January
2003
This month’s featured volunteer station is one at which many volunteers are needed, but few might have explored. The residents of the Lubbock State School at 3401 North University depend greatly on the efforts of volunteer groups and individuals to help provide them with the best quality of life possible. Although the school’s 900 employees provide the direct care, nursing and medical services, food services, grounds, maintenance and administrative support to serve their 350 residents, volunteers are an integral part in meeting the social and mental needs of these individuals. Many of the people who live there do not have family and roughly 85% are severely and profoundly mentally retarded. The residents range in ages from 13 to 75, most falling between the ages of 35-55, creating a very diverse population. The range of volunteer opportunities is also diverse depending on whether you would like to work directly with the residents or would rather serve in a supportive role.
For those who like to see immediate feedback, enrichment programs are offered including music and individual attention focused on reading, talking or listening to music together. Chapel services or one to one religious ministry, daily recreational, bi-monthly campus-wide activities and even dancing may also be available for the residents with your help. The mental stimulation and the special attention of interacting with another individual helps many residents maintain and often improve their abilities.
If you would prefer a supportive role, the school would appreciate your individual services in landscaping, office work, bulk mailings and various seasonal activities. Groups may sponsor the planting and maintaining of flowerbeds, social events, and fundraising activities to help the school. Volunteer opportunities have flexible hours and days. Individuals volunteering must complete an application, including a criminal background check, Nurses Aid Registry and Employee Misconduct Registry checks. “Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day”. Sally Koch
OTHER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
CONTACT LUBBOCK CRISIS HOTLINE seeks volunteer listeners who would like to help others in a crisis situation. Contact is a 24 hour Crisis and Information and Referral Hotline that assists people in many different types of situations including those needing help with depression; relationship issues; finding resources for food, rent/utilities, counseling, clothing, and other community assistance; substance abuse, loneliness, mental emotional problems, and even suicide. Help is particularly needed during any shift on the weekends, and also weekdays for their evening shift from 5-8 PM and 8-12PM. Volunteers receive intensive training and support from staff and a new training class is schedule to begin in January 2003! No experience is needed. It’s a great way to serve!
COVE (Court Ordered Visitation and Exchange) Inc. requests volunteers who have had experience finding and writing grants to help an organization that does a wonderful service for the community. COVE is a non-profit organization that provides facilities so that parents who are estranged, but have the responsibility to share custody of their children, may do so in an environment that is designed to ease the problems associated with having to perform the physical task of moving the children between Mom and Dad. COVE also provides a place for parents who must be supervised to visit with their children. The agency does not charge for any services and is totally dependent upon donations and grants. Assistance with finding and writing grant requests is critically necessary. If you have good writing ability, you can easily be taught to use your skills and knowledge to write grants at home and at your own pace.
LUBBOCK SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, 1500 Broadway, would appreciate the time and skill of a volunteer for the position of Orchestra Librarian. The librarian would be responsible for providing and organizing all of the music needed for performances, and of maintaining the orchestra’s library of parts and scores. If you have any musical experience, this job would be varied and interesting, allowing you flexibility with as many duties and responsibilities as you would like to do. An exciting and interesting job!
To volunteer, or for more information about these or other volunteer positions, please call the RSVP office at 742-2423.
HOW do I join RSVP?
Becoming a member of RSVP is simple as long as you are at least 55 and have some time to volunteer. Just call the office at 742-2423 and chat with Ronda Casey or Bonne Phillips about your interests. If you are not certain what you would like to do, we can mention several current volunteer opportunities and send you a list of the sort of jobs which RSVP members are presently doing to whet your appetite. If you have a special skill or talent that you would like to utilize, we will search to find just the right job for you. Just mail in the
enrollment form
(requires Adobe Reader) and we will call you!
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