Volunteer Connections is Clark County's Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) affiliate. RSVP is a federally funded program of the Corporation for National and Community Service. RSVP members must be 55 and over and serve in a "focus area" opportunity. The focus areas are identified based on specific criteria to provide assistance in areas of critical community need. Currently our RSVP volunteers serve in the Focus Areas of Educaton, Healthy Futures, Veterans, Capacity Building, and Other Community Priorities.
These opportunities represent just a small portion of the volunteer positions we are recruiting for. If you don't see something of interest here, we have over 100 partner agencies and many more ways you can volunteer. Contact us at volunteerconnections@hsc.org or phone 360-735-3690.
Below are the RSVP opportunities we are recruiting for:
Clark County Focus Area Volunteer Opportunities
~ Education – Tutoring ~
Evergreen School District & Vancouver School District
(**Volunteer Connections staff will contact you in March every year to confirm the number of students you’ve been tutoring one-on-one for our grant requirements.)
Literacy Tutor: Work one-on-one with students helping them to learn the letters and letter sounds of the alphabet. Maybe include some reading and handwriting practice.
Math Tutor: Work one-on-one with a student to assist them in developing basic math skills.
Salvation Army
After School Assistant at "Say Klub": This program serves children in grades 1-5 who attend either Marrion or Fircrest elementary schools. It is held Tuesday through Fridays during the school year. Volunteers are responsible to ensure that children have a safe, educational, fun, and enriching place to go after school. Duties include: riding along to pick up children from school, reading to kids, playing with kids, helping with homework and projects. Volunteers skilled with literacy tutoring sought for special assistance to children in need of help on Tuesdays.
~ Education - Mentoring ~
(**Volunteer Connections staff will contact you via phone at the beginning of your placement and/or beginning of the school year to complete a simple academic engagement survey about your assigned student. Volunteer will also be contacted in early April with the same questions. This comparison survey will help us gage student improvement through volunteer engagement as a Mentor in our grants.)
Boys & Girls Club of SW WA
Mentor: Many youth are in need of positive role models and would benefit greatly from the individual attention of a caring adult. A youth mentor is paired with a club member and meets with them on a weekly basis for no less than one hour per week over a 12 week period. Activities during the mentoring session will differ upon both the member and the mentor.
Evergreen School District & Vancouver School District
Lunch Buddy: Children who are experiencing changes at home, difficulty in school, or those who simply need a positive role model in their lives, are referred by their teachers, counselors, or school administrators. Buddies typically meet with their assigned student once a week, on school grounds, for about 45 minutes. Lunch can be followed by board games, reading, crafts, or just talking. As an adult “buddy,” you have the choice of school and day to come.
~ Healthy Futures – Food Banks ~
Clark County Food Bank
Drivers/Riders: Teams of two are sent out daily during the weekday to pick up grocery donations at local stores in a 20 foot box truck. (No CDL required.) There is a significant amount of lifting (40-50 lbs.) and volunteers must get in and out of the truck multiple times each shift. Shifts are Monday - Friday 7:30 - 11:30 a.m. and volunteers are asked to commit to one day a week. On-call positions are also available. Orientation and/or training provided. Minimum age is 21.
Food Sorting: Volunteers are responsible for sorting and repackaging food and grocery donations. Shifts are available Monday – Friday 11a.m. – 1 p.m. Must be able to lift 25 lbs. and read small code dates on product labels. Training is provided. Minimum age is 18.
Reception/Clerical Assistance: Volunteers are needed to perform basic office work including: answering and transferring phone calls, data entry, filing, customer service, scheduling, and greeting volunteers. Volunteers are asked to commit to a weekly 4 hour shift. Minimum age is 18.
Fish of Vancouver
Food Bank Helper: Assist in hauling, sorting and bagging food. Computer and people skills are needed. Students are welcomed.
Fish of Orchards
Food Bank Helper: Assist with filling orders, shelving items, sorting clothes and bagging dry goods.
