What You Can Do to...

I f you work nine to five, there is still time to volunteer.

Many agencies that provide assistance and care--for children, the elderly, the needy, the environment and for the arts--are open at the crack of dawn, evenings, weekends and holidays. If your time is limited, you can help in other ways by donating items or making telephone visits with the homebound.

We couldn’t include every agency , so if you don’t find any listed in your neighborhood or area of interest, contact county or city volunteer agencies.

The Young

* Free Arts for Abused Children needs storytellers, writers and arts, crafts or dance instructors. Donations of materials such as easels, brushes, paints, glitter, sequins, beads, costume jewelry and paper are needed. Information: Barbara Lashenick, (310) 479-1212.

* Concern II raises money to fund research projects in cancer immunology, focusing on childhood cancers. The all-volunteer organization holds two major fund-raisers yearly and provides entertainment for hospitalized children. Information: (213) 870-0319.

* Happy Hats for Kids in Woodland Hills needs people to help decorate hats for children with cancer and AIDS. Information: Sheri Galper, (818) 713-1775.

* Children’s Bureau of Southern California’s “special friend” program needs adults to take a child on a weekend outing--to a museum, park or the zoo. Bilingual volunteers welcome. Areas include Anaheim, Antelope Valley, El Monte, Huntington Beach, Inglewood and Central Los Angeles. A six-month commitment is requested. Volunteers must have a security check. Information: Julia Clark (213) 661-1015.

* Los Angeles Child Advocates Office trains volunteers to become Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), assisting abused and neglected children. CASA volunteers are appointed by a judge and work on behalf of the child’s welfare and attends court with the child. Training is provided. Information: Sue Thompson, (213) 526-6666.

* The Richstone Family Center in Hawthorne welcomes volunteers to read or play games with children Monday through Thursday, 5-7 p.m., while parents meet with counselors and/or attend parenting skills classes. Information: Terri Eggers, (310) 970-1921.

Meal Assistance

* Frontline Foundation in Van Nuys needs volunteers to help prepare food for delivery to Skid Row’s homeless, make nightly and weekend bread pickups and collect food at markets. Information: (818) 780-1995.

* Imani Unidos AIDS Project Food Pantry at Faith United Methodist Church in Los Angeles needs volunteers to help stock shelves and distribute groceries to the needy. Non-perishable food items are needed. The pantry is jointly run by the church and AIDS Project Los Angeles. Information: (213) 754-2320 or (213) 754-8453.

* Los Angeles Jewish AIDS Services, through its Chicken Soup Program, provides kosher meals at holidays, as well as counseling to people with AIDS and their families. Information: David Levy, (213) 653-8313.

* AIDS Project Los Angeles needs help at its Necessities of Life Program in North Hollywood. Volunteers needed on Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., to fill grocery orders. Information: (213) 993-1326.

* Los Angeles Regional Foodbank needs non-perishable food donations. Information: (213) 234-3030, Ext. 130.

Cultural Institutions

* Los Angeles Conservancy needs volunteers to give walking tours around downtown Los Angeles. Information: Connie Humberger, (213) 623-2489.

* El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument needs walking tour guides to provide historical insights and to assist on bus trips. Training is provided. Information: Frank Osmon, (800) 208-0012.

* California Museum of Science and Industry needs tour guides for its children’s programs. Information: Terrell Avazian, (213) 744-2327.

* Bilingual Foundation for the Arts needs theater help ushering, greeting patrons, taking tickets and assisting at concessions. Information: Peter Weber, (213) 225-4044.

* United Nations Assn. of the United States of America, Pasadena Chapter, provides information about the work of U.N. and its specialized agencies. Opportunities available to teach, lead seminars and speak in public. Information: (818) 449-1795.

* Historical Society of Southern California needs gardening and plant lovers. The group meets the second Sunday of each month 9 a.m.-noon. Information: (213) 222-0546.

* Bowers Museum of Cultural Art in Santa Ana needs men and women for its Speakers Bureau to talk about the museum and its diverse collections. Information: (714) 544-8256.

The Elderly

* Help the elderly of all faiths through a joint project: Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles, (310) 271-3306; Huntington Memorial Hospital Senior Care Network in Pasadena, (818) 397-3110; WISE Senior Services, (310) 394-9871.

* Sunset Hall, a Los Angeles retirement home, needs bridge and Scrabble players, pianists, singers to lead sing-alongs, gardeners, and weekend and evening activity organizers. Information: Priscilla Yablon, (213) 387-6581 or (213) 387-5277.

* Jewish Elder-Care Corps seeks individuals of all faiths to “Adopt an Elderly Resident” in a nursing home or residential facility in your area. Information: (213) 655-8477 or (818) 377-9849.

*Life Steps Foundation needs chairpersons and committee members for fund-raising and support programs to help the homebound retain their independence. Information: (310) 306-4746.

* Daughters of Charity Foundation serves the needy through medical and social service programs, including the St. Vincent Meal-on-Wheels program. Information: (213) 484-7333.

* Senior Link, sponsored by Orange Caregiver Resource Center, helps seniors live independently. Volunteers are needed to make home visits, minor home repairs, grocery shop or just phone to say “hello.” Areas covered are Fullerton, La Habra, Brea, Placentia, Buena Park and Yorba Linda. A five-hour monthly commitment is requested. Information: Susan Swisher or Dori K. Jones, (714) 680-0122.

