Get Involved



Volunteer

Oil Spill Volunteer Response

  • Volunteer Florida: http://www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org/
  • BRACE: http://www.bereadyalliance.org (Citizen Corps and CERT) 
  • Slick VISTA Team (full-time volunteer opportunities): Visit www.americorps.gov, select Florida, then “Refine Search.” Next, select “AmeriCorps VISTA” under the Program Type pull-down menu, and type “Gulf Response” in the Program Name field.
     

    Local United Way Volunteer Opportunities 

    DAY OF CARING: United Way’s Day of Caring is a yearly volunteer action day in October that engages more than 1,200 individuals working on approximately 100 projects at local schools and nonprofit agencies. We are looking for Day of Caring Committee members to help coordinate the day and plan an appreciation breakfast. To sign up or learn more, contact Melissa Lewis at 444-7120 or Melissa@unitedwayescambia.org

    DISASTER RESPONSE: United Way of Escambia County’s role during a disaster is to coordinate unaffiliated volunteers and handle unsolicited goods such as household items, supplies and food. In large disasters, we may establish a volunteer reception center or a warehouse to receive and distribute donated items to local agencies assisting in disaster recovery.  If you are interested in volunteering to assist us with either of these functions, e-mail tom@unitedwayescambia.org or call 444-7132.

    FINANCIAL STABILITY COALITION: The Financial Stability Coalition provides workshops, free tax preparation, and outreach services to help people improve their financial condition. Our program has a variety of opportunities that are flexible based on your schedule: Basic Money Management workshop facilitators, Financial Coaches, phone follow-up, Volunteer Tax Preparer or Greeter for our Tax Assistance sites. Additionally, we need help with set-up and breakdown for our Feb. 6th Financial Fitness Bazaar. To sign up or learn more, contact Marsha Williams at 444-7042 or marsha@unitedwayescambia.org

    FIRST CALL FOR HELP: United Way’s First Call For Help receives more than 3,000 calls each month from individuals and families seeking help for basic needs such as housing, medical care and child care. First Call For Help seeks volunteers who are good listeners. We need caring people who wish to empower others with information that could move them out of crisis. Additionally, volunteers are needed for clerical work and quality assurance call-backs. We are looking for volunteers who can work with us about once per week. To sign up or learn more, contact Stacey Williams at 444-7148 or stacey@unitedwayescambia.org.

    FUNDRAISING: United Way of Escambia County’s Loaned Executive program provides an opportunity for volunteers to help raise funds to impact the United Way priorities of Education Financial Stability and Health.  Loaned Executives work with leaders throughout the community to help motivate and manage United Way fundraising campaigns within local companies. Loaned Executives are generally sponsored by their workplace and given time to commit to working with United Way during work hours. To sign up or learn more, contact Marina Holley at marina@unitedwayescambia.org or 444-7143.

    FUNDS DISTRIBUTION: United Way of Escambia County’s Funds Distribution process allows our donors to help allocate the undesignated contributions from the fundraising campaign. Funds Distribution volunteers take a detailed look at each program requesting funding, tour the program, review the funding application and listen to an oral presentation. The estimated time commitment is 20-25 hours over 3 months (February through April). Funds Distribution volunteers are generally sponsored by their workplace and given time to commit to working with United Way during work hours The only requirement to be a Funds Distribution volunteer is that you must be a current UWEC donor. To sign up or learn more, contact Rob Engel at 444-7140 or rob@unitedwayescambia.org.

    CLERICAL NEEDS - To sign up or learn more, contact Melissa Lewis at 444-7120 or Melissa@unitedwayescambia.org.


    • First Call For Help: Could use someone who has computer skills and good organizational skills to help maintain a filing system and a supply cabinet with inventory. Prefer to have someone help over several days, not just one day. 

    • General Office: Help with front desk. Answer phones, greet guests, and help with filing, copying, binding. Prefer a commitment of at least once per week.

    • Seasonal needs: Fall: Volunteers needed to enter data into financial software system; Volunteers needed to label, stuff and seal in preparation for several direct mail pieces; Volunteers needed to label, sort and seal in preparation for a newsletter mailout. Winter: Volunteers needed to label, stuff and seal in preparation for holiday and end-of-year mailers. Spring: Volunteers needed to help with copying, binding and organizing notebooks for Funds Distribution; Volunteers needed to label, sort and seal in preparation for a newsletter mailout. Summer: Volunteers needed to make phone calls, update Excel spreadsheets and bind applications in preparation for Day of Caring.

    For more information about these and other United Way volunteer opportunities, call Melissa Lewis at 444-7120 or melissa@unitedwayescambia.org. 

    Choose your volunteer role and make the most of it

    Each one of us has the capacity - directly or indirectly - to make a positive impact in someone's life. Finding a volunteer opportunity uniquely suited to you can be accomplished in three simple steps:

    Use your head

    • What are my natural talents, hobbies, interests?
    • How much time can I commit each day/week/month to helping others?
    • Who can I recruit to help me? Friends, family, co-workers, church folk?
    • What subject areas are intriguing to me?

    Follow your heart

    • What community problems concern me the most?
    • Which issues have had a direct impact on me, family or friends?
    • What news headliners are frustrating me the most?
    • If I could change one thing in my community, what would it be?

    Lend your hand

    • Gather your friends and family and sign up for a volunteer opportunity.
    • Honor your commitment.
    • Have fun while volunteering!

     

    Seven Tips for Youth Volunteers

    Take the Lead

    What community issue would you like to address?  Poverty, illiteracy, environment?  Not sure where to start?  As k a parent, teacher, community leader and see how you can make a difference.  Contact Chain Reaction if 13-18 years old, Hands on Northwest Florida, or any nonprofit agency that does work you are interested in.  Call them up!

    Get your Friends Involved

    Meet new people, too.  It's fun and boosts confidence.

    Find your Inner Hero

    Dreamed of being a doctor/firefighter?  Check it out by volunteering at a hospital or fire department - make a difference as part of the team.

    Ask your School about Group Opportunities

    Classes,  clubs.  What a great way to meet people.

    If you are Participating in a Sport

    Ask your coach or adviser if you can do something together - hang out with friends outside of practice.

    Talk with Parents, Friends and Teachers

    Discuss your volunteer activities.  It will encourage them and help you reflect on how it has changed you.

    Volunteer with your Family

    National Day of Service - two weeks ago there were 13,000 volunteer projects around the country - doubling last year's record.  It is the largest since Congress encouraged Americans to observe the national day of service 14 years ago.   

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