Agency: Tenants to Homeowners, Inc.

Contact: Robert Baker at rbakertth@gmail.com or at 842-5494

Tenants to Homeowners Inc. administers the Lawrence Community Housing Trust (LCHT) Program, which assists families with low and moderate incomes become homeowners. The agency has a volunteer opportunity for an individual with graphic design skills to assist with the annual fall fundraiser. The volunteer will create promotional materials for the event. Event promotion will begin in July. This opportunity can be completed remotely. Please contact Robert Baker at rbakertth@gmail.com or at 842-5494 for more information.

• The Lawrence Humane Society needs volunteers to help at the First Annual Paw Valley Festival and 5K Walk/Run. This event will take place Saturday May 9, at Watson Park, 727 Kentucky. Many volunteers are needed for a variety of tasks and shifts, including set up/check in, course marshals, first aid volunteers, course maintenance, booth workers, and clean up. Shifts vary in start times and duration depending upon the task, the earliest starting at 7:00 am and the latest ending at 4:00 pm. This is a great family or group volunteer opportunity. To sign up, please go to signupgenius.com/go/20f0d4fada92fa3f49-pawvalley.

• Penn House offers access to human services including food assistance, clothing assistance, assistance with taxes, rent, utilities, prescriptions, and school supplies for residents of Douglas County. Penn House is looking for a volunteer with Human Resources expertise to help the agency enhance personnel policies, define agency data collection needs, and identify purposeful training opportunities for staff and volunteers. For a full position description, please contact Kyle Roggenkamp at kyle@ballardcenter.org or at 842-0440.

• The Willow Domestic Violence Center provides safe shelter, advocacy, and hope for survivors of domestic and family violence in Douglas, Franklin and Jefferson Counties. The Willow has many volunteer opportunities. Volunteer Advocates respond to crisis line calls, provide peer counseling, facilitate support groups, provide court advocacy, and many other services. Advocate volunteers complete 28 hours of training prior to serving clients at The Willow. The Summer Advocate Training Session begins on May 18. Approval of an application to volunteer is required by May 8. The application form can be found on the agency’s website, willowdvcenter.org, under the ‘Get Involved’ tab on the homepage. Please contact Becca Burns-Spielman, at 785.331.2034 x 104 or at bburns@willowdvcenter.org, for more information.

• Douglas County CASA is looking for volunteers to serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) for abused and neglected children who have been removed from their homes and are in the care of the court. CASAs monitor the case, attend hearings and meetings, submit reports to the court, and advocate on behalf of the child. Volunteers must be 21 years old, submit an application, pass a background check, and complete 30 hours of training. The next training session begins June 9. An informational session will be held on Thursday, May 28, at noon at the CASA office, 1009 New Hampshire. For more information, go to dccasa.org and click on Volunteer, or call 785-832-5172, or email mbutler@douglas-county.org.

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Douglas County provides one-to-one relationships for children facing adversity. Big Brothers Big Sisters is calling out to couples, families or male adults over 18 who would like to become a mentor and friend to a 10 year old boy. He is active, a little shy, loves all sports, games, cooking, and hiking at Clinton Lake. Providing a strong positive role model for this young person will make a big difference in his life. If you have a few hours a week to spend with this your man, call Big Brothers Big Sisters today at 785-843-7359. Learn more about becoming a mentor at a BBBS Information Session held every Tuesday at 5:15 pm and Wednesday at noon.

— 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.