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

Called to serve

Shut-in senior citizens will benefit from your involvement with a new initiative launched by a local United Way agency. Training will equip you to interview these seniors, assess their individual needs, and make recommendations for follow-up to professional social work staff. The training will include in-class education as well as home visits with Case Managers. This opportunity is open any day of the week at a time that fits your schedule.

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

Help families outfit school children

Assist a local school district with cleaning, sorting, and folding clothing donations for low-income families with school-aged children. Coming by on Tuesdays or Thursdays between 9 a.m. and noon or Wednesdays between noon and 4 p.m., you’ll help bring order to what would otherwise be a chaotic collection of children’s garments and make the process of matching the various items to individual children’s needs more efficient.

Additional opportunities:

• Make friendly visits to a resident of a 24-hour care facility in Richmond for individuals with mental disabilities.

• Distribute flyers throughout the Fort Bend community on behalf of an agency that serves Asian women victimized by domestic abuse.

• Help provide food, tutoring, and recreational activities for Pre-K and elementary school children at a church-based child-care program in Stafford.

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

• Serve as literacy tutor to foreign-born persons residing in Fort Bend County.

• Weekday, Saturday, and evening volunteer shifts are available at resale shops in Stafford that support local nonprofit agencies.

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

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