THIS IS AUSTIN

Volunteer opportunites

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Sunday, July 26, 2009

Community organizations offer a variety of ways for residents to get involved. Whatever interests you have — animals, children, education, the environment, health or seniors — there's a volunteer opportunity for you.

Animals

Animal Trustees of Austin. Make surgical appointments and confirmation calls, answer general questions, help with animal pick-ups and assist at fast-paced spay/neuter and wellness clinics. 5129 Cameron Road. 450-0111, www.animaltrustees.org.

Austin Humane Society.Help care for animals, foster an animal or assist staff members. 124 W. Anderson Lane. 646-7387 www.austinhumanesociety.org.

Austin Pets Alive!Assist with off-site adoptions, dog behavior training, dog and cat foster homes, foster coordinators, fundraising, marketing, public relations, help line and transporting pets. 961-6519, www.austinpetsalive.og.

Central Texas SPCA.Care for animals, help with events and fundraisers and maintain the facilities. 909 S. Bagdad Road, Leander. 512-260-7722, www.centraltexasspca.org.

Elgin Humane Society. Care for animals, help with adoptions and special events and perform office duties. 725 W. Cleveland St., Elgin. 512-285-9636, www.elginhumanesociety.com.

Georgetown Animal Services. Adults help with off-site adoptions, care for animals, assist staff with visitors and walk, groom and bathe dogs. 110 W.L. Walden Drive, Georgetown. 512-930-3592, www.georgetown.org/departments/animalservices/.

Humane Society of Williamson County. Help with laundry, painting, maintenance, dog walking, pet socialization, adoption events, administrative activities, committee work and the Web site. 10930 Crystal Falls Parkway, Leander. 512-260-3602, www.hswc.net.

Lifelong Friends Pet Adoptions. Help with dog and cat care-giving, adoption events, administrative activities, public relations/fundraising and pet socialization or provide foster homes for pets. 20803 FM 1431, Lago Vista. 512-267-6876, www.lifelongfriends.org.

Town Lake Animal Center. Provide socialization interaction for animals in adoption, help with behind-the-scenes administrative and maintenance work, collect donations and provide educational information on responsible pet ownership. 1156 W. Cesar Chavez St. 311, www.ci.austin.tx.us/health/animal_services.htm.

Thundering Paws Animal Sanctuary. Help with cleaning, feeding and socializing animals, adoption events, collecting donations, maintenance, landscaping and more. In Dripping Springs. 512-402-9725, www.thunderingpaws.org.

Children/youths

Any Baby Can Child and Family Resource Center. Assist families in the 'Family Literacy' program. 1121 E. Seventh St. 454-3743, www.abcaus.org

Arrow Child and Family Ministries. Help with filing, putting together books for families and working at events. 110 S. Lampasas St., Suite 4, Round Rock. 512-388-2400, www.arrow.org.

Austin Child Guidance Center. Play Leader volunteers supervise and interact with children in the waiting area providing a fun, structured, and friendly environment for children. 810 W. 45th St. 451-2242, www.austinchildguidance.org.

Big Brothers Big Sisters. Adults mentor children ages 6 to 15. 1400 Tillery St. 472-5437, www.bigmentoring.org.

Center for Child Protection. Help greet children and families, assist in the distribution of information packets, educate families about the court process, assist pediatricians, shop for supplies, provide child care, perform administrative activities and assist with center upkeep. 8509 FM 969, Building 2. 472-1164, www.centerforchildprotection.org.

Court Appointed Special Advocates.Serve as a child's voice in court cases that involve the child's removal from a home due to abuse and neglect. 6330 U.S. 290 E., Suite 350. 459-2272, www.casatravis.org.

Easter Seals-Central Texas. Perform administrative duties, help with community outreach activities, assist therapists in treatment of clients, help translate for families and therapists and help with other specialized projects. 1611 Headway Circle, Building 2. 478-2581, www.centraltx.easterseals.com.

