors. Volunteers can take part up to 3 rounds of calling (30 seniors).

For more information, visit this link.

Racism and Black Lives Matter were the main focus in many cities in the United States the last few weeks. Many people can never understand because those who are not Black can never be in their shoes, facing what they have to face. However, one can try to understand from a Black person’s perspective or from their loved one’s perspective the difficulties against them because of just color.

Today, in this day and age, it is absolutely discouraging that racism occurs in a country that is supposed to be forward thinking, modern, free, tolerant, anti-discrimination, and upholds what should be justice and equality. Knowing the history of the United States, and as an American, it is truly disheartening to see no progress on this matter.

Will racism end? Most likely not, but it doesn’t mean humans can not strive towards this goal little by little. Humans have the capability to take action, learn and acquire knowledge, and achieve targeted goals. Education is important. Support education for tolerance and understanding of different races, ethnicity, and culture and perhaps change will occur, even if it may take a long time. Below are some volunteering opportunities found online for volunteers who want to make a difference on racism by education:

Reading to End Racism -Reading to End Racism (RER) is a racial justice program that uses trained volunteers to read with children in the classroom at school-wide visits in Boulder County.  Volunteers will need to complete a half-day training session in Boulder or Longmont and will have training that will enhance technique in the classroom and understanding of discrimination. A free background check with the school district will need to be done, and volunteers will need to shadow an experienced reader at one school visit. Volunteers should commit to at least one school visit (one hour) per month. If interested or need more information, please visit https://www.ywcaboulder.org/get-involved/volunteer/  or complete the REI volunteering form.

Center for Racial Justice in Education – Volunteering with the Center for Racial Justice in Education to support building schools and communities grounded in racial justice. Fill out the form on the website to show your interest in volunteering and how you would like to contribute. The organization states it will return volunteer inquiries within five business days.

Erase Racism – This organization has a mission to eliminate institutional and structural racism on Long Island, NY. Volunteer skills needed are administrative, computer/web, community organizing, fundraising, event planning, and research. Fill out the form with your skills and interests to see what volunteer positions are available.

Below is a link to San Antonio Magazine page that provides some organizations that support to further racial Equality:

Local Organizations to Support to Further Racial Equality

To be updated with more opportunities…If you know of any, please email weekendvolunteering@gmail.com

It has been a year+ since my last post. A lot has happened in the past year, but nothing can be compared to the current pandemic, coronavirus aka Covid19. It is only a quarter into the year 2020 now, but Covid19 has heavily impacted people’s lives everywhere. What we all took for granted, freedom to go anywhere we want, freedom to eat whatever we want, freedom to socialize with anyone and everyone, are all seemingly on hold as social distancing becomes the norm.

With only essential workers heading to work, and only essential businesses open, volunteering opportunities are limited. I am hoping to share Covid websites with good information on this blog post and any related volunteering opportunities that organizations need to help others out during this time. There are many remote volunteering opportunities available that can be done safely at your own homes. Of course, there are also volunteering opportunities that are not remote, but make sure you follow the rules and regulation set forth in your local communities before venturing out. I’ll keep updating this post as I find more information and opportunities. Please email me at weekendvolunteering@gmail.com if you have any recommendations.

Remember: Staying at home to volunteer is the best option at this time, but if you do want to help out in person, please follow your local government rules and regulations first and foremost. Do stay home if you are sick OR if you have contact with anyone that is sick or may be sick.

I.Coronavirus Information

What is Coronavirus 2019 (Covid-19)?
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html

Coronavirus: Safety Tips For You
https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/2020/coronavirus-safety-and-readiness-tips-for-you.html

Coronavirus disease: Symptoms & Causes; Diagnosis & Treatment
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/symptoms-causes/syc-20479963

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: When and how to use masks
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks

Mail, groceries, and takeout: How to be sanitary with stuff you’re bringing home https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2020/3/27/21195819/mail-groceries-takeout-packages-delivery-clean-sanitize-wipe-outside-coronavirus

How Safe Is It To Eat Takeout?
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/04/08/822903487/how-safe-is-it-to-eat-take-out

II.Volunteering Opportunities:

Volunteer Match 
Various virtual volunteering opportunities
https://www.volunteermatch.org/virtual-volunteering

United Nations 
Online volunteering opportunities in various areas like writing/editing, translation, research, project development, etc.
https://www.onlinevolunteering.org/en

Red Cross
Looking for volunteers for blood donation and delivery support, disaster response & relief, and volunteering from home (virtual opportunities)
https://www.redcross.org/volunteer/become-a-volunteer/urgent-need-for-volunteers.html

Houston Food Bank
Looking for volunteers to help with various projects and delivery
https://www.houstonfoodbank.org/covid19/

Meals On Wheel
Volunteers for deliveries, the kitchen, and other opportunities
https://meals-on-wheels.com/volunteer/

Plant It Forward
Looking for volunteers to help on the farm, Food Hub, and remotely
https://plant-it-forward.org/community-involvement/

Remote Area Medical
Non-clinical administrative volunteers are needed to help staff COVID-19 drive-through testing sites
https://www.ramusa.org/covid-19-volunteer/

TX N95 Covers
Volunteers helping to sew covers for N95 masks for medical personnels in Texas
https://www.txn95covers.com/

LA Works
Virtual volunteer opportunities to support Los Angeles
https://www.laworks.com/virtualvolunteering

Michigan Volunteers
Medical, public health, community, healthcare administrator, etc volunteers needed in Michigan
https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus/0,9753,7-406-98178_98811—,00.html

Volunteer New York: Virtual Volunteer Center
Virtual remote volunteering opportunities In New York as well as community-wide response activities in New York
https://www.volunteernewyork.org/vvc

Technology SWAT Teams to Support New York COVID-19 Response
Looking for companies and skilled tech individuals to help build and develop technological solutions that can help with the response to the virus.
https://www.ny.gov/content/join-state-technology-swat-team