Opportunities for Volunteering

The Volunteer Center Assistance League of Southern California is seeking individuals with nursing and dental backgrounds to teach self-care to children with learning disabilities.

The center is also seeking volunteers to assist at Valley-area animal shelters. For more information, contact the center, 8134 Van Nuys Blvd., Suite 200, Panorama City, at (818) 908-5040).

Burbank’s Retired Senior Volunteer Program is seeking people 55 and older to serve as mentors in a reading program at Burbank-area middle schools. Tutor training will be provided. For more information, contact the Joslyn Adult Center at (818) 238-5370.

The San Fernando Valley Literacy Council needs volunteers to help adults improve their reading and writing skills. Training will be provided. For more information, call (818) 893-5216.

The Valley Trauma Center is seeking volunteers for its 24-hour hotline for survivors of sexual assault and to meet with victims at hospitals, police stations and courts to provide on-site emotional support and information. The center provides 60 hours of training for all volunteers, who are then certified as rape crisis advocates. Applicants must be 18 or older. For more information, call (818) 772-0196.

The Autry Museum of Western Heritage needs history buffs interested in being volunteer tour guides. Prospective volunteers will go through a training program that includes a comprehensive course in Western history, lectures by guest scholars and museum staff, and learning about the museum’s artifacts. The training program begins Oct. 2, 8:30 a.m. to noon, at the museum, 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles. For more information, call Donna Tuggle Dickerson, volunteer administrator, at (213) 667-2000, Ext. 242.