Volunteer Activities in Our Two Towns Sought

SOMA Two Towns For All Ages website/directory is expected to go live on or before September, 2017.  One section will include a listing of local volunteer opportunities suitable for Seniors.  If you know of a local organization seeking volunteers, either long term or short term needs, with duties appropriate for Seniors, please post the information here including: name of organization. contact person(s) and contact information, brief description of duties, any specific skills/experience required, date(s)/times assistance is required, expected duration help is needed, and anything else of help in explaining the need.  Requests for volunteers will be reviewed.  Those deemed suitable will be included on the website.  Link to the website will be posted to this thread as soon as the website goes live.

Has there been any conversation about retired educators tutoring or helping out in the schools?

annielou said:

Has there been any conversation about retired educators tutoring or helping out in the schools?

Yes.  SOMA Two Towns For All Ages is already working with the Achieve Foundation.  Village Green recently carried a story about discussions between SOMA Two Towns For All Ages and the school board and PTA Presidents Council, exploring ways in which Seniors, not necessarily limited to retired teachers,can help out in the schools. Some form of certification (background check?  qualifications?) will likely be required before volunteers can be placed in the schools.

How about fostering a cat or dog for Maplewood's own St. Hubert's? While some seniors may not wish to do dog fostering which of course requires taking the pup for a walk, (heart healthy) cat or kitten fostering is both fun and fairly easy. Both town's have contracts with People for Animals which often needs short term 2 week fosters and may I add that there are a few of us locally who can lend support if needed. PFA is holding a Trap Neuter Return meeting in Maplewood and it is a good opportunity to meet them and see what they can use to make the program work in SOMA. I'm happy to answer questions as I've been involved in rescue for years.

For the website listing, we are emphasizing ways in which Seniors can get more involved in the community through increased socialization opportunities.  The TNvR program and/or volunteer opportunities at one of the local shelters would probably be better for this. Please send me a PM with information if you know of volunteer opportunities in either of these possibilities.  

The fostering opportunities would be great content for inclusion in the monthly newsletter which will be sent out to Seniors on the mailing list beginning in October.  If you can give me a brief description and contact information for fostering (Senors can be dog people as well as cat people) please send me a PM or pass this information on to Cathy Rowe.

Shut in Seniors might benefit from a therapy animal program.  Any ideas on how something like this could be set up serving Maplewood and South Orange?

South Orange Elks Rent Party Garden is a great opportunity to volunteer... Email garden@rentpartylive.com for more info.

Soul_29 said:

South Orange Elks Rent Party Garden is a great opportunity to volunteer... Email garden@rentpartylive.com for more info.

I already sent the Rent Party Garden volunteer needs and schedule to Cathy Rowe, doing a cut and paste from this month's Elks Newsletter with queries being sent to the master gardener.  Please let me know if you would like your contact information provided in the listing as well. Also send me a PM with contact information, dates/times, duties, and skills needed if you have any other needs for volunteer work with Rent Party or affiliated activities.

I am not officially affiliated with Morrow Church, but I can assure you that volunteering with any aspect of the annual Turnover Sale is a huge opportunity for socializing. Help is always needed before, during and after the sale, and while it is often hard work, it is also a ton of fun and feels incredibly rewarding. Plus, the days and hours are totally self-set, so the volunteer has total control over the commitment.

Heynj said:

I am not officially affiliated with Morrow Church, but I can assure you that volunteering with any aspect of the annual Turnover Sale is a huge opportunity for socializing. Help is always needed before, during and after the sale, and while it is often hard work, it is also a ton of fun and feels incredibly rewarding. Plus, the days and hours are totally self-set, so the volunteer has total control over the commitment.

Great idea.  I will need an official request from Morrow Church including contact name and info, dates/times when volunteers are needed, and tasks volunteers will asked to perform before forwarding for inclusion in the SOMA Two Towns For All Ages Website.  I wouldn't want to forward anything for inclusion without their permission and detailed information.  There should be plenty of time since the sale normally takes place over the summer.

Soul_29 said:

South Orange Elks Rent Party Garden is a great opportunity to volunteer... Email garden@rentpartylive.com for more info.

Rent Party has been included.  I sent you a PM with the current wording.  Let me know if there are any needed changes,

Morganna said:

How about fostering a cat or dog for Maplewood's own St. Hubert's? While some seniors may not wish to do dog fostering which of course requires taking the pup for a walk, (heart healthy) cat or kitten fostering is both fun and fairly easy. Both town's have contracts with People for Animals which often needs short term 2 week fosters and may I add that there are a few of us locally who can lend support if needed. PFA is holding a Trap Neuter Return meeting in Maplewood and it is a good opportunity to meet them and see what they can use to make the program work in SOMA. I'm happy to answer questions as I've been involved in rescue for years.

Plan is to include mention of St Hubert's need for volunteers.  Wording has not yet been developed.

joan_crystal said:

Morganna said:

How about fostering a cat or dog for Maplewood's own St. Hubert's? While some seniors may not wish to do dog fostering which of course requires taking the pup for a walk, (heart healthy) cat or kitten fostering is both fun and fairly easy. Both town's have contracts with People for Animals which often needs short term 2 week fosters and may I add that there are a few of us locally who can lend support if needed. PFA is holding a Trap Neuter Return meeting in Maplewood and it is a good opportunity to meet them and see what they can use to make the program work in SOMA. I'm happy to answer questions as I've been involved in rescue for years.

Plan is to include mention of St Hubert's need for volunteers.  Wording has not yet been developed.

There is a link for volunteer applications. I'll see if I can supply it here. I've volunteered there with PFA and fostered long ago. With 100 dogs coming in tonight from Texas, I formalized it with an application. As I have my own rescue I usually keep it local but this is my best chance to help both St. Hubert's and Texas.

^^^ Please do and I can then forward it to Cathy Rowe or you can send it to her directly.