Are you looking for a meaningful way to give back to the community? Do you want to connect with someone with great life experience? Our seniors need you! Please consider volunteering at the Naples Senior Center — we are seeking volunteers with interest in interacting with seniors, in one-on-one and in group settings, serving as Friendly Visitors, Friendly Drivers, Lunch and More Volunteers, Activity Assistants, Clerical Helpers, Receptionists and Food Pantry Volunteers and Dementia Respite Support Program Volunteers.
Our volunteers routinely report that they get more than they give from the friendships they form with our seniors. Join their ranks and make a real difference. Naples Senior Center at JFCS needs you! We are seeking volunteers to fill a variety of roles.
Click each volunteer opportunity below to view a full description.
Friendly Visitors
Friendly Visitors are matched for one on one visits with isolated seniors… a friendly visit entails lots of conversation, and possibly card playing, reminiscing, and performing small chores around the house. This once a week, hour-long commitment can be scheduled at the convenience of the volunteer.
Responsibilities:
- Visit the client in his/her home at a regularly appointed time.
- Notify client in advance of any change in regular visit time.
- Identify and inform the Manager of Volunteer Services of any client needs.
Qualifications:
- Interest in working with older clients or individuals with disabilities.
- Reliability, patience, ability to engage in active listening.
- Ability to set limits (e.g., if client wants more of you than seems appropriate, or than you want or are able to give).
Requirements:
- Successful completion of application process, including background check, fingerprinting, signing of confidentiality statement, and reference check.
- Participation in Companion Service Volunteer Training (approximately 1 to 2 hours).
- A commitment to at least 6 months of volunteer service.
- Willing to spend 1-2 hours in each visit, with a minimum of 1 visit per week.
- Track volunteer hours and report them to the Manager of Volunteer Services.
- Monthly phone consultation and biannual in-person meeting with Manager of Volunteer Services.
- Participation in monthly volunteer group meetings.
Friendly Drivers
Responsibilities:
- Calling the client 24-48 hours in advance to confirm time of pick-up and where client will be met (i.e. at client’s front door, in parking lot, etc.).
- Taking client to the appointment, waiting with client if necessary, or return at agreed time.
- Taking the client home, or to an agreed drop-off place.
- It is up to the volunteer to inform his/her car insurance carrier of the volunteer commitment that has been made and to verify that coverage is sufficient and appropriate.
- Immediately inform the Manager of Volunteer Services if there is an accident while driving a client.
Requirements:
- Successful completion of application process, including signing of confidentiality statement, background check, fingerprinting and reference check.
- Clean driving record, reliable and safe transportation, and proof of current car insurance. (Naples Senior Center at JFCS maintains its own insurance, but the driver must have current and adequate car insurance.)
- Participation in one-on-one training with a Naples Senior Center at JFCS Case Manager to learn Friendly Driver policies.
- A commitment to at least 6 months of volunteer service.
- Commitment to track volunteer hours and report them to the Manager of Volunteer Services.
- Participation in monthly volunteer group meetings.
Social Program Volunteers
The Lunch and More Volunteer assists in serving a meal to seniors. Some volunteer duties include setting up, waiting on clients, serving lunch, and – most importantly – socializing with clients.This program ensures that our clients receive a hot, nutritional meal. It provides them with a social network of volunteers, as well as fosters a sense of community with other local seniors.
If you haven’t seen our Lunch and More Volunteers in action, you’re in for a treat. Join this team of vibrant volunteers who help throw a joyful and entertaining lunch every week.
Responsibilities:
- Assist in setting up room for lunch.
- Greet and check in participants, escort participants to their seats.
- Serve lunch, giving additional assistance to those participants who are unable to serve themselves.
- Help with clean up after the meal.
Qualifications:
- Interest in interacting with seniors.
Requirements:
- Successful completion of application process, including background check, fingerprinting, signing of confidentiality statement, and reference check.
- Availability to work on a weekly (or biweekly or monthly) basis for a set number of hours (minimum of 3 consecutive hours per week).
- Participation in one on one training with the Naples Senior Center at JFCS Manager of Volunteer Services.
- A commitment to at least 6 months of volunteer service. Commitment to track volunteer hours and report them to the Manager of Volunteer Services.
- Participation in monthly volunteer group meetings.
This position is responsible for helping with scheduled recreational activities. This could include assisting seniors with arts projects and computer center classes, setting up for events, assisting instructors, and coordinating with volunteers and staff.
The most important attribute for an Activity Assistant is patience—you don’t need to be a computer whiz, professional grade artist or card shark. Volunteers should possess a basic level of knowledge about computers, art, or cards and games, as well as a willingness to do everything from making coffee to setting up/cleaning up.
