I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.

--Mahatma Gandhi

RSVP of Central CT, Inc. is designed to maximize the skills and talents of older Americans and match them with volunteer opportunities that serve our community.  This agency serves Berlin, Meriden, New Britain, Southington and Wallingford. 

This organization matches people of all backgrounds and interests with a wide variety of volunteer opportunities.  Jobs are available on a weekly, monthly or sporadic basis depending on the volunteer’s availability and preference.  RSVP volunteers are covered by supplemental liability and automobile insurance and can receive mileage reimbursement at $0.20 per mile to and from the volunteer job.


 You are invited to make a difference in your neighborhood. Click for details.
 

Senior Buddy Readers

...do you enjoy children?   ......can you volunteer one hour per week?   If your answer is YES, you’re needed as a Senior Buddy Reader.

Current Opportunities
Nathan Hale School (Tues. 9:30-10:30 am)
Casimir Pulaski School (Wed. 9:30-10:30 am)
Hanover School (Thurs. 10:20-11:20 am)
Ben Franklin School (Thurs. 1:30-2:50 pm)

What do you do?
• Spend one hour each week with 1st and 2nd grade Meriden students
• Students do the reading - you help them with words and pronunciation

What do you get?
• The joy of helping local students who need assistance
• Weekly outing to serve your community

If you are a senior in good health with one hour per week to give to a child, contact program coordinators Cathy (203-440-3334) or email seniorbuddyreader@yahoo.com. Or speak to fellow Y's Men Buddy Reader volunteers Peter Burch, Joe DeMaio, Richard Gault or Al Mueller. Click here for a descriptive video.

Midstate VNA & Hospice
 One Research Parkway, Meriden, CT 06450

Hospice Volunteer Opportunities:
Art  - This volunteer would visit the patient at home or in a skilled nursing facility to work on a project such as drawing or painting, creating a memory book or box, photography, or making special greeting cards for family members. This volunteer would have a unique opportunity to both interact with and provide support to patients while working on the project. The interested candidate would need to complete the hospice volunteer training program and develop therapeutic communication skills.

Music – This volunteer with instrumental and/or vocal talent would visit patients at home or in the skilled nursing facility. Music would be shared with the patient and an opportunity for reminiscence provided. Although music therapy would be offered to all hospice patients, dementia patients are especially responsive and would initially be targeted for this therapy. The interested candidate would need to complete the hospice volunteer training program and have an interest in interacting with dementia patients.

Massage Therapist – This volunteer would visit the patient’s home or skilled nursing facility to provide massage therapy to the patient or the primary caregiver. We currently have one massage therapist on our hospice team and would like to add an additional therapist to allow more opportunities for our patients to reap the benefits of massage. This volunteer must be a licensed massage therapist, would need to complete the volunteer training program and be willing to work with some patients who are unable to transfer to a massage table or chair.

Personal Pampering – This volunteer would visit the patient at home or in the skilled nursing facility to provide a limited manicure/pedicure or simple hand or foot massage. Our patients would greatly appreciate this opportunity for pampering and the volunteer would have the opportunity to interact with patients during the session. The interested candidate would need to complete the hospice volunteer training program, develop therapeutic communication skills and learn simple massage techniques.

Agency Volunteer Opportunities:
Temporary volunteers needed to check messages on flu hotline and return calls to people requesting a flu shot to schedule their appointments. This opportunity exists from early October through mid-November. Training will be provided. 

Ongoing volunteers needed to assist with clerical tasks for the agency. Tasks include copying, filing, stamping, and envelope stuffing. Training will be provided. The office is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

We would like to discuss these opportunities with you!  Call Phyllis or Barbara at (203) 235-5714

Volunteer Opportunities at MidState Medical Center

  • The Volunteer Department at MidState is looking to increase volunteer staffing in high-volume, high-traffic areas. Information desk receptionists stationed at various entrances are needed late afternoons and early evenings, including weekends. If you enjoy meeting and greeting the public, have excellent telephone skills, and are able to use a computer to access information, please call Diamond Belejack, manager of Volunteer Services, at (203) 694-8275 or email dbeleja@midstatemedical.org for more information.

  • Certified pet therapy dogs provide hours of comfort to support patients who may otherwise have no visitors or may feel lonely and isolated in a hospital setting. Anyone having a registered therapy dog that is certified by a legitimate therapy dog organization is welcome to join our volunteer staff. Please contact the volunteer office at MidState Medical Center.




Meriden Public Library

WANT TO HELP THE MERIDEN PUBLIC LIBRARY
AND LEARN ABOUT MARKETING ON THE INTERNET?

Volunteers are needed to help the Friends of the Library sell books on Amazon.com. If you can spare a couple of hours in the morning on one or more days per week, call Frank Ridley at 203-634-0072. The sales activities are located at the Friends Downtown Book Store and Coffee Shop, 1 Colony St. Meriden . All proceeds from the sales go to support the library.

