Ongoing Opportunities for Kids
ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES
WELCOMING YOUTH VOLUNTEERS
MAKE GREETING CARDS at home for a program that sponsors volunteer visits
to institutional shut-ins on a number of holidays throughout the year.
No special skills are required.
This can be a fun assignment for individuals or for parents and
their children. Involvement can be on a one-time, occasional, or ongoing
basis. Click here for additional information about making the cards (and a list of locations where they can be dropped
off) Minimum age= None. Call: Walter Black,
713-964-0229.
SHARE YOUR HOBBY
with a small group of adults with mental retardation at a group home in northwest Houston.
Whether your interest is sewing, cooking, scrapbooking, or a similar leisure pursuit, demonstrating
your craft and chatting with the residents about it can help broaden their personal interests and
nurture their socialization skills. Visits can be scheduled for evening or weekends, on a one-time
or occasional basis. The minimum age for volunteers is 12. The nonprofir organization wanting the volunteers
is Reach Unlimited, and the contact person is Kris Young, at 281-213-8132.
FIGHT HUNGER
by becoming a volunteer at the Houston Food Bank, located a couple of miles north of downtown
Houston. This warehouse-style facility works with social service agencies to serve the poor
throughout greater Houston. Available volunteer assignments include sorting and sacking food to be
distributed to needy families, labeling food donations, or assisting with office work.
Minimum age various according to the assignment, but some jobs can be done by volunteers
as young as 8. The Food Bank is open for business on weekdays and Saturdays.
James Ainsworth at 713-547-.8609 or e-mail jainsworth@houstonfoodbank.org
WATCH YOURSELF GROW
by becoming a volunteer gardener at Hermann Park. Receiving hands-on training from
a professional horticulturist, you'll become proficient at planting, pruning, weeding, and
other tasks needed to help maintain any of three major garden areas within the park.
Weekday and weekend shifts are available. The minimum age for volunteers is 12 if accompanied
by an adult, 15 otherwise. Contact: Matthew Marcinek at Friends of Hermann Park, 713-524-5876, Ext. 332.
TAKE COMPUTERS APART
to salvage reusable parts for an organization that rebuilds computers and channels them to
persons with disabilities. No special skills are required-- staff will teach you all you need to know to
take apart obsolete computers to remove parts that can be used in assembling rebuilt machines.
The work is normally done on weekdays at the agency's office near Hillcroft and Bissonnet, but
Saturday sessions can be scheduled for volunteer groups. This could be a great summer opportunity
for persons 12 and older to learn more about the inner workings of computers.
Contact: Barbara Rosen at 713-839-7177, or e-mail: techs1234@yahoo.com.
BOOK A PLACE for yourself as a volunteer with the City of Houston's Public Library system. If you live
in or near the Houston city limits, there's probably a branch library near you. The minimum age for
volunteers is 13. Some typical duties include
sorting and shelving books, helping mend damaged books and magazines, light computer entry, and maybe
helping out with activities involving young kids. The Volunteer Coordinator for the entire library system is
Marlana Mitchell. She can be reached at 832-393-1481.
SCOPE OUT BARGAINS as a volunteer at any of three thrift shops operated by a Galveston area women's
center. The shops are located in League City at Pecan Park Plaza Shopping Center, in Texas City at
Mainland Crossing Mall, and in Galveston at 1708 23rd Street. All three shops
are open Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Volunteers staff these shops, sorting
merchandise, setting up displays, and helping customers make selections. Minimum age= 10.
Contact: Yanne Smith-Belcher at the Women's Resource & Crisis Center, 409-763-1441.
A STITCH IN TIME: Make blankets for infants and small children.
An all-volunteer organization called Project Linus is looking for persons willing to create
blankets for kids in distressed situations, particularly pediatric cancer patients. The blankets
may be sewn, woven, crocheted, knitted, or quilted, and size doesn't matter. You can
do the work at home and on your own schedule. Minimum age = none. Contact: Sally Burns at
(281)492-2679
ANOTHER STITCH, ANOTHER TIME: Sew pillow ponies for children whose
families have lost their homes and belongings due to flood, fire, or other disaster. These little
stuffed animals are the delight of kids who too often have no other toys to play with. The ponies
are made of scrap cloth and require only basic sewing skills to assemble. The American Red Cross
can provide you with the pattern. Minimum age= none. Call: 713-313-1647.
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HORSING AROUND:
SIRE ("Self-Improvement through Riding Education") is a an all-volunteer therapeutic
horseback riding program for people with disabilities. It serves
approximately 180 clients per week ranging in age from 3 years old to adults
It uses physical therapists and complies with standards by the North American Riding
for the Handicapped Association. Typically, three volunteers attend the persons riding--
one to lead the horse, the other two to function as "sidewalkers".
The minimum age for volunteers is 14.
Riding sessions take place on weekdays during the daytime and evening and on Saturdays during
daytime hours at the following locations:
24161 Spring Drive (home office)
Hockley, TX 77447
phone: (281) 356-7588
SPRING
4610 Sloangate
Spring, TX 77373
phone: (281) 353-6160
FORT BEND
at Sienna Stables
8255 Camp Sienna Trail
Missouri City, TX 77459
phone: (281) 778-0202
Further information about SIRE can be found www.sire-htec.org/
EVEN MORE HORSING AROUND: Dreamcatcher Stables is another thereutic
horseback riding program, much like the one mentioned above, but it conducts the riding at its 92-acre
ranch area at 6215 Greens Road in Humble (just off I-59). The therapeutic riding program is active on
weekdays and weekends during the summer and on weekends during the rest of the year.
The minimum age for volunteers is 14; younger persons will
be considered if accompanied by an adult volunteer.
Contact Ms. Sanna Rolling at 281-397-4694, or e-mail: dreamcatcherstables@att.net.
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3033 Chimney Rock, Suite 460 • Houston, TX 77056
phone: 713.965.0031 • fax: 713.965.9601
