A

Help take care of a park in your area!

Organizations, families or individuals are needed to "adopt" County parks. Adopting includes duties that may include picking up litter, raking leaves, removing graffiti, reporting park hazards, pulling weeds, caring for ecosystems, planting and general beautification projects.

Open to everyone! Children under the age of 14 must have a parent attend with them.

We ask for a minimum of 4 cleanups/projects per calendar year.

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Volunteer in our beautiful Arboretum!

Volunteers needed in the Wilbur D. May Arboretum within Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. Volunteers will assist in maintaining Arboretum data bases and records, offer garden tours, participate in the docent program, assist with special events, assist in curriculum development and help maintain the gardens.

Volunteers must be 18 and older

Variable

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C

Join Washoe County and Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful for this program

Volunteers are needed this Holiday season to help with the 19th annual Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful (KTMB) Christmas Tree Recycling program. This program runs from Saturday, December 26 – Monday, January 18, 9-4:30 daily at Rancho San Rafael Regional Park, Bartley Ranch Regional Park and Shadow Mountain Sports Complex. Volunteers can sign up at any of the above drop-off locations for a ½ or full day to help with unloading trees, collecting donations and moving traffic through the drop-off sites. Service groups and businesses are encouraged to bring their banner. Please visit the KTMB website at www.ktmb.org or call 851-5185 for more information.

Volunteers can sign up for half or full day shifts at one of our three locations- Rancho San Rafael, Bartley, or Shadow Mountain.

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Get involved during disasters and emergencies

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Volunteer. Emergencies and disasters happen everywhere. If you are tired of watching events unfold on the TV and saying "I wish I could help." We have a volunteer opportunity for you. CERT volunteers are trained citizens who assist first responders during community disasters and emergencies.

CERTs complete a 21 hour academy (usually taught in two weekends) and learn about disaster preparedness, emergency medical, fire safety, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, terrorism, documentation and incident command. During emergencies volunteers may help citizens, assist with shelters and evacuations, act as scribes or public call takers, or assist professional responders in a variety of ways. We support the mission of our responders be freeing the highly trained people to do the specialized tasks they have been trained to do.

Between emergencies CERTs help with commmunity outreach, disaster training and exercises, and public education. CERT volunteers range in age from 18 to 89. No special skills are required. In a disaster there is a job for everyone.

CERT members must be 18 years or older, pass a standard backround check, and complete CERT academy training.

NOTE: Background checks require additional paperwork.

CERT members must complete a 21-hour academy (usually taught over two weekends), and put in at least 2 hours per month of volunteer time.

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The next CERT Academy begins June 5, 2009.

After applying, interested persons WILL NEED TO FILL OUT ADDITIONAL PAPERWORK in order to authorize us to perform a background check.

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Be a friend indeed to those in need!

Companionship Volunteers will provide visitation and companionship to wards of Washoe County. These Volunteers need to be genuinely interested in working with elderly and/or disabled individuals. Patience and a positive attitude are required. Experience interacting with individuals who have dementia and other types of cognitive deficits would be beneficial. Companionship Volunteers will be trained for their duties by the Public Guardian staff.

open

Hours are flexible

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Every child deserves a voice! Become a CASA volunteer and make a difference in a child’s life.

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Volunteer. In Washoe County, there are more than 900 children each year who are thrust into the family court system as a result of abuse or neglect at home. Many of these children will live temporarily with foster parents while their own parents struggle to overcome addiction to alcohol or drugs, illness, financial hardship or other problems that placed the children at risk. CASA’s are volunteer citizens who step into children’s lives and offer trust, consistency and stability for the duration of legal proceedings. CASA’s are appointed by a judge to provide detailed information about a child and their unique needs. CASA volunteers typically handle one case at a time ---and commit to staying on that case until the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. By thoroughly investigating the child’s circumstances and reporting back to the court, a CASA volunteer helps shape the important decisions being made about a child’s future. The vision of the CASA Program is to provide an advocate for every abused child within the Washoe County Family Court system. This will give each child a better chance of returning to, or being placed in a safe and secure home as quickly as possible.

CASA volunteers must be 21 years or older, pass a background check, participate in a personal interview and complete a 40 hour training program.

Note: Screening of volunteers requires additional paperwork.

Volunteers must complete a 40 hour pre-service training program which is offered four times a year. Once assigned a case, CASA volunteers typically spend 10-15 hours a month on their case work.

NRS 432B.500 states the Court shall appoint a guardian ad litem after a petition is filed that a child is in need of protection. CASA’s serve as volunteer guardians ad litem.

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E

Gain valuable work experience in Public Works

Volunteers are needed to assist engineers in the design of varied and numerous Public Works projects including but not limited to sidewalks, pavement restoration, asset inventory and storm drainage.

Volunteers must be college students with an interest in the engineering field.

Minimum 3 hrs per week.

Work under the supervision of a professional engineer.

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F

There are many ways to help our Foster and Adoptive Families

Some of the ways you can serve our efforts to find safe, stable foster and adoptive homes are:

• Distribute foster care posters, brochures, and materials to locations throughout the community.

