Opportunities
Bennington - Windham - Windsor
Work with Young Children:
Head Start – Spend time with pre-school children, listening, reading, and talking. Rock the babies in the Infant/Toddler program.
Northshire Day School – Spend time with toddlers and infants – reading, feeding and rocking.
Bennington Elementary Schools - RSVP Reads is a program that fosters one on one time with young students learning to read. Be the person who ignites the spark that creates a new reader.
Libraries:
Arlington, Arlington High School, North Bennington all need help shelving books as well as other library duties. Bennington Museum needs help in research library.
Medical:
Pownal Rescue Squad – Needs new volunteers.
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center– Lobby Desk Volunteer – transport patients to floors by wheelchair; deliver flowers & mail to rooms and give directions to visitors. PERS Installers (Personal Emergency Response System) Install equipment in homes and instruct clients on use. Areas include Bennington, Wilmington, Northshire and NY State. Hospice Volunteers – office help, companionship to patients, errands and light housekeeping. Centers for Living and Rehabilitation needs help updating a manual – computer typing required. Hospital needs errand runners for different departments between 11 and 2 p.m.
Mentors:
Big Brothers & Sisters – Spend the lunch hour with an elementary school student.
All Bennington County Elementary Schools – Students need help with reading and math
Sunrise Family Resource Center - Tutor young parents studying for their High School diplomas
Miscellaneous:
PAVE- Volunteer advocates are needed for the crisis hotline. Answer calls from home or cell phone, or you may utilize a PAVE pager. No prior experience is necessary. Hotline advocates will be trained to present options and give information and referrals to individuals affected by domestic or sexual violence.
If you are a supportive listener, you are one step closer to being a hotline volunteer.
Bennington Center for the Arts - Greeting visitors, answering questions, giving directions.
Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home – Docents, gift shop help, gardening and greeting
Bennington Museum – Work in Genealogy Library, be a museum docent, work in the gift shop, or be a greeter.
CAT-TV – Needs video production and data entry volunteers.
Knitting and crocheting– make hats, mittens, lap robes, blankets, and slippers for local school children, day care centers and nursing home residents. Crochet a Duduza (comfort) Doll to send to children in Africa who have been effected by AIDS.
Friendly Visiting - Visit with nursing home residents - read, chat, play cards
Bennington Senior Center – Bingo caller Fridays between 1 and 3 p.m.
Bennington Area Habitat for Humanity - Builders, Board Members, Collaborators, File Organizers, Publicity Writers, Fund Raisers
Vermont State Offices - Volunteer greeter to give directions, answer phones, and refill brochure rack.
WBTN - Radio station needs help with office work and billing.
Flexible hours. May turn into paid position.
BROC - Needs help with maintenance at low income apartments.
Please contact Susan Armstrong to find out more about about these and other volunteer opportunities in Bennington County at 802 447-1545.
Gallery Greeter – Attend Gallery reception desk and sell art - Work as host & do credit card sales at the Windham Art Gallery. They want to extend hours of service.
Time: Inquire for availability Qualification: Art Interest and friendly, OJT available
Greeter/Receptionist – Museum ambassador- Greet visitors and manage gift sales at Brattleboro Museum & Art Center - Help inspire, educate and engage people of all ages.
Time: Mon, 2-5 PM; Thur, 11 AM-2 PM Qualification: Like people & friendly manner
Mealtime Hosts– Greet seniors, escort to seating, and assure service at Townshend’s Valley Cares - bring happiness to senior residents during meal times – make a difference. Time: Mon –Sun @ 7 AM, or 11 AM, or 4:30 PM Qualification: Physically able & friendly
Food Service Support - Help elders select and carry cafeteria food - bring joy to lunch time at Hilltop House. Aid an encumbered elder get the meal they want with a splash of humor. Time: 11:30 AM - 1 Day/wk Qualification: Physically able friendly visitor.
Meals on Wheels Delivery– Take one hour a week to deliver a hot meal to the elderly and homebound in Brattleboro area - two routes open. Very important and rewarding. Time: Mon or Fri @10:45 AM – 1 Day/wk Qualification: VT Drivers License and vehicle
Early Reader Literacy Aid - Encourage child readers to build reading skills - Assist the teacher of early grade readers - see the joy of accomplishment - hear their happy voices.
Time: Usually 1-2 hours/ wk, as agreed. Qualification: Read & Love to work with children
Hospital Wheelchair Transporter - Help patients be where they need to be - Make a big difference - move a wheel chair bound patient to appointments to reach wellness.
Time: Thursday AM (8-10 or 10-12) Qualification: Physically able and friendly
Hospital Greeter/Receptionist- Help direct visitors to the right place - at the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital. Join an important health care team. Training included.
Time: Evenings (4-8 PM) 1-2 times/mo Qualification: Friendly communication skills
Medical Appointment Transport - Join a vital senior citizen medical support team. Volunteer as a driver for dialysis appointments for the Vernon Hall Medical Transport group. Time: Every Friday – 5-6 hours required. Qualification: Driver’s License – VT
Woodcraft Mentor for Boys- Brattleboro Retreat - Time: 2 1/2 hours per week, 12:30 to 3:00.
Please call Harry Upton or Peter Seares at 254-7515 for details about these and other volunteer opportunities in and around Brattleboro.
Friendly Visiting:Springfield Health and Rehab Center, Brookwood, and Springfield Adult Day Care in Springfield; the Gill Odd Fellows Home in Ludlow; Historic Homes of Runnemede, Davis Home, and Cedar Hill in Windsor; Mertens House, the Homestead, and Woodstock Terrace in Woodstock; and Brookside and Valley Terrace in the White River area
Pet Visiting: In Windsor County continuing care facilities and schools
Mentors:Three River Valley Business Partnership in Springfield; Windsor County Partners in Windsor; and Black River Area Community Coalition (BRACC) in Ludlow
Drivers/CRT: Drive patients to medical appointments-CRT will reimburse mileage at 50.5 cents per mile.
Receptionist/Greeter: Howard Dean Education Center in Springfield
Tour Guides/Docents:/Greeters: Cornish Colony Museum and American Precision Museum in Windsor; the Calvin Coolidge Homestead in Plymouth Notch; the Norwich Historical Society in Norwich; and the Woodstock Historical Society in Woodstock
Adult Literacy Tutors/Computer Tutors: Vermont Adult Learning in White River Junction and Springfield; and Computer Tutors, only, at Windsor Connection Resource Center in Windsor
Thrift Shop Attendants:Bridgewater Sustainable Earth Foundation in Bridgewater
Thrift Shop and Food Shelf Assistance:Black River Good Neighbor Services in Ludlow, and the Family Center in Springfield
Reparative Justice Board Members: Hartford Community Restorative Justice Center in Hartford
Mailings and Office Assistance: For non-profit organizations throughout Windsor County
Bone Builder Leaders: In communities across Windsor County (free training)
Environmental/Trail Maintenance: Mount Ascutney and Quechee Gorge
Videographer:Public Access TV: SAPA TV in Springfield; Windsor on Air in Windsor; and LPC TV in Ludlow
For more information about opportunities in Windsor County, please call Linda Husband at 802 885-2083