INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The fifth annual Manhattan Beach Arts Festival, which features artist workshops, storytelling, dance performances and food booths, needs greeters and event coordinators. An orientation meeting will be held Aug. 28. Community groups should reply by Aug. 13. The festival is Sept. 12. Information: Volunteer Center, South Bay-Harbor-Long Beach, (310) 212-5009.

* Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro needs volunteers to staff the gift shop on Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and to prepare food and feed aquarium animals Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. A one-year commitment is required. Information: Volunteer Center, South Bay-Harbor-Long Beach, (310) 212-5009.

* Design House, an annual philanthropic event that raises funds for the nine agencies of the Assistance League of Southern California, needs volunteers for its Sept. 28-Oct. 31 home tour, Design House ‘99, located in Hancock Park. Training is provided. Information: (323) 469-1973, Ext. 434.

* Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is accepting applications through Sept. 1 for its docent and Service Council training classes, which cover such topics as archeology, mineralogy, marine biology, history, public speaking and teaching techniques. Classes are held on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for docents and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for Service Council trainees. Information: (213) 763-3341.

* The Sycamores, a multiservice agency working with abused and neglected children in Pasadena, needs married and single people to provide short- or long-term care for children. Training, certification and financial support are provided. Information: Zenayda Fuentes, (626) 685-2121, or (888) 243-2645.

* Los Angeles Suicide Prevention Center needs reliable people 21 and over with good listening skills for its 24-hour crisis line. A training class starts Aug. 14. Information: Chuck Gubera, (310) 751-5373.

* Rolling Readers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting literacy, needs volunteers in Ventura County to tutor in schools. Training is provided. Information: Beverly Allen, (805) 384-0608.

* Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles needs volunteers to lead tours, assist in the office and participate in programs. Training is provided. Japanese- and Spanish-speaking volunteers are especially needed. Information: Mike Moreno, (213) 830-5645.

* Women Helping Children, a community service of the National Council of Jewish Women/Los Angeles, a nonsectarian, nonprofit group, needs volunteers for literacy and enrichment programs for homeless, high-risk children, teens and teen mothers. Information Carol Henault, (323) 651-2930, Ext. 238.

* Senior Chai Center at the Westside Jewish Community Center needs volunteers to entertain seniors and to serve food, accompany members to activities and provide companionship. The center serves the frail elderly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Information: (323) 938-2531, Ext. 2228.

* Hollywood Entertainment Museum needs volunteers to provide tours of the museum’s collection of Hollywood memorabilia, to help with exhibits and during corporate events, to work in the museum shop, in administration, marketing and development offices and to work with at-risk youths in the museum’s Education Center for the Entertainment Arts, which trains young people in technical areas of the industry. Information: Ellen Siegel, (323) 960-4803.

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Information for this column should be submitted typed and double-spaced to Involvement Opportunities, SoCal Living, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053.