Mothers' Milk Bank at Austin. Help with office work and with pasteurizing donations of surplus milk from healthy breast-feeding women. 900 E. 30th St., Suite 214. 494-0800, www.milkbank.org.

Neighborhood Conference Committee. Serve as a committee member and maintain direct involvement with youths ages 10 to 16 who have committed misdemeanor offenses. 100 Interstate 35 N. 854-4580.

SafePlace. Provide assistance to families and shelter, help as hospital and legal advocates, speak publicly, teach and tutor various subjects, foster client's pets and more. 1515 Grove Blvd. 267-7233, www.austin-safeplace.org.

STARRY. Provide food or child care for counseling groups, create scrapbooks for foster care children, read books to younger children, become a mentor or update or make repairs in emergency shelter cottages. 1301 North Mays, Round Rock. 512-255-3668, www.starryonline.org.

Taylor Head Start Center.Read books to young children of low-income families, clean facilities, watch children and help prepare meals. 303 Ferguson St., Taylor. 365-1070.

Taylor Baptist Children's Home.Baby-sit for the family care program, coordinate an outing for a cottage, provide birthday parties for a child, tutor elementary students or organize game days. 1301 N. Mays St., Round Rock. 512-255-3668, www.tbch.org.

Texas Runaway Hotline. Answer statewide hot line for troubled youths and their families. 929-6877, www.texasrunaway.org.

Texas Youth Commission. Serve as mentors, tutors and advocates and provide religious services to assist youth offenders in rehabilitation. 4900 N. Lamar Blvd. 424-6090, www.tyc.state.tx.us.

Hope Alliance. Help with administrative duties, answer crisis calls, conduct public presentations and work with survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. 1011 Gattis School Road, Suite 106, Round Rock. 512-255-1212, www.wccc.info.

Education

American YouthWorks. Tutor and mentor at-risk youth ages 16 to 21, assist in administrative duties and help with fundraising events. 216 E. Fourth St, and scheduled to move to 1901 E. Ben White Blvd. in September. 236-6125, www.americanyouthworks.org.

Austin Children's Museum.Work with staff to develop new activities based on exhibits, serve as a gallery interpreter, work in the museum store or serve as a camp counselor. 201 Colorado St. 472-2499, www.austinkids.org.

Austin Jewish Academy. Work with children, perform clerical duties, serve at special events and work as a mentor. 7300 Hart Lane. 735-8350, www.austinjewishacademy.org.

Austin Museum of Art-Downtown and Laguna Gloria. Help with administrative duties, work in the museum store, work at the fun desk, help at family-focused events. Downtown: 823 Congress Ave. 495-9224. Laguna Gloria: 3809 W. 35th St. 458-8191. www.amoa.org.

Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. Welcome and assist museum patrons, help with special exhibits and assist with administrative activities or work as a docent or educator. 1800 N. Congress Ave. 936-4634 or 936-4614, www.thestoryoftexas.com.

Girlstart. Serve as role model and encourage girls to excel in math, science and technology or assist with landscaping, administrative duties and various other behind-the-scenes activities. 1400 W. Anderson Lane. 916-4775, www.girlstart.org.

Junior Achievement of Central Texas. Volunteers commit five to eight hours over the course of a school semester to teaching workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. 6001 Westcreek Drive, Unit G. 499-8025, www.jacentex.org.

LifeWorks. Teach literacy, provide technical help, assist with administrative duties, teach English to adults and assist with various maintenance duties. 2222 Rosewood Ave. 478-7323, www.lifeworksweb.org.

Literacy Council of Williamson County. Teach basic literacy and English, hold general educational development classes and literacy workshops, serve on board of directors, assist with administrative tasks, help with special events or write grants. 2411 Williams Drive, Suite 1, Georgetown. 512-869-0497, www.literacycouncil-wc.org.

Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic. Help with all aspects of recording educational materials into computerized formats. 1314 W. 45th St. 323-9390, www.rfbd.org/Texas_Unit.htm.

