Agency: Douglas County CASA

Contact: 785-832-5172 or casaadmin@douglascountyks.org

Douglas County CASA is seeking volunteers to serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates for children in foster care. CASA Volunteers provide comprehensive advocacy for abused and neglected children in need of care and under the protection of the court system. Trained volunteers investigate, facilitate, monitor and mentor.

Duties include regular monthly visits with the child(ren); maintaining contact with parents, foster parents, caseworkers and all other professionals or individuals involved in the child’s case; attending meetings and court hearings for the assigned case; submitting court reports; advocating for permanency for the child as soon as possible; assessing whether appropriate services are being provided to the child and family; and monitoring compliance with court orders. Volunteers must submit an application, participate in an interview, complete 30 hours of training and pass a comprehensive background check. Training classes are held three times a year. The next class begins February 13. For more information and application materials, please go to www.dccasa.org and click on Volunteer, or call 785-832-5172, or email casaadmin@douglascountyks.org.

Get into gardening

Just Food and its partners fight hunger in our community by increasing the availability of a variety of foods, while reducing waste from discarded food. Just Food is looking for volunteers to assist in getting ready for next spring’s gardeners. Just Food is hosting a Seed Library Work Party at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St. Volunteers will sort seeds, prepare packets for stuffing and stuff packets with seeds. This is a great family-friendly or group volunteer opportunity. Volunteers may come and go as your schedule allows from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, February 8, in Meeting Room C. Please contact Aundrea Shafer at programs@justfoodks.org for more information.

Writing assistance needed

Independence Inc. provides advocacy, services and education for people with disabilities and for our communities. Independence Inc. is looking for a volunteer transcriber to assist a visually-impaired client in transcribing letters and documents he is wanting to write. The volunteer will work from the Independence Inc. office with access to a telephone with headset, as well as a computer. The client will call the volunteer, who will type what is being dictated by the client into a Word document. The volunteer may also occasionally assist client with e-mail communication by reading and typing e-mails. Frequency of service is based on the volunteer’s availability, approximately one to two times weekly. For more information, please contact Bob Mikesic at 785-841-0333, ext. 107, or bmikesic@independenceinc.org.

Process volunteers

The American Red Cross exists to provide compassionate care to those in need by preventing and relieving suffering by supplying disaster relief, lifesaving blood, and health and safety services. The Red Cross is looking for volunteers to fulfill the responsibilities of processing new Red Cross volunteers. This position ensures the intake process is accomplished in a timely manner and provides an excellent experience for all new volunteers joining the American Red Cross. Responsibilities include: welcoming prospective volunteers and processing new volunteer applications; monitoring new applications submitted online; contacting prospective volunteers to remind them to complete the application process; and tracking all communication with prospective volunteers. Intake volunteers may work from home or the Red Cross office. If you have a love for working with people, the Red Cross has a position that will fit your talents and schedule. Training is provided. Please contact Kez Cook at 316-219-4041 or at kez.cook@redcross.org for more information.

Paint the walls

The United Way of Douglas County brings community resources together to support a better life for residents by focusing on improvements in health, education and financial stability. The United Way is looking for volunteers with interior painting experience to paint several offices in the United Way Building. Walls of the building are cement and have previously been painted. Paint will be provided. There is flexibility in scheduling when the work is performed, with a target completion date of April 1. For more information, please contact Tammy Sabol at 785-843-6626, ext. 303, or at tsabol@unitedwaydgco.org.

Be 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 or girl in our community? For a few hours a couple times a month, you can give a “Little” the invaluable gift of your friendship. Big Brothers Big Sisters is seeking a Big Brother for Tyler. He is 13 years old, has three boisterous siblings and is incredibly active. He enjoys sleeping in, playing sports and watching his beloved Chiefs football. Tyler would love to have a Big Brother to hang out with and who could help him navigate this transitional age. If you have a few hours to be a volunteer, this is your opportunity to make a difference in the life of a youngster. For more information, please contact Mark Gordy at 785-843-7359.

For more volunteer opportunities — individual, group, family or workplace — 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 www.volunteerdouglascounty.org.