Volunteer opportunities

These organizations have noted special needs for late August:

• Heart to Heart International, a global humanitarian organization in Olathe, is looking for folks willing to get their hands dirty: cleaning, organizing and clearing out trash from their warehouse. Hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays. If you are only available evenings or weekends, the staff can work with you on scheduling. Contact Vicky Leitnaker, 913-764-5200 x272, vicky.leitnaker@hearttoheart.org.

• Many elderly people across Kansas City live alone and need companionship, and their caregivers need relief. If you have 20 hours a week to help someone, consider connecting with Westport Cooperative Services, an area senior companion program. Volunteers must be at least 60 years old, make less than $1,083/month after medical expenses and attend 40 hours of pre-service training. Benefits include joy in helping others, a stipend, reimbursement for lunch and mileage and meeting other area senior companions. Contact Judy May, 816-753-8400, jmayscp@yahoo.com.

• Clerical help is needed in the office of the Johnson County District Attorney, Victim Assist, which provides help to crime victims. Requirements include good phone and office skills, an ability to work with the public, and a commitment to confidentiality. Contact Deborah Floyd, 913-261-2314, deborah.floyd@jocogov.org. • Harvesters, a Kansas City area food network, is in need of 12-15 volunteers to collect and package items donated after the Associated Wholesale Grocers’ food show Wednesday, Aug. 20 from 4:30 - 7 p.m. at the KCI Expo Center. Contact Paula Pratt, 816-929-3091, volunteer@harvesters.org.

• Metro Lutheran Ministry, which distributes commodities to senior citizens, needs help on the first and second Tuesdays of each month. You must be able to lift 30 pounds. Contact Faye Cowee, 816-931-0027, fayecowee@mlmkc.org.

• Dos Mundos, a bilingual newspaper company, is hosting a back-to-school drive on Thursday, Aug. 21 from 4-6:30 p.m., and is looking for volunteers to help with backpack distribution, greeting participants and cooking/serving hot dogs at the Ruiz Library at 2050 West Pennway. Contact Clara Reyes, 816-221-4747 x11, creyes@dosmundos.com.

• Volunteers are needed to provide fun activities for infants, children and youth during a foster parents’ retreat on Saturday, Aug. 23 at the Doubletree Hotel in Overland Park. Activities will include age appropriate activities such as bowling, arcade games, and arts and crafts. Contact Anne Reicheneker of TFI Family Services, 913-894-2985, anner@the-farm.org. • Come join the fun at the KC Aviation Expo and Airshow in downtown Kansas City on Saturday, Aug. 23 and Sunday, Aug. 24. More than 300 volunteers are needed to help with providing water to attendees, tent set up and tear down and medical/first aid area set up. There are also volunteer opportunities on Thursday, Friday and Sunday evening. Volunteers must be 18 years and older and available to donate nine hours during the two-day event. Training will also be provided. Contact Sandy Noyallis, 816-532-8520, sandynoyallis@sbcglobal.net.

For more information on volunteering in the Kansas City metropolitan area, call United Way at (816) 559-4667 or visit go to www.volunteerkc.org.

Also, the Volunteer Centers of Metropolitan Kansas City are available to link volunteers citywide with opportunities that match a person’s skills, interests and schedules. Call (816) 472-4865 between 8:15 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.