Volunteering is a great way to enrich the lives of others as well as your own. There are many volunteering opportunities available in the North State, for individuals of all ages & for families together. A variety of local organizations to volunteer for are listed below. Also search for volunteer ideas at www.volunteermatch.org.

Animal Shelters & Rescues. Help give animals a better life experience. Rehabilitate wildlife, assist with socializing potential pets, help in the office, educate the visiting public, help with marketing, create a fundraiser… or muck out stalls & caring for tack. Some rescues hold volunteer work days, some offer programs for youth. You can also foster young & special needs animals. See our Animals section for shelter & rescue information.

Art Councils. There are many ways to volunteer at your local Arts Council. Help at events, in the office, teach a class, help with fundraising, hang art, set up or tear down at events, post flyers, etc. See section The Arts: Councils & Commissions for contact information.

Guide Dogs for the Blind Community Volunteer Program. Offers individuals ages 16+ the opportunity to represent the Guide Dogs organization in their local communities. Play an active role in supporting the program by raising a puppy,  speaking to an audience about the program, or working with Guide Dogs’ communications or Canine Community Programs departments. Tour the Guide Dogs’ San Rafael, CA campus to develop an in-person relationship with the organization. www.guidedogs.com. (800) 295-4050.

Libraries.  Library volunteers serve in a variety of capacities,  including a plethora of organizational tasks that those who love details can sink their teeth into. Love children? Love teaching? Help organize a storytime series, or special storytime event. Assist in an adult literacy program; bilingual volunteers can help those for whom English is a second language. Library’s offer teen volunteer programs too. See the Literacy section for library contact information.

Mentoring. For those dedicated to making a difference in the life of a youth, one-on-one mentoring may change both your lives. Help a child or teen succeed. If your community lacks a mentoring program, there are plenty of other opportunities to assist youth. Visit the Search Institute website, www.search-institute.org, to learn about the 40 Developmental Assets & how we all can make a significant difference in the lives of children around us.

Museums offer the opportunity to learn new information, & to share that information with the public. From history to science, be a part of a fun & educational experience. There are a variety volunteer services needed at museums, from the smallest community museum to the nationally acclaimed.

 

Volunteer Opportunities In Upper California

Look for similar programs in your county if not listed here.  If you know of a great volunteer program to include, email your suggestion to family-resources@northstateparent.com.

Butte County

American Cancer Society; Shasta & Butte counties. Help drive cancer patients to appointments, assist patients in the ACS office, help in the ACS thirft store, & more.  Call for info. (800) 227-2345.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Butte County. Many of us have known a special person who opened doors & widened our horizons. Become a Big Brother or Big Sister & do the same for a child. www.bigbrothersister.org. (530) 343-8407.

Boys & Girls Club of the North Valley; Butte Co. Help to inspire & enable youth to reach their potential. Programs include sports & fitness, education, career & the arts. www.bgcanorthvalley.org. Chico: (530) 899-0335; Paradise: (530) 872-3662; Oroville: (530) 533-3067.

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA); Butte County. CASA volunteers are community members appointed to advocate for abused & neglected children moving through the court system. Each volunteer meets with their appointed child/ren weekly, monitors their child’s case, meets with people in the child’s life, & then writes a court report & recommendation on behalf of the child. CASA trainings happen several times a year. www.nationalcasa.org.

CASA of Butte County; Chico. www.nvcss.org/programs/buCasa.aspx. 10 Independence Circle. (530) 345-1600, ext. 2130.

Shasta County

Golden Umbrella’s Foster Grandparent Program; Shasta County. An opportunity for seniors ages 60+ to volunteer  their time with children in local schools. (530) 226-3098.

Mercy Medical Center; Redding. Guild, associate & student volunteers contribute in the gift shop, labor & delivery, pre & post surgical, information desk, transportation shuttle, health center (clerical) & more. (530) 225-6464.

PlusONE Mentors; Redding. Matches volunteers with youth ages 12-17 in order to address adverse factors in their youth’s life. Mentors commit to a minimum of 1 hour per week for 1 year. www.yvpc.org. 1700 Pine St., Ste. 250. (530) 244-7194.

Prevent Blindness Northern California. Volunteers help with early childhood vision screenings. www.eyeinfo.org.

Shasta Women’s Refuge; Redding. Seeks volunteers knowledgeable in domestic violence & sexual assault to facilitate Personal Empowerment Program (PEP) groups & classes. (530) 244-0118.

Turtle Bay Exploration Park Teen Volunteer Program; Redding. Along with the regular adult volunteer program, Turtle Bay offers teens similar opportunities to develop skills & knowledge through hands-on experiences, interacting with visitors & researching info. Teens learn about natural science, art, history, forestry, botany & sustainability. Develops self-confidence & job skills. For grades 7-12. (Adult volunteers also needed.) www.turtlebay.org. (530) 242-3112.

Siskiyou County

CASA of Siskiyou County. See the Butte County CASA listing above for program description. www.siskiyoucasa.org. (530) 841-0844.

Cross-County Skiing Youth Program Volunteer; Mt. Shasta. Help the youth participating in the Mt. Shasta Nordic Ski Organization’s teen x-country ski program develop a life-long love for the sport. www.mtshastanordic.org. (530) 926-3935.

Shasta Disabled Sports USA; Mt. Shasta. The SDS program offers individuals of all ages and with a wide range of disabilities assistance needed to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities. In summer help participants with rafting, rock-climbing, lake days & camping. In winter, become a Ski Buddy & help participants experience the thrill & beauty of  snowsports. Ski Buddies may work with visually impaired or wheelchair-bound participants, or with those who just need a pal while on the slopes. Volunteering with the enthusiastic crew at SDS is a rewarding & fun experience. www.shastadsusa.org. (530) 925-1531.

Tehama County

Tehama County Mentoring; Red Bluff. Seeking mentors to mentor youth in grades K-12. Programs include: One-on-One Mentoring, School-Based Mentoring, Cross-Age Mentoring & more. www.tehamamentoring.org. 1135 Lincoln St. (530) 528-7358.