Volunteers contribute their time, talent and heart to Search and Care, augmenting the professional services provided by our social work and care management staff. A special effort is made to match the needs and interests of the client with those of the volunteer. Volunteers include an intergenerational and multicultural team of high school and college students, working professionals, baby boomers, recent retirees, elders, and corporate supporters. We invite regular feedback from both our clients and our volunteers to ensure productive, healthy, and long-term relationships.

Our volunteers can be:

• Friendly Visitors: take an hour (weekly or biweekly) to regularly visit a client for conversation; to help them with ongoing projects (such as organizing photographs into albums, creating a large-type address book, read a book out loud, play chess, entering emergency numbers into a cell phone); or to assist an otherwise homebound client outside, in nicer weather, with a supportive arm and a friendly stroll.
• Escorts: help clients by accompanying them to and from medical and emergency appointments.
• Shoppers: help clients in purchasing essentials or emergency items, and are particularly appreciated by our less ambulatory, physically frail clients.
• Bill-Payers: help clients sort, organize, pay their bills in a timely basis, and reconcile their checking/savings account statements.
• Special Event Volunteers: help with weekday and weekend agency cultural events and fundraising activities.
• Office Volunteers: assist at the reception desk or help with other clerical or administrative activities.
• Pet Supporters: help with occasional dog-walking, litter-changing and minor grooming.

For further information, please contact: Robin Strashun, Volunteer Coordinator