Art Class Volunteers – Mondays, 9:30AM until 11:45 AM.
Movie Volunteer – Mondays, 1:00PM until 3:00PM
Computer Center Volunteers – Wednesdays, 1:30PM-3:00PM/Fridays, 10:00AM – 11:30AM
Cards and Games Volunteers – Fridays, 12:30PM until 3:00PM
Responsibilities:
- Assist instructors with planned activities, using materials and equipment provided.
- Assist the Director of Activities with compilation and distribution of a monthly activity calendar.
- Escort residents to daily activities.
- Educate seniors on programming available at the Senior Activity Center; assist with sign up and scheduling.
- Complete various administrative projects as directed by supervisor.
Requirements:
- Successful completion of application process, including background check, fingerprinting, signing of confidentiality statement, and reference check.
- Interest in working with seniors.
- Availability to work on a weekly (or biweekly) basis for a set number of hours (minimum of 2 hours per week).
- Participation in one-on-one training with the Naples Senior Center at JFCS Manager of Volunteer Services.
- A commitment to at least 6 months of volunteer service.
- Commitment to track volunteer hours and report them to the Manager of Volunteer Services.
- Participation in monthly volunteer group meetings.
The Café Helper assists in serving muffins and coffee to seniors during Center hours. Some volunteer duties include setting up, maintaining a tidy and inviting café, keeping café stocked with refreshments, and putting away all items and tidying café area at the close of day.
Responsibilities:
- Assist in setting up café.
- Greet participants and invite them to partake of café offerings.
- Assist participants who are unable to serve themselves.
- Help with clean up at close of day.
Requirements:
- Successful completion of application process, including background check, fingerprinting, signing of confidentiality statement, and reference check.
- Interest in interacting with seniors.
- Availability to work on a weekly (or biweekly) basis for a set number of hours (minimum of 2 consecutive hours per week).
- Participation in one on one training with the Naples Senior Center at JFCS Manager of Volunteer Services to learn Food Service Policies.
- A commitment to at least 6 months of volunteer service.
- Commitment to track volunteer hours and report them to the Manager of Volunteer Services.
- Participation in monthly volunteer group meetings.
This position is responsible for helping members learn basic to intermediate concepts on the computer. This could include assisting seniors with basic operation of a laptop or desktop computer, searches on the Internet, email and word processing and spreadsheet programs.
Responsibilities:
- Provide one-on-one assistance to seniors interested in broadening their knowledge of computers.
- Work with seniors in small group settings for education on use of laptops, tablets and smart phones.
- Assist assist with sign up and scheduling.
- Complete various administrative projects as directed by supervisor.
Requirements:
- Successful completion of application process, including background check, fingerprinting, signing of confidentiality statement, and reference check.
- Interest in working with seniors.
- Basic to intermediate knowledge of personal computers.
- Availability to work on a weekly (or biweekly) basis for a set number of hours (minimum of 2 hours per week).
- Participation in one-on-one training with the Naples Senior Center at JFCS Manager of Volunteer Services.
- A commitment to at least 6 months of volunteer service.
- Commitment to track volunteer hours and report them to the Manager of Volunteer Services.
- Participation in monthly volunteer group meetings.
Food Pantry Volunteers
Description: The Food Pantry Assistance Volunteer picks up donations from Harry Chapin Food Bank, maintains an orderly pantry, arranging our stock, discarding expired items, and ensuring that the pantry is clean and accessible. This is a weekly commitment of 2 hours—a perfect volunteer opportunity for 2 volunteers to do together!
Responsibilities:
- Check stock for expired items, discarding items past date of use.
- Organize stock by category, neatly arranging on shelves.
- Meeting deliveries in a timely fashion and organizing delivered items on shelves.
Qualifications:
- Ability to organize
- Interest in helping the needy
Requirements:
- Successful completion of application process, including background check, fingerprinting, signing of confidentiality statement, and reference check.
- Availability on a weekly or biweekly basis for a time period of 1-2 hours per session.
- Successful completion of application process, including signing of confidentiality statement, and reference check.
- Participation in one on one training with Naples Senior Center at JFCS staff to learn Food Pantry policies.
- Commitment to track volunteer hours and report them to the Manager of Volunteer Services.
- Participation in monthly volunteer group meetings.
Dementia Respite Support Program Volunteers
Description: Open to male volunteers only. Join a group of senior men who are in early stage Alzheimers for a weekly brunch in which conversation and use of our Dakim program for memory boosting. Thursdays 11:00AM until 12:30PM
Please contact our Volunteer Services, at 239-325-4444 or CLICK HERE to sign up now!
*The Naples Senior Center at JFCS Volunteer Services Program is generously funded through a grant from The Retirement Research Foundation.*
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