• Learn about the process to become a licensed foster home and assist as part of the recruitment team, volunteering at local recruitment events.

• Assist in translating materials into Spanish to assist in recruitment of foster homes from the Latino community.

• Provide professional photography services for adoption recruitment photos for children and for photographs at the quarterly adoption days when adoptions are finalized.

• Assist in envelope stuffing for mailings to foster parents and for recruitment events.

• Join our faith based recruitment efforts as we develop the One Church One Child program led by a board of local ministers to recruit for foster and adoptive homes in local churches.

• Provide skill training for foster children and teens in special areas of knowledge such as art, drama, car repair, nutrition, etc. to assist them in self-development.

• Hosting a recruitment event at your home or business and inviting your friends, neighbors, or customers to learn about foster care and adoption.

Various

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Washoe County Senior Services is partnering with Washoe County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program and Nevada Volunteers to create a volunteer program to assist low income senior get free prescriptions provided by pharmaceutical companies. Not only will the project get people the medications they need, it will fill some of the gaps in emergency prescription services created by state budget cuts to Nevada’s Senior Rx program.

We are looking for a management expert who can design the new project from the ground up. Once done, the project will be manned by volunteers.

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G

Refresh gardening skills and pick up some new ones at the annual May Arboretum Community Clean-Up

If you are an avid gardener and want to show off those gardening skills, join the May Arboretum, Rail City Garden Center and News Talk 780 KOH in their annual community clean up at the May Arboretum. May Arboretum Society volunteers, Arboretum volunteers and Arboretum staff will present programs beginning at 9:00am on tree pruning and rose care. Come early for refreshments. RSVP by calling and leaving a message at 785-4153.

What: Community Clean-Up at the May Arboretum

When: 9:00 a.m. – Noon on Saturday, March 31, 2012

Where: Wilbur D. May Arboretum, Rancho San Rafael Regional Park 1595 N. Sierra Street, Reno

Details: Mini-workshops on tree pruning and rose care start at 9:00 a.m. Bring hand pruners, loppers and a small folding hand saw to the workshops.

RSVP for this event by calling and leaving a message at 785-4153.

Interested in becoming an Arboretum Volunteer? Contact Denise Evans at 823-6525 for more information.

3 hours on Saturday, March 31st from 9am to Noon.

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Help keep Washoe Golf course beautiful

Regional Parks and Open Space is looking for volunteers to help with general maintenance duties at Washoe Golf Course.

Volunteers must be over the age of 18 or accompanied by a parent

Both weekdays and weekend shifts are available.

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Help monitor Washoe Golf Course

Washoe Golf Course is actively searching for Volunteer Golf Marshals.

Duties will include: Monitoring pace of play; Educating golfers on golf rules and etiquette; Communicating any problems with players, carts or grounds to the clubhouse; Providing customer service and answering golfer questions; Light course care including replacing divots and raking sand traps

Volunteers must be over the age of 18

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L

Fun, challenging and informative

The Alternate Public Defender`s office represents adults and juveniles charged with crimes, and assists parents in reunification efforts with their children.

The 15-person office is a tight-knit team, dedicated to providing zealous advocacy for our clients.

Volunteers would be welcome to help with filing, answering phones, breaking down and organizing files, helping the support staff, the investigators and the lawyers.

We also work with college and law students who are interested in interning in the office.

The minimum time requirement would be two hours a week.

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Do you have a heart for life-long learning?

Welcome to the Washoe County Library System and thank you for your interest in volunteering. We provide a wide range of public service opportunities.

The Washoe County Library believes that volunteer participation is an essential part of community development. We recognize the value of volunteerism and encourage citizen participation in all of the services we provide to the community.





Washoe County volunteer opportunities include, but are not limited to:

• General Library Operations: Caring for plants, Shelving books, magazines and other materials, Pulling books to fill requests, etc...
• Computer and Technical Assistance: Help at the Internet desk, Help patrons with catalog searches, Clear paper jams, Clean computer keyboards, etc...
• Materials Preparation and Repair: Mending, Repair video, cassettes, CDs, etc...
• Program Assistance: Program preparation, prepare outreach materials, setup/breakdown, assist in presenting some programs, etc...
• Special Projects: Interlibrary loan (ILL) cancellation letters, data entry, etc...

If you see activities you like, please fill out an application. A member of our Volunteer support team will get in contact with you.

Volunteers under the age of 18 must have parental permission.

Varies

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M

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is headquartered in the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General, and currently includes over 750 units and approximately 175 thousand volunteers nationwide. The mission of the MRC is to improve the health and safety of communities by organizing and utilizing public health, medical and non-medical volunteers. The purpose of the MRC is to recruit, train, check backgrounds and credentials/licenses of individuals in order to be able to quickly respond to local public health emergencies.

If you are a licensed medical practitioner, someone with clinical training and experience, or someone with no medical background but the desire to help our community prepare for and respond to a public health emergency, the Washoe County Medical Reserve Corps needs you! In exchange for volunteering your time you will receive public health preparedness and emergency response training, required vaccinations, and annual flu shot, free of charge. Be informed. Be prepared. Be a Washoe County Medical Reserve Corps volunteer.

