Visiting Nurses has several volunteer opportunities. Hospice Patient Companions work directly with patients and families by providing needed companionship for patient and/or respite for primary caregivers in home settings or care facilities. Volunteers must commit to one year of service and be available for regular once-weekly assignments of two to three hours, preferably having some morning and/or early afternoon availability on the weekdays. Volunteers need to be caring and flexible and be a good listener. Mandatory hospice training will be provided. No medical knowledge is required.

Also, volunteer massage therapists are needed for one-time or regular once-weekly massage visits to our hospice clients. Adequate training in modality and dealing with patient’s physical restrictions is required. Understanding of contraindications is also required. For more information, contact Sarah Rooney at sarahro@kansasvna.org or 785-843-3738

Other Immediate Needs

• Tenants to Homeowners Inc. is seeking a part-time volunteer with a knowledge of website design and entry (particularly Dreamweaver) and database programs (such as File Maker) to temporarily enter updates for a few hours a week on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday. Potential volunteers must already be familiar with Dreamweaver and other basic website and database programs, and be able to enter information independently. For more information contact Robert Baker at rbakertth@gmail.com or 842-5494.

• Penn House, a part of Ballard Community Services, provides basic needs services to individuals and families including a clothing pantry, food pantry and My Sister’s Closet. Volunteers are needed to help sort, organize and pack school supplies into backpacks, which will be distributed prior to the start of school on Aug. 15. To volunteer, contact Kyle Roggenkamp at kyle@ballardcenter.org or at 785-842-0440.

• Ten Thousand Villages-Lawrence is a non-profit, volunteer-operated, fair trade retailer of artisan products from about 40 developing countries around the world. Volunteers are needed to work as sales associates and in the stockroom at the store in downtown Lawrence. A minimum time commitment of working two four-hour shifts per month is required. Contact Paul Stagner at 785-856-7370 or at manager.lawrence@tenthousandvillages.com to volunteer.

— For more volunteer opportunities, contact Shelly Hornbaker at the United Way’s Roger Hill Volunteer Center, at 785-865-5030 or volunteer@rhvc.org, or go to www.volunteerdouglascounty.org.