Volunteering with seniors to help them maintain independence and improve their quality of life is a rewarding experience. Offering seniors a ride to their doctor or the market not only provides them a much needed helping hand, but also companionship and moral support. By volunteering just a few hours a week, you can make a difference for a senior in our community.

Clerical volunteers perform a number of duties in support of programs and services, including filing, sorting, photocopying, distributing mail, inputting data into computer systems, maintaining program packets and brochures, and assisting at special events. Computer experience is helpful but not a requirement. Location: 4875 Broadway, Sacramento. Hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Contact Judy Ludwick, Department of Health and Human Services, 916-874-9533.

Volunteers provide transportation services to Senior and Adult Services clients. Volunteers assist adults with transportation to medical, mental health, and dental appointments, help clients with the registration process associated with appointments, and take clients to pick up medical prescriptions. A County vehicle is provided. Location: 4875 Broadway, Sacramento. Hours: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Contact Judy Ludwick, Department of Health and Human Services, 916-874-9533.

The County of Sacramento Board of Supervisors established the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Public Authority as part of a continuum to help elderly and/or disabled adults and disabled children ("consumers") remain in their own homes with the support of in-home care (from "caregivers"). Volunteer opportunities include clerical work, registering IHSS caregivers and consumers for training classes, assisting staff with collecting information about training classes, mailing reminder cards to participants of upcoming training classes, making reminder calls to the participants of training classes, attending classes to assist with participant check-in and to act as greeter, stuffing envelopes with flyers announcing future training classes. For more information on volunteer opportunities, please visit IHSSPA website or send an e-mail.

The Meals on Wheels Program needs volunteers to deliver meals to frail, elderly, homebound seniors. Volunteers should commit to 2 hours per week. Contact information: Senior Nutrition Services, 847 F Street, West Sacramento, Ca 95605, Phone: 916-444-9533.

For 38 years, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) has built support on the premise that volunteering is not only good for the community, but good for volunteers. RSVP promotes volunteerism and helps people more then 50-years-old find their perfect volunteer niche among approximately 130 affiliated public or non-profits agencies. Volunteers may choose from a wide variety of activities including tutoring children or adults; serving as docents for cultural events, nature centers or museums; giving clerical support or consultant services; making friendly visits to the isolated elderly; preparing, serving or distributing food, just to name a few. RSVP also has short term and one-time only opportunities. For more information contact RSVP e-mail at DHA-RSVP@saccounty.net or call the Department of Human Assistance, 916-875-3631.

The Sacramento Senior Companion Program offers volunteers the opportunity help homebound seniors remain safely in their homes. Senior volunteers visit and assist functionally impaired, low-income older clients in their homes, adult day care centers and group settings. Volunteers offer transportation to needed medical appointments, assist with correspondence, paying bills, and other related tasks. Over the last thirty-three years, Senior Companions have given over 1.7 million hours of volunteer service time to assist frail isolated seniors in the County of Sacramento. Last year, thirty-three Senior Companions provided over 38,896 hours of volunteer service to 300 frail at-risk seniors. Senior Companions benefits include on-going specialized training, nontaxable hourly stipend, transportation reimbursement, allowance for daily meals and annual physical exam. These dedicated volunteers are assigned to one of the following community-based organization/public agency, and are supervised by professional program staff:

• Easter Seal Society
• Health for All
• Sacramento Chinese Community Service
• Sacramento County Adult Services
• South County Services
• Stanford Settlement
• Sutter Senior Care

For more information contact Rosalinda Stoffel, Senior Companion Program Director, call 875-3622 or visit the Senior Companion Program webpage.

Volunteer nutrition drivers transport seniors in the Rancho Cordova and Rosemont areas to communal meals and activities at the Cordova Senior Center. Location: 3480 Routier Road, Sacramento. Hours: Minimum 4 hours during selected day, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Contact the Cordova Center at 916-366-3133, or Judy Ludwick, Department of Health and Human Services, 916-874-9533.

Therapeutic Recreation Services (TRS) provides skill-training and recreational opportunities for individuals within the community with various disabilities. Volunteers are utilized as chaperones at dances, day trips and community events such as The Great Race® and events in the park. Volunteers have the opportunity to coach Special Olympics teams and are class instructors in your area of interest. To learn more about this exciting volunteer opportunity, contact TRS at 916-381-0255 or TRS@saccounty.net. Visit the TRS Volunteer web page.