Agency: United Way of Douglas County

Contact: Colleen Gregoire at uwcamp@unitedwaydgco.org or 785-843-6626, ext. 340

The United Way of Douglas County brings community resources together to support a better life for all residents, focusing efforts on health, self-sufficiency, and education. The United Way is looking for volunteers to umpire at its Re-Kickulously Healthy Kickball Tourney from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 11 at Rock Chalk Park. Fun-loving folks from all walks of life will form kickball teams and compete for prizes while they have fun, get some exercise and raise funds for the United Way’s Health Goal. Volunteers are needed to umpire kickball games for two-hour shifts — four 25-minute games. Knowledge of kickball rules required. For more information about volunteering for this event, please go to volunteerdouglascounty.org or contact Shelly Hornbaker at volunteer@unitedwaydgco.org. To register a kickball team to participate in the tournament or to purchase an entry ticket, please go to unitedwaydgco.org.

Get money smart

The United Way of Douglas County, Lawrence Community Shelter, Ballard Community Services, the Salvation Army, and the Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority launched the Money Matters program, a series of personal financial management classes offered free to people striving for self-sufficiency. The classes, taught by Housing & Credit Counseling Inc., include budgeting and saving, credit reports, debt repayment and renter’s preparation. Classes will take place from 5:45 to 8 p.m. Thursday and Oct. 15 at the Salvation Army, 10th and New Hampshire streets, for 40 students. Volunteers are needed to assist with setting up the classroom, serving light refreshments, securing donations of food and prize giveaways, putting away tables and chairs, and transporting guests to and from the Lawrence Community Shelter. To volunteer, please contact Colleen Gregoire at uwcamp@unitedwaydgco.org or at 785-843-6626, ext. 340.

Bring seniors meals

Douglas County Senior Services Inc. is committed to promoting quality of life for older citizens. Volunteers are needed to deliver lunchtime meals to homebound seniors in Lawrence. This is a fantastic opportunity to deliver a hot meal and a smile while making a big difference in the lives of local seniors. Delivery routes take less than one hour. Grab a friend, tag-team the route, and then treat yourselves to lunch. This is a fun and easy way to accrue volunteer hours with your best friend. Lawrence routes run between 11 a.m. and noon Monday through Friday. You can choose a steady one day a week assignment or a more flexible schedule. Volunteers drive their own vehicles. To help defray gas expenses, a reimbursement of 45 cents per mile is offered for miles driven on the meal delivery route in personal vehicles. For more information, please contact Chip McConnell at cmcconnell@dgcoseniorservices.org or at 842-0543.

Patient helpers needed

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/haircuts provide simple haircuts to hospice patients unable to leave their homes. Massage therapists provide simple, light massage (no massage table/chair needed) to hospice patients. Musical volunteers share 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 843-3738.

Share tax skills

AARP Tax-Aide provides free income tax assistance for taxpayers with low to moderate income, with special attention to those residents ages 60 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, embracing 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, 2016, and run through April 15, 2016. For more information, contact Sarah Merriman at 813-1136 or smerriman@swbell.net.

Become a Big

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Douglas County provides one-to-one relationships for children facing adversity. Are you looking to make a difference in the life of a young boy in our community? Big Brothers Big Sisters has more than 40 boys waiting for a one-on-one mentor. Big Brothers Big Sisters is looking for a male mentor 18 years of age or older to spend a few hours a week with a 10-year-old boy. He is open to a lot of different activities and fairly easy to entertain. He is a mixture of sporty and outdoorsy but also likes video games and building things with his hands (big Lego fan). He needs a Big who has enough time to devote and will really spend time helping him with Boy Scout projects. If you are ready to make a difference in the life of a young person in our community, ask about volunteering today by calling Big Brothers Big Sisters at 843-7359.

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