Volunteers Needed for the Holidays
Each week, this column profiles ordinary people who do extraordinary things. From a teenage girl who repairs wheelchairs for the disabled in Vietnam, to women who meet each week to knit caps for cancer patients, the San Fernando Valley is a better place because of these volunteers.
“People want to give back to the community,” said Joan Kagan, director of services for the Panorama City-based Volunteer Center, which places 8,000 people a year in volunteer jobs at more than 2,000 nonprofit agencies throughout the San Fernando Valley and other areas of Los Angeles.
Thinking about committing your time to a good cause? Call the Volunteer Center at (818) 908-5066 for a referral or consider the following list of volunteer opportunities in the San Fernando Valley to get started:
* Activities for Retarded Children--A North Hollywood nonprofit for 30 years that provides therapy and services to retarded adults and children and their families. Currently looking for volunteers to assist with clerical support and work directly with clients. 6456 Whitsett Ave., North Hollywood. On-site training provided. Call Dixie Henrikson at (818) 762-4365.
* Children’s Hunger Fund--A nonprofit group that gives clothing, food and medical supplies locally, nationally and internationally. Volunteers needed Saturdays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon through Dec. 20 to wrap toys and assemble food care packages. Drop-ins welcome. Call in advance for groups of 10 or more. 12846 Pierce St., Pacoima. (818) 899-5122.
* East Valley Multipurpose Center--This North Hollywood nonprofit has been serving seniors for 25 years with nutritional needs, arthritis exercise classes, conversational Spanish and legal and tax assistance. The organization is looking for volunteers to help serve lunch and to teach classes in the Internet, quilting and exercise. 5000 Colfax Ave., North Hollywood. (818) 766-5165.
* El Nido Family Centers--In its 75th year, this nonprofit has served 17,000 families this year with 12 offices throughout greater Los Angeles, including the San Fernando Valley, with preventive services to families at risk for crisis, as well as counseling, parenting education and child abuse prevention. The organization needs volunteers for the holidays to assist with clerical duties, decorating and distributing boxes of food and toys to needy families. People also can “adopt” a family for the holidays by donating gifts from a wish list. 12502 Van Nuys Blvd., Suite 201, Pacoima; 10200 Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 350, Mission Hills. Call Cathy Martinez at (818) 896-7776, Ext. 216.
* Glendale Salvation Army--Sixty volunteers needed Dec. 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to pack an estimated 1,200 food boxes for needy families in the Glendale area. Also, 40 volunteers are needed to serve Christmas dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Christmas Day. 320 W. Windsor Road, Glendale. Call Scott Duncan, volunteer coordinator, at (818) 246-5586, Ext. 32.
* Independent Living Center--Since 1976, this Van Nuys-based nonprofit, with offices in Lancaster and Santa Clarita, helps people with disabilities find housing and teaches them independent living and job readiness skills. Volunteers needed through Dec. 14 to help sort and organize food, clothing and toy donations for needy clients. Call (818) 785-6934.
* MEND (Meet Each Need with Dignity)--This nonprofit organization has provided free programs and services to poverty-level families in the northeast San Fernando Valley since 1971. The organization is seeking volunteers from Dec. 8 through Dec. 23 for three-hour shifts to help wrap toys, sort food and assemble and hand out holiday boxes to needy families. New toys, double or queen-size blankets and nonperishable food donations also are needed for gift boxes. 13460 Van Nuys Blvd., Pacoima. Call (818) 896-0246, Ext. 24.
* New Horizons--Since 1954, this North Hills-based nonprofit assists adults with disabilities at nine North Hills residences, plus a day activity center used for life skills learning. The organization needs clerical assistants and volunteers to work directly with clients, which requires a security check. 15725 Parthenia Street, North Hills. Call (818) 894-9301.
* Valley Women’s Center--Since 1976, this Tarzana-based nonprofit has provided counseling and other services to women, men and children dealing with alcoholism, drug abuse and codependency. The organization is looking for volunteers to assist with general office duties and fund-raising. 5530 Corbin Ave., No. 325 and No. 326, Tarzana. Call (818) 757-2188.
* Via Avanta--This Pacoima-based residential drug and alcohol treatment center for women, established in 1971, needs volunteers to help with clerical duties, cooks and servers for lunch and dinner and child-care workers for the center’s on-site day-care program for children 7 and under whose mothers are in treatment. Call volunteer coordinator Sarah Timperman at (310) 751-5426.
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Personal Best is a weekly profile of an ordinary person who does extraordinary things. Please send suggestions on prospective candidates to Personal Best, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Or fax them to (818) 772-3338. Or e-mail them to valley.news@latimes.com.