North County Food Bank
Food Bank Assistant: Volunteers perform duties such as stocking the pantry and warehouse shelves, sorting and inspecting food item donations, and preparing client food boxes and monthly commodities for distribution. Tasks may also include: unloading the daily and weekly deliveries, accepting donations, weighing and preparing a donation receipt for donors, assisting new clients, helping with special project tasks, vacuuming and cleaning, and assisting with other tasks as needed.
Salvation Army
Food Room Worker: Duties include: sorting donated food items, stocking shelves, organizing and rotating freezer goods, preparing bulk food items in family size packs, assisting with unloading the bread truck and other donations that come in, recording the pounds of donated product that come in, and preparing food orders according to distribution on list. Orientation and training is provided. Shifts are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. or 1- 5 p.m.
Truck Driver: Volunteers are needed to drive a 20 foot refrigerated truck to grocery stores to pick up perishable product. The truck will leave at 7:30 a.m. from the stop hunger warehouse. Drivers must be in good physical condition, capable of lifting, stable on feet, and have adequate eyesight. Training provided.
SHARE
Backpack Program: As part of the children’s hunger program, SHARE provides food-filled backpacks for children in need. Volunteers work with staff to assemble and deliver backpacks.
~ Healthy Futures – Independent Living Services ~
CDM Services
Elder Friends: This position offers a unique opportunity to reach out to an isolated elder in your community through one-on-one visits. Friendly visitation volunteers make a commitment to visit with one elder friend a minimum of four times a month for a year.
Volunteer Chore Services
Driver: Volunteers provide transportation for low-income and elderly individuals to medical appointments. Mileage reimbursement provided; drivers receive yearly training and information to keep up to date on safe driving techniques and good customer service.
~ Veterans ~
Clark County Veterans Assistance Center
Customer Service: Meet and greet veterans and direct them community resources after determination of assistance needed. Positions are available between 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Training is provided.
General Assistance: Volunteers are needed to provide front desk assistance, sort donations, provide outreach information to veterans visiting the center, and other miscellaneous office tasks as assigned.
V.A. Medical Center (Tiered intake system. Applicants should be aware that intake may take 6 weeks.)
Activities Assistant: Assist the recreation therapy aid in conducting scheduled activities that include: escorting residents to programs, helping individuals needing assistance to participate in activities such as Bingo, miscellaneous games, movies and outings in and outside the medical center. Volunteers should commit to coming in on a regular basis. Must have ability to push hospitalized and frail individuals from rooms to activity facilities.
Veterans Hospital Auxiliary: assist different departments within the hospital. Duties could include deliveries to patient rooms, escorting, friendly visitation, office assistance, greeting people, etc.
Shuttle Driver: Pick up and deliver veterans and visitors to and from the parking lots to designated buildings on the V.A. campus in shuttle/golf cart.
Patient Visitation: Assist staff with socialization of identified residents who may not have family or other visitors in the area. Help staff with activities such as bingo, movies and card games. Volunteer must have a pleasant personality, excellent social skills, and enjoy working with frail, elderly population.
~ Capacity Building – Blood Drive Support ~
American Red Cross Blood Program
Blood Courier: Pick up and deliver lifesaving blood products. Mileage reimbursements included. Your vehicle must accommodate a minimum of 4 boxes, 18 inches cubed.
Blood Drive Ambassador: Volunteers help 4-6 hours once or twice a month. Duties may include: offering food, blankets and water to donors, and/or welcoming and registering donors. Weekday help is urgently needed, however; shifts are available evenings and weekends.
Canteen Assistant: Monitor blood donor’s condition in the recovery area and answer questions. Provide donors with juice and cookies. Volunteers should have excellent people skills, be friendly.
Bloodworks Northwest
Donor Monitor: Keep a close eye on donors after they donate to make sure they feel well before they leave. Serve refreshments, schedule appointments, and maintain a pleasant and comfortable atmosphere for donors. This volunteer position is very social! You will meet interesting new people who are all playing an important part in helping to save lives. This position is available at each of our blood centers in Vancouver as well as in surrounding communities. Daytime, evening, and weekend opportunities are available.
