Agency: Community Neighbors and Friends

Contact: See below

Numerous agencies in our community need volunteers to adopt their clients for holiday programs. Many of our community neighbors will go without holiday gifts and food without your help. Please consider offering assistance to any of the following agencies: Eckan — 785-423-4142; Penn House — 785-842-0440; The Salvation Army — 785-843-4188; Catholic Charities — 785-856-2694; Toys for Tots — 785-766-3023; Just Food — 785-856-7030; The Villages Inc. — 785-267-5900; The Willow Domestic Violence Center — 785-331-2034; Douglas County Senior Services — 785-842-0543; Lawrence Meals on Wheels — 785-830-8844; Family Promise of Lawrence — shaun@lawrencefamilypromise.org; and the Lawrence Community Shelter — TreyM@lawrenceshelter.org.

Help bring joy

The Salvation Army is looking for volunteers to help with its Christmas Joy Shop. Setup volunteers are needed today and Tuesday; distribution volunteers are needed Thursday and Friday. For more information, contact Jim Evers at jim_evers@salvationarmy.org or call 785-764-0962.

Distribute food

Just Food needs volunteers to help with holiday food distribution from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 20; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 21; and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 22. Please contact Elizabeth Keever at ekeever@justfoodks.org or 785-856-7030 to volunteer.

Shovel snow

Douglas County Senior Services and the city of Lawrence need your help! The Safe Winter Walkways program still needs volunteers to help elderly or disabled individuals clear public sidewalks during snow events. Able-bodied Lawrence residents with a passion for helping others and an enjoyment of winter weather are needed to volunteer to create safer and more accessible pedestrian walkways by shoveling snow through the winter months. To register to volunteer, please go to lawrenceks.org/safe_winter_walkways.

Share tax skills

AARP Tax-Aide provides free income tax assistance for taxpayers with low to moderate income, with special attention to those residents age 60 years and older. AARP Tax-Aide has offered free tax assistance in the Lawrence area for more than 25 years, serving 2,000-plus clients per year. If you enjoy working with people and computers, embrace challenges and learning new things, AARP has the volunteer opportunity for you. Volunteers are needed to help low- and moderate-income families prepare and file their individual tax returns next season. Volunteers should have basic computer skills and the personal drive necessary to learn and become proficient with new tax preparation software provided by the IRS. AARP Tax-Aide volunteers are provided access to all computer equipment and training materials required and will receive comprehensive tax training in January. Tax preparation will begin Feb. 1 and run through April 15. For more information, please contact Sarah Merriman at 785-813-1136 or smerriman@swbell.net.

Be a companion

Visiting Nurses Association provides hospice care, home health care, rehabilitation care, and private duty care. The agency is looking for volunteers for a variety of tasks. Patient Companions work directly with patients and families by providing needed companionship for patient and/or respite for primary caregiver in home settings or care facilities once a week. Friendly Visitors make rounds at local nursing homes served by VNA Hospice. CareCuts provide simple haircuts to hospice patients unable to leave their home. Massage therapists provide simple, light massage (no massage table/chair needed) to hospice patients. Musical volunteers share their talent with clients at care facilities one-on-one or as a group activity. Mandatory hospice training will be provided. No medical knowledge required. Very fulfilling experience. Find your purpose through service. Contact: Sarah Rooney at sarahro@kansasvna.org or 785-843-3738.

— For more volunteer opportunities, please contact Shelly Hornbaker at the United Way Roger Hill Volunteer Center at 785-865-5030, ext. 301 or at volunteer@unitedwaydgco.org or go to volunteerdouglascounty.org.