Heal the Planet

* TreePeople needs help planting trees in the community and at its nursery evenings and weekends. Public speakers at community meetings and schools are also needed. Information: (818) 753-4629.

* The Town Hall Volunteer Corps needs help with a series of community and environmental programs. Sign up for the Nov. 6 project involving painting and flower planting at the Wilton Place Children’s Center, a LAUSD facility for at-risk toddlers, in conjunction with the Richard Dreyfuss L.A. Works. Information: Liz Gardner, (213) 628-8141.

* Heal the Bay needs extra hands cleaning up the El Segundo Dunes in Playa del Rey every second Saturday of the month, 9 a.m.-noon. A Point Dume restoration job is scheduled for Dec. 4. Informa tion: Peter Tatikian, (800) HEAL BAY.

* Friends of Ballona Wetlands needs extra hands cleaning up the wetlands and sharing information about migratory birds wintering at Ballona. Tours last about an hour. Information: (310) 821-7695.

* Wildlife Waystation needs help with landscaping, feeding baby animals, special events and fund-raising. Information: (818) 899-5201.

* Coalition for Clean Air includes groups from the Sierra Club, Audubon Society, American Lung Assn., who have banded together to fight air pollution. Information: (310) 450-3190.

The Homeless

* Lamp Village in Los Angeles provides showers and shelter for the homeless. They need towels, bars of soap and sheets for single beds. Information: Edna Williams, (213) 488-0670.

* Housing Options for People to Excel’s Transitional Living Center in Venice, provides free housing to 32 homeless women and their children, allowing them a two-year opportunity to complete school or job training. Volunteers are needed to provide tutoring and emotional support. Clothing donations also accepted. Information: (310) 335-2712.

Health Care

* Songbird Foundation volunteers visit hospitals, rehabilitation and other care centers to bring cheer to others. The group uses karaoke as a way of reaching out through music. Information: (818) 899-8454.

* Clinica Para Las Americas, a primary care clinic serving the Latino community in Los Angeles, needs volunteer physicians and nurses. Translators are provided. Clinic sessions can be arranged mornings, afternoons or evenings. Closed Sundays. Information: Leslie Gallagher, (213) 484-1046.

* Hospice Program of Hospital Home Health Care Agency of California needs volunteers to work with terminally ill patients (adults and children)--providing companionship support and running errands. The program is family-centered and extends through the year following the patient’s passing. Training is provided. Information: Penelope Peck Thomason, (310) 530-3800, Ext. 492.

* The Los Angeles Free Clinic operates three clinics in Los Angeles, West Hollywood and Hollywood. Doctors and nurses as well as other members of the medical profession are needed. Information: Craig Fleishman, volunteer coordinator, (213) 653-8622.

Family Services

* Children’s Bureau of Southern California provides support to abused children and families. Donations of infant supplies and clothing for infants and children, toys and books are needed. Information: Julia Clark, (213) 661-1015.

* Los Angeles Regional Family Planning needs speakers (bilingual included) to give presentations to community groups on birth control, sexually transmitted diseases and teen-age sexuality. Information: Selda Roth, (213) 368-4401.

* Parents Anonymous provides skills to parents who are overwhelmed. Help needed to run a support group and provide guidance. Training provided. Information: (213) 388-6685.

Helping Hands

* Aunt Bee’s in Hollywood provides pickup and delivery laundry services to AIDS patients. Donations of clothing and linens are needed. Help is also needed in its thrift store. Information: Miki Jackson, (213) 466-7601.

* Exceptional Children’s Foundation needs volunteers to share friendship through game playing and reading a book to an adult or child. Information: Susan Swanson, (213) 290-2000.

* Skilled carpenters, painters, plumbers, electricians are needed at area shelters. A partial listing of places in need:

--Chernow House for Homeless Families, contact Rosa Carrillo, (213) 264-1114;

--Gramercy Place Shelter, Marlene Singer, (213) 387-0171;

--Rainbow Services for Survivors of Domestic Violence, Cindy Jacobs, (310) 548-5450;

--West Hollywood Homeless Organization, Karen Jenkins-Galloway, (213) 850-4069.

* Red Cloud American Indian Society in Irvine needs help preparing items for shipment to tribes in some of the coldest and most economically deprived areas of Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota. Donations needed include new heavy blankets, shoes and clothing for all family members, children’s books and toys, linens, towels and other household items. Schools are in need of textbooks, computers and supplies. Information: (714) 833-3865.

* Recording for the Blind needs people with backgrounds in the sciences, law, medicine and languages, to transcribe textbooks from the printed page to audio cassettes, Monday through Saturday, including evenings. Daytime office help is also needed. Information: (213) 664-5525.

* Chosin Few Fund founded to develop the first International Korean Veterans Memorial, a 12-statue monument at Angels Gate Park in San Pedro needs public speakers, fund-raisers and event planners. Monument dedication is scheduled for December 1994. Office help is also needed. Information: (213) 744-1288.

* Vegetarian Society provides speakers and literature dealing with nutrition and healthy eating by eliminating animal fat from diets to reduce heart disease and breast cancer. Volunteers attend community gatherings, schools and set up booths at health fairs. Information: (310) 839-6207.

* Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) provides legal, social and educational services to refugees and immigrants. Donating two or three hours a week will help. Information: Edwin Urbina, (213) 483-6868, Ext. 133.