Registration Assistant: The purpose of this position is to increase participation at community blood drives by greeting, directing and encouraging potential donors and directing them to the location. Duties also include managing the appointment schedule. Volunteers must be friendly, have a positive attitude and willing to engage the public. Flexible days and times are available. Shifts are 2-6 hours in length.
~ Capacity Building – Thrift Stores ~
Boomerang
Customer Service: This store contains a coffee shop, book store, kids area and donated and consigned items for sale. Volunteers will assist in sales of merchandise, advertising, maintenance, barista, web-site, and other tasks as needed.
Clark County Habitat for Humanity Thrift Shop
Warehouse Assistant: Volunteers who enjoy working with the public and can give good customer service by greeting and helping customers are needed. Volunteer will also be receiving the donations brought to the store, pricing products and putting them on the floor, and keeping the area clean. Positions are available Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. or 1- 5 p.m.
Friends of the Carpenter
Second Chance Thrift Store Assistant: Volunteers are needed to work as part of a cashier team. Duties include greeting customers, ringing up sales, accepting/pricing/sorting donations, and some arranging of merchandise. Volunteers must be able to lift and pack merchandise, and a large portion of the shift involves standing.
Gifts for our Community
Divine Consign Assistant: Duties include: cashier assistance, keeping store clean and organized, assisting customers with questions and providing customer service, stocking, sorting, pricing, and additional duties as needed.
Divine Consign Sales Associate: A volunteer is needed to provide customer service, consignment intake, tag consignments with prices, retag consignments with mark-down prices, move light weight furniture, and other duties as needed.
Humane Society ReTails Thrift Store
Clothing Assistant: Duties include: inspecting donated items for salability, sorting donations, pricing apparel, and assisting with further preparation of clothing for sale.
Donations assistant: Duties include: Greeting donors upon arrival and provide customer assistance, actively assisting donors with removal of donations from their vehicles, sorting items into correct holding boxes, delivering items to correct pricing stations, keeps donation area clean, neat and orderly.
Inter-Faith Treasure House
Sorter: Duties include sorting through the donations made to the thrift store. Must be able to stand and lift at least 20 pounds. Sorters work 4-hour shifts that are available Monday – Friday.
Open House Ministries
Thrift Store/Coffee Shop Assistant: Volunteers are needed as sales associates who like working with the public and give good customer service. They would also assist in keeping the store and coffee shop clean.
~ Other Community Priorities ~
Battle Ground Health Care
Clinic Volunteer: Serve in various medical, office and program assistance areas.
Dental Hygienist: Treat and educate patients in the control and prevention of oral disease through proper oral hygiene
Dental Receptionist: Maintain appearance and order of dental office, provide patient scheduling, answer and respond to telephone calls, gather and accurately record dental, medical and insurance information from patients.
Dentist: Provide patient care, diagnose and treat patients to achieve excellent results within estimated treatment time with maximum concern for patient comfort and respect.
Free Clinic of SW Washington
Patient Intake: Duties include: greeting and registering patients, ordering laboratory tests, filling out registration forms, and assisting with other tasks as assigned. Volunteers are asked to serve one shift per month.
Optometric/Ophthalmic Technician: This position is an important member of the volunteer team during vision clinics. They take medical history and prepare the patient for refraction.
Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital
Hospital Assistant: There are currently 49 different volunteer assignments available. Some volunteers will assist in hospital departments while others work directly with patients and provide hospitality to family members and visitors. Position opportunities may include: greeting visitors and providing information and directions, assisting at fundraising and community events, escorting patients, assisting service beverage cart, hosting at Green Gables Guest House, clerical assistance, visiting children in pediatrics, gardening, or assisting hospice services.
PeaceHealth SW WA Medical Center (Extensive application process and orientation.)
Gift Shop: Assist customers in making purchases. Volunteers must be comfortable working alone, able to stand/walk for long periods, good customer service skills, and able to attend quarterly meetings.
Hospital Assistants: Volunteers typically serve one four-hour shift per week. Volunteers provide service in over 50 service areas. In addition to many clerical functions, volunteers may also provide emotional support to patients, guests and families, provide directions to public, escort patients in wheelchairs, and deliver flowers.
Submitting Form....