Helping Out

There are lots of ways to help out in Columbia.

MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION is looking for volunteers to serve as wish grantors and help with the wish-granting experience of children with life-threatening illnesses. Wish grantors serve as liasons between Make-A-Wish staff and families. Volunteers are also needed to serve as speakers, event staff and committee members or to help with fundraising. E-mail Kendra Gray at KGray@kc.wish.org.. Call Kendra Gray, 816-889-9474.

AMERICAN RED CROSS needs volunteers for Disaster Teams, Armed Forces Emergency Services and Health and Safety programs. E-mail information@redcross-boone.org. Call E-mail informatoin@redcross-boone.org, 573-445-9411.

BOONE HOSPITAL CENTER needs volunteers to help in the gift shop for the following shifts: Fridays from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Saturdays 12:20 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sundays 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Contact Barb Shettleworth at bshettle@bjc.org. Call Barb Shettleworth, 573-815-3205.

BOONE COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING needs volunteers to assist seniors with with yard work. Call Sonya, 573-443-1111.

COLUMBIA REGIONAL HOSPITAL is looking for volunteers to join its Volunteer Services Team. Current available positions include mail courier, information desk assistants, gift shop retailers, registration escorts and waiting room assistants. E-mail perrypa@health.missouri.edu. Call Kay Perry, 573-875-9218.

RAINBOW HOUSE EMERGENCY SHELTER needs caring volunteers to help with daily activities and general care of the children and with light office work in the Advocacy Center. Other opportunities include outreach, special projects in the yard and home and general maintenance. Training and orientation will be provided. E-mail lstoll@rainbowhousecolumbia.org. Call Lori Stoll, 573-474-6600.

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE needs individuals to volunteer in its guestrooms, family rooms and common areas. Group volunteer opportunities are also available. In addition, there i a need to have a group of about five to 12 people spend a weekkday deep cleaning guestrooms. E-mail jennifermiller@socket.net. Call Jennifer Miller, 573-443-7666.

STAND BY ME needs adult volunteer mentors at West Boulevard and Lange Middle School for 45 minutes a week to help kids succeed. Kool Kit activities, training and support are provided. Flexibile schedules will help match the volunteer availability. E-mail Zona Burk at zburk@columbia.k12.mo.us. Call Zona Burk, 573-214-3670.

COLUMBIA ART LEAGUE is looking for volunteers to staff the sales gallery, assist with customer inquiries and perform some light clerical work. E-mail Diana at artleague@centurytel.net. Call Diana Moxon, 573-443-8838.

THE ARBORS AT BLUFF CREEK TERRACE is looking for pet owners who enjoy working with the elderly for their pet therapy program. Piano players are wanted for the community also. E-mail Michelle Hatton at brownsugar3233@aol.com. Call Michelle Hatton, 573-256-5565.

PREFERRED HOSPICE OF CENTRAL MISSOURI is looking for volunteers to provide companionship to hospice patients. Call Lydia, 866-852-3310.

AMERICAN RED CROSS needs volunteers at the Columbia Donor Center at 1511 S. Providence Rd. to greet blood donors and offer refreshments. E-mail Kelly at loepkerkj@usa.redcross.org. Call Kelly, 314-658-2079.

ALTERNATIVE COMMUNITY TRAINING is looking for volunteers to assist people with disabilities. Activities include arts and crafts, community integration and socialization, among other things. E-mail Sharla Hyler at sharla4act@socket.net . Call Sharla Hyler, 573-474-9446.

BOONE COUNTY OFFENDERS TRANSITION NETWORK is looking for volunteers to serve as mentors for people who have been released from the Department of Corrections and help them become productive citizens in the community. Training and support is provided. Call Joseph Carr, 573-256-1890.

CENTRO LATINO DE SALUD, EDUCACION Y CULTURA needs volunteers for the after-school/teen tutoring program to help Latino children with homework and reading. You do not need to be proficient in Spanish to help. E-mail esl.wright@hotmail.com. Call Courtney Wright, 573-449-9442.

THE WARDROBE needs individual or group volunteers to help sort items and hang clothing. The Wardrobe is at 715 Park Ave. Variety of hours available to help. Call Cindy Tredennick, 573-817-9560.

COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY'S FAMILY SELF SUFFICIENCY AND YOUTH PROGRAMS has numerous volunteer opportunities including working one-on-one or with small groups of children and youth with homework during the week, helping adults with office and computer skills traiing, math, reading adn personal development. Volunteers are also needed to mentor financial management/homeownership classes. Contact Ron Schmidt at rschmidt@columbiaha.com. Call Ron Schmidt, 573-443-2556.

THE DOUGLAS BULLDOG BASEBALL PROGRAM will need volunteer coaches and umpires who can commit a few hours each week in May, June and July. Contact Debra at volunteer@GoColumbiaMo.com. Call Debra, 573-874-7499.

COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY'S SOCIAL WORK AND INDEPENDENT LIVING DEPARTMENT needs a volunteer to assist in setting up games and snacks, monitoring tenant interactions and cleaning up for game nights from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. each Thursday at Paquin Towers, 1201 Paquin St. Contact Carrie Brown at CBrown@ColumbiaHA.com . Call Carrie Brown, 573-443-2556.

VOLUNTARY ACTION CENTER needs vounteers for the daily Lunch in the Park activity from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday from June 9 to Aug. 15. Volunteers can sign up for any amount of time they wish. This is a great activity for youth, families and organizations. E-mail Cindy Mustard at dir@vacmo.org . Call Cindy Mustard, 573-874-2237.