To become a member of the Washoe County Medical Reserve Corps, an individual must:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Consent to a background check
• Have no felony convictions or any conviction related to moral turpitude
• Attend orientation
• Have current vaccinations for, or immunity to:
  1. measles, mumps and rubella;
  2. varicella (chickenpox);
  3. tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis; and
  4. influenza (Required vaccinations will be provided to the volunteer free of charge.)

The expected first-year time commitment is 18 hours; for basic orientation, training and participation in one full-scale exercise. Additional classroom trainings and community events will be offered to those volunteers who wish to participate; however, this is not required to remain a member. If an emergency occurs requiring activation of our unit, volunteers can expect to be called-up for one 8-12 hour shift per day, for three consecutive days.

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MRC members include medical practitioners, such as physicians, pharmacists, nurses, veterinarians, and mental health professionals; and public health professionals, such as administrators, health educators, and communicable disease and environmental health specialists. Non medical/clinical personnel are needed to fill other key roles, such as managers, clerical support, interpreters, and drivers.

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P

Gain valuable work experience in the parks!

Volunteers are needed to perform general park maintenance including but not limited to picking up litter, weeding, raking leaves, removing graffiti, reporting park hazards, planting, and general garden maintenance.

Volunteers under the age of 14 must have parental supervision

Variable, ongoing

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The Public Defender represents indigent citizens in criminal cases, juvenile adjudications, involuntary commitment proceedings, parental termination hearings, juvenile and family drug court, and more.

The Washoe County Public Defender`s Office has 59 full-time employees, including 33 attorneys. We have 9 full-time Investigators, a Mitigation Specialist, and an amazing support staff. The Office sponsors an in-house scholarship program for the National Criminal Defense College, one of the most prestigious criminal defense training programs in the country. Along with innovative and aggressive trial work, the Washoe County Public Defender`s Office also strives to be a community-based organization. We provide educational services to the community on various topics including accessing mental health resources and dealing with police encounters.

Opportunities to volunteer currently exist for people interested in assisting with various office duties that may include data entry, filing, copying, and organizing.

Minimum time commitment of 2-hour block per week.

For more information please contact: Valerie Vaughn 337-4830 vvaughn@washoecounty.us or Carrie Garlington 337-4842 cgarlington@washoecounty.us

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T

Help support the Transitional Housing Project!

Transitional Housing Volunteers will assist the Adult Social Services Staff in supporting the residents in activities at the Washoe County Transitional Housing Project.

flexible

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V

Help patrol our trail system!

Assist the department with monitoring trails and paths by walking or hiking trails on a designated schedule, picking up litter, recording and reporting any safety issues, damage, graffiti, vandalism or other issues to park staff.

Volunteers under the age of 14 must have parental supervision

Variable, ongoing

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help turn the tide on graffiti vandalism

The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office is asking for volunteers to help turn the tide on graffiti vandalism by taking part in a graffiti cleanup event at the Sun Valley Community Center from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 8, 2011, weather permitting. The Sheriff is also looking for concerned citizens to donate paint, brushes or gloves to the effort.

from 10am to 2pm on Saturday, October 8, 2011

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W

Make a difference in our community. Become a Food Council Policy member.

The Washoe County Food Policy Council was created as an effort to improve networking, collaboration, and promotion of access to healthy foods in Washoe County. Established by the Washoe County District Board of Health in October 2011, the Washoe County Food Policy Council will be charged with implementing the goals of the Washoe County Food Plan, Access to Health Food in Washoe County: A Framework for Food System Design.

Council members must have expertise in one or more food system related issues. Council members must also have the ability to work together to create policy and sustainable change while taking into consideration the impact on the entire local food system. There are a total of ten (10) Council positions representing diverse sectors of the local food system and the community at large:

• Community Food Planning
• Consumers
• Food and Nutrition Data Systems Surveillance and Monitoring
• Food Distribution
• Food Preparation
• Food Production
• Member at Large (3 positions)
• Public Food Programs

There will be additional ongoing opportunities for interested community members and agencies to participate on workgroups and provide guidance to the Food Policy Council.

Commitment to term of up to two-years requiring regular attendance and participation in meetings and active membership on at least one potential subcommittee of the Council that will generate a work plan with specific goals.

Established by the Washoe County District Board of Health in October 2011.

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Tour Guides for King Tut: "Wonderful Things" from the Pharaoh's Tomb

Volunteers are needed for the current exhibit at the Wilbur D. May Museum, King Tut: "Wonderful Things" from the Pharaoh's Tomb. Guides will lead groups through the exhibit while offering information and answering questions. No experience or pre-knowledge on the subject required. We are looking for enthusiastic individuals who enjoy working with children and the general public.

Volunteers must be 18 years and older

Exhibit runs from January 26-May 23, 2012. The museum is open Wednesday - Saturday from 10:00am to 4:00pm and Sunday from noon to 4:00pm.

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