 

Meriden-Wallingford Chrysalis 
Providing Domestic Violence Services

Meriden-Wallingford Chrysalis, Inc. provides a variety of services to anyone who experiences domestic violence. We have a 24 hour confidential hotline that is answered by staff and volunteers. Our fifteen bed shelter provides shelter, case management, support, parenting groups, child advocacy/support, adult advocacy, food, clothing, and support groups to those women and children who need to flee their situation due to domestic violence and need a safe place to stay. Our transitional living program is a two year program that provides women who need extra time and support getting back on their feet.

Meriden-Wallingford Chrysalis has opportunities for volunteers to become involved. Volunteers are needed to cover a 24-hour hotline. Twenty hours of training are required to become a certified domestic violence counselor. The training consists of 15 hours of training sessions at the Connecticut coalition Against Domestic Violence in East Hartford and five hours of training in Meriden at the main office. Other volunteer opportunities include babysitting, home repair, and drivers to pick up donated items.

If you would like to become a Chrysalis volunteer, please call the office at 203-630-1638.
 

Meriden Health Department
The City of Meriden Dept. of Health and Human Services is seeking clinic volunteers, along with the other 40 Lead Health Departments throughout the State of Connecticut. In the event of a Public Health Emergency, the volunteers along with City staff would operate a Mass Dispensing Clinic to dispense medication to City residents. We estimate that a LARGE number of volunteers would be needed to assist us in the distribution to 58,000 of City of Meriden residents. For more information, call 203-630-4240.t
 

Got an hour a week to spare? Why not put it to good use, helping to make a kid strong; strong enough to refuse drugs and alcohol, strong enough to stay in school, strong enough to stay out of gangs.

Learn how you can help, volunteering as little as one hour per week.
Call 860-852-0045 or click here.
 

Thresholds of Cheshire CT

For over 25 years, Thresholds in Cheshire Connecticut has been teaching a five-step decision-making process to interested inmates in Connecticut's prisons. Thresholds was originally developed by Milton "Mickey" Burglass while he was incarcerated in a Louisiana prison in the mid-1960s. After Burglass' release he attended Harvard University where, for his doctorate, he formalized his decision-making process into the highly successful program known as Thresholds.

The decision making process is one that we have found helpful in our personal lives and it is our wish to teach it to others. It is up to the individual that is taught to apply and use it or not. The process that we teach is about having control over your own life and what direction it goes in. We gain control through the decision making process. It teaches how to come to a decision that is the individual's alone. No one else can make a decision for you using this 5-Step process.

New volunteers are required to attend a Thresholds volunteer training course before they can begin working with a client. We thoroughly train all new volunteers and provide excellent materials to help you in preparing for your sessions. At the course, you will be thoroughly trained to teach Thresholds' 5-Step decisional model. We traditionally hold 2 training sessions for new volunteers each year. These sessions are held in Cheshire and are given on a Saturday and Sunday.

More info
 
 

Women and Families Center

We have many opportunities for men, especially with our At-Risk youth program. Predominately our program attract women, involved in social service; however, our at-risk youth program is predominately male. It would be wonderful to have more men involved in our program to be an example for our youth. Additionally we have a case management program where we work with individuals in our communities to link them with the appropriate services to best fulfill their needs. This is a new service added to our SAIR*Corps program along with our expansion to recruit 33 members. Also through our Sexual Assault Crisis Program, there are many opportunities to counsel and give presentations to “Help end Sexual Violence.”

More info
 

Other Opportunities
  1. If you are associated with an organization that would like to host an Elderhostel informational presentation you can contact Ms. Eleanor M. Kepler at cek51@aol.com. Ms. Kepler is a volunteer Elderhostel Ambassador and can bring you up-to-date on the many new types of programs available varying in length from one to 32 days. For general information visit www.elderhostel.org or for more information on the Ambassador program, email ambassadorprogram@elderhostel.org
  1. Many Ysmen are involved with volunteer organizations that focus on services to seniors and their caregivers. The North Central Area Agency on Aging (www.ncaaact.org) is a private non-profit organization devoted to enhancing the quality of life of older adults by ensuring they have access to quality and cost effective services. They provide assistance and financial support to numerous local agencies who are carrying out community-based projects serving older adults and their families. If your organization is providing such services and you would like to find out more about NCAAA, contact:

Maureen C. McIntyre, Assistant Director, NCAAA
Two Hartford Square West, Suite 101
Hartford, CT 06106
(860) 724-6443 ext. 283
mcintyremc@yahoo.com
 

And a Few Other Opportunities

Foster Grandparent Program & Senior Companion Program (203-752-3059)
Interfaith Volunteer Care Givers (203-230-8994)
Meriden Board of Education Volunteer Program (203-634-7985)
United Way Volunteer Center (203-235-4403)