Your weekly guide to area volunteer and in-kind giving opportunities

Columnist Beth Estopinal of the United Way of Southeastern Idaho

Flooring Installers needed: Blackfoot Community Center needs one to four volunteers on Saturday, Feb. 16 from 9 a.m. to noon to assist in laying vinyl flooring. Prior experience would be helpful! Call Ashlee at 339-3536 or 785-3121 to help.

Crisis line volunteer training: Family Services Alliance is offering free training to volunteer candidates who live in the Pocatello/Chubbuck area in answering their domestic violence crisis line and responding on location with local police departments, as needed, to provide information to victims. Classroom training will last 20 hours and cover a variety of topics including stalking, domestic violence, sexual assault, suicide, and services available to victims. Classes are held on Wednesdays, Feb. 27, March 6, 13, and 20, from 4 to 9 p.m. 

After completion of classes, shadowing a staff member and completing a police ride-along, you will receive a certificate of completion. Volunteer advocates are asked to cover one to two nights per month on call, from home, via a cell phone that is provided. A staff member is also on call to assist volunteers with questions or concerns they may have. Persons wishing to apply must fill out an application, which includes a back-ground check, PRIOR TO Feb. 22, 2013. (All applicants must be pre-registered.) For more information or to pre-register, call 232-0742 or stop by the office at 355 S. Arthur Ave. in Pocatello.

Senior Medicare Patrol:SMP volunteers use their time to help seniors to protect their identity, read their Medicare summary notices and avoid getting taken by scammers. The future integrity of the health care system depends upon you. Join the effort to help save our precious health care dollars for the care that you may someday need. For more information call:  208-233-4032 ext. 33

Serve as a child’s mentor! Six new volunteers needed, especially in the Blackfoot, Fort Hall and Montpelier areas! Time investment is on school days, 15–20 hours each week. Serve as a positive role model for children and assist them with school work with a focus on literacy. Volunteers must be able to pass a background check, 55 or better and low-income (annual income of $21,780 or below), patient, compassionate and dependable. Contact Lori Murdock, 785-8454, 251-2480, lori@fgpsei.com.

IT person wanted:AARP needs a volunteer IT person to solve conflicts in computer networks and to update their computers. Contact Pat Fernandez at 221-4710 or the district coordinator at 478-2240.

YES! Camp volunteers wanted: The Southeastern Idaho Community Action Agency (SEICAA) is ramping up for its second annual YES! Camp for youth, grades three to eight (ages 7-14). We need adult volunteers to assist with conducting educational (simple financial and energy savings) classes during the one-day Camp  on June 19. Training will be provided. Help SEICAA and be part of a fun-filled day that provides our youth with tools they can use for their future success! If you are interested or need more details, please call Helen at SEICAA: 232-1114 Ext. 139, or e-mail hmayberry@seicaa.org.

In-kind help needed: 

• We are looking for yarn, items for new baby bags (in new condition) such as lotion for mom, baby blankets, socks, etc. 

• A desk/workstation which could fit in a corner and has drawers as well as space for a computer.

Contact the United Way office, 232-1389.

Margaret Ganyo, Robin Nelson, and Beth Estopinal staff the United Way of Southeastern Idaho and encourage you to search for more opportunities at www.seidahovolunteer.org. To list volunteer opportunities or to request or offer in-kind donations, please go to the website, send an e-mail to beth@unitedwaysei.orgor call 232-1389.