Texas Natural Science Center. Help with projects and exhibits, work at information desk, work in scientific collections and guide tours. 2400 Trinity St. 232-5509, www.utexas.edu/tmm.

Women & Their Work. Assist in daily gallery operations for nonprofit art gallery. 1710 Lavaca St. 477-1064, visit www.womenandtheirwork.org.

Environment/gardening

American Botanical Council.Provide assistance in education, administrative tasks and gardening. 6200 Manor Road. 926-4900, ext. 114, www.herbalgram.org.

Austin Sierra Club. Assist with variety of administrative and outdoor projects. 444-4495, www.texas.sierraclub.org/austin/volunteer.html.

Austin Parks Foundation.Adopt-a-Park, help plant trees, assist with trail building or ecological restoration. Other opportunities regularly updated on Web site. 816 Congress Ave. 477-1566, www.austinparks.org.

Central Texas Trail Tamers. Help build, maintain and enhance public hike-and-bike trails. 394-9998, ext. 2, www.trailtamers.org.

Ecology Action. Sort plastics, paper, aluminum, cardboard and glass and assist with various projects. 707 E. Ninth St. 322-0000, www.ecology-action.org.

Hill Country Conservancy.Help with field work such as trail building and habitat restoration, or office work such as research or event planning. 221 W. Sixth Street, Suite 350. 328-2481, www.hillcountryconservancy.org/get-involved/volunteer.

Keep Austin Beautiful.Assist with community or creek cleanup, adopt-a-street or creek, and various community service projects. 55 N. Interstate 35, Suite 215. 391-0617, www.keepaustinbeautiful.org/volunteer.

The Trail Foundation.Help keep the trail at Lady Bird Lake beautiful by adopting gardens, planting trees, working at events, and cleanup workdays. 733-3989, www.thetrailfoundation.org.

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Help with education programming, work in display gardens, train to be a docent and lead tours, work in gift store, assist with research projects. 4801 La Crosse Ave. 292-4100, www.wildflower.org/volunteer.

Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve. Give tours, help with trail maintenance and work in office and gift shop. 805 Capital of Texas Highway N. (Loop 360). 327-7622, www.wildbasin.org.

Zilker Botanical Garden. Lead tours, work in gift shop, help with ground maintenance or office work. 2220 Barton Springs Road. 477-1750, www.zilkergarden.org.

Health

American Heart Association. Assist with events and projects. 1700 Rutherford Lane. 433-7220, www.americanheart.org.

Cancer Connection.Provide one-on-one mentorship for cancer patients and family members, visit area hospitals to give information and emotional support to families and patients, or distribute resource information and serve refreshments at oncology clinics. 3710 Cedar Street Suite 200. 342-0233, www.thecancerconnection.org.

Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas.Assist with clinical and nonclinical opportunities. 4900 Mueller Blvd. 324-0161, www.dellchildrens.net.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Lone Star Chapter.Advocacy, Neighbor to Neighbor Community Outreach, events, Austin MS Walk, support group leaders, administrative support. Stone Bridge Plaza 2, 9600 MoPac Blvd. N. (Loop 1), Suite 150. 1-800-344-4867, option 2, www.nationalmssociety.org/chapters/TXH/index.aspx.

Odyssey HealthCare. Work with terminally ill patients as a companion, assist with administrative work. 4201 W. Parmer Lane, Building C, Suite 100. 310-0214, www.odsyhealth.com.

People's Community Clinic.Reading stories to children in the waiting room, assisting with medical records, special events and clerical tasks. 2909 Interstate 35 N. 708-3156, www.austinpcc.org/support/volunteer.html.

St. David's-Georgetown Hospital. Provide customer service, work in the women's center or emergency department, assist with office work and more. 2000 Scenic Drive, Suite 201, Georgetown. 512-942-4197, www.stdavids.com.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Opportunities in community outreach and supporting the Komen Austin Race for the Cure, special events, fundraising, education, public relations, individual, small and large group opportunities and advocacy. 3508 S. Lamar Blvd. 473-0900, www.komenaustin.org.

