Volunteer Fort Bend is looking for people who are interested in helping local civic and nonprofit organizations. Here are some current needs:

Mentoring through art

Artists and art assistants are invited to share their time and talent with at-risk children in Fort Bend schools and social service agencies. If you are skilled in painting, music, poetry, photography, ceramics, or almost any other art or craft form, consider spending a little time to help kids express emotions in a healthy manner and realize that learning can be fun. After-school programs are currently scheduled for Fridays, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. or 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The application process includes a background check

Back to nature

Scenery and greenery await you as a volunteer at a state park in Fort Bend County. Depending on your interests, skills, and schedule, you might enjoy providing customer service at the park’s nature center, helping with trail maintenance, or tending the rich vegetation that adorns the grounds. Morning and afternoon assignments are available on weekdays or weekends. Persons as young as 15 are cordially welcome as volunteers. Register now for the next volunteer training session, scheduled for February 2009.

Handy Dans and Danielles wanted

Local corporations, churches, schools, and civic associations are needed to sponsor volunteer crews of 15-35 people (including a crew leader) to help repair the homes of frail elderly and disabled Fort Bend residents, especially those impacted by Hurricane Ike. Assignments can include siding replacement, window repair, caulking, porch repair, step and wheelchair ramp construction, as well as yard cleanup and trash removal. Volunteer crews supply their own tools, ladders, scrapers, paintbrushes, hammers-- and compassion.

Additional opportunities:

• Help a local housing program in Rosenberg with data entry and word processing.

• Set up and maintain displays of baby clothing, cribs, strollers, and car seats at a "Mommy Store" run by a women's center in Richmond.

• Sign up for training that will equip you to distribute preventive medication to Fort Bend County residents during a public health emergency.

• Musicians are invited to provide afternoon entertainment at a senior living community in Katy.

• Transport families undergoing crisis between their temporary homes and a Missouri City social service center that helps them rebuild their lives.

• A seniors’ program in Rosenberg needs help with switchboard relief, data entry, photocopying, filing, and assembly of information packets.

For more information on volunteer opportunities, call Volunteer Fort Bend at 281-499-9102, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Information on additional opportunities is available at www.VolunteerFortBend.org