Volunteer Healthcare Clinic.Volunteer positions available for Spanish interpreters, fundraising and public relations, and qualified health-care professionals such as dietitians, nurses, physicians, and pharmacists. 4215 Medical Parkway. 459-6002, ext. 205, www.volclinic.org.

Miscellaneous

Austin Habitat for Humanity. Construct and deconstruct homes, work in the Restore or provide lunch. 310 Comal St., Suite 100. 472-8788, ext. 101, www.austinhabitat.org.

The Austin Project. Help families with individual and neighborhood improvements. 5221 Ledesma Road. 929-3545, www.theaustinproject.org.

Austin Recovery.Help with administrative tasks, community outreach, sports and recreation activities, or be a temporary or full-time 12-step sponsor, educational or AA/NA/CA speaker. 697-8507, www.austinrecovery.org

Capital Area Food Bank. Assist with general food bank activities. 8201 S. Congress Ave. 282-2111, www.austinfoodbank.org.

Caring Place. Answer phones, assist in social services or in thrift store or work as cashier. 2000 Railroad St., Georgetown. 512-869-4735, www.caringplacetx.org.

Dress For Success Austin.Be a professional shopper, sort donations or maintain the boutique inventory. 701 Tillery Street Suite A-5. 389-3723, www.dressforsuccess.org.

El Buen Samaritano. Volunteer services in the Child Learning Center, education department, outreach department, in social services or in the Wallace Mallory Clinic. 7000 Woodhue Drive. 439-0700, www.elbuen.org.

Green Doors.Offers a variety of opportunities to support affordable housing programs, such as working in the food pantry, community gardening days, and public advocacy projects. 469-9130, www.greendoors.org.

Hands on Housing. Teams of volunteers rehabilitate homes for elderly and low-income homeowners in East Austin. Repair events happen once in the Fall and once in the Spring. Coordinated by the Austin Area Interreligious Ministries. 701 Tillery St., Suite 8. 386-9145, www.aaimaustin.org/volunteer.html.

Hill Country Community Ministries.Volunteer in the clothes closet, food pantry or administrative office, participate in special events, or train to be a volunteer caseworker. 1005 Lacy Drive, Leander. 259-0360 extension 205, www.hccm.org.

Hospice Austin.Run errands, assist with administrative duties, fundraising and special events or train tospend time with patients. 4107 Spicewood Springs Road. 342-4700, www.hospiceaustin.org.

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and South Texas. Grant wishes, organize fundraisers and plan events and celebrations for wish families. 2224 Walsh Tarlton Lane, Suite 200. 329-9474, centralandsouthtexas.wish.org/volunteering.htm.

Meals on Wheels and More. Assist homebound people by delivering meals, grocery shopping, keeping in touch by telephone, taking them to doctor's appointments and providing minor home repairs. 3227 E. Fifth St. 476-6325, www.mealsonwheelsandmore.org.

Next-To-New Consignment. Help with administrative duties, merchandising and special projects for St. David's Episcopal Church resale shop. 5435 Burnet Road. 459-1288, www.next2new.org.

Project Transitions.Help with care-giving in the AIDS, landscaping, merchandising in the consignment store and various administrative duties. 7101-B Woodrow Ave. 454-8646, www.projecttransitions.org/volunteer.shtml.

Round Rock Volunteer Center. People wanting to volunteer are connected with nonprofit organizations in Williamson County. 1099 E. Main St., Round Rock. 733-7625, www.volrock.org.

St. David's Foundation Health's Angels. Work with the elderly and their caregivers through quarterly volunteer opportunities and participate in an annual grant review. Membership fee is $100. 811 Barton Springs Road, Suite 600. 879-6221, www.stdavidsfoundation.org.

United Way Capital Area. Individuals, families, groups or businesses seeking volunteer work are matched to specific projects. 2000 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. 472-6267, www.unitedwaycapitalarea.org.