Volunteer Opportunities

SOAR 55, Service Opportunties After Reaching 55 a program of Newton Community Service Center

Location

492 Waltham Street
West Newton , MA, 02465

Communities Without Borders

Mailing Address: 
Same as above
Phone: 
617 233-6071

Location

295 Highland Avenue
Newton, MA, 02465
Email: 

psmith@communitieswithoutborders.org

Website: 

www.communitieswithoutborders.org

Organization's Mission: 
The mission of Communities Without Borders is to educate AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children, primarily in Africa, in order to nourish hope for a better future for them, society and the world. Our approach fosters building ongoing community to community relationships at the grassroots level in order to increase the quality educational opportunities for these children. We take groups of self-funded service volunteers each year to Zambia representing our U.S. community partners for two week work projects.
How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 
We are looking for organizations (religious organizations, businesses, schools, institutions, neighborhoods) who will make a long term commitment to support a community of AIDS orphans and their caretakers in Zambia. We now have ten such "U.S. community partners," three in Newton. We would love to come to your group with a slide show of pictures telling our story and showing the successes of our Zambian students.
Contact Person: 
Peter Smith
Number of people served each year: 
over 1000
Other information: 
Please contact me at psmith@igc.org or 617 233-6071 if you have questions.

Birthday Wishes

Phone: 
866.388.9474

Location

P.O. Box 590645
Newton Centre, MA, 02459
Email: 

lisa@birthdaywishes.org

Website: 

www.birthdaywishes.org

Organization's Mission: 
The Birthday Wishes Mission Our mission is simple: To bring birthday parties to homeless children. Birthday Wishes recognizes the importance of a birthday in a child's life and believes that the gift of a birthday celebration provides normalcy, joy and hope in these children's otherwise unsettled lives. Our grassroots philosophy fosters the spirit of volunteerism and community service in the adults, children and families who donate their time and resources to our mission.
Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 
Variable
How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 
Visit our website at www.birthdaywishes.org for information on our various volunteer opportunites.
Contact Person: 
Lisa Vasiloff
Scholarships available: 
No
Charge for services: 
No
Transportation provided: 
No
Number of people served each year: 
over 1000
Other information: 
The rapid and continued growth of Birthday Wishes is due in large part to community involvement. Everyone can relate to the importance of a birthday, and this has meant much grass-roots support. Birthday Wishes volunteers number over 400 and include local teens, adults, and children, participating as individuals or as part of a family, scout troop, church group, sports team, or school program. These volunteers are a diverse group representing over scores of communities in Massachusetts and range in age from toddlers to senior citizens. Volunteers help to provide the party supplies needed for monthly parties and, most importantly, attend and help run the birthday parties. The various ways in which volunteers can contribute allow for many levels of participation and provide a wonderful opportunity for families to volunteer together.

Green Decade/ Newon

Mailing Address: 
P.O. Box 590242, Newton, MA 02459
Phone: 
617 965-1995

Location

Newton Cultural Center 225 Nevada Street
Newton, MA, 02460
Email: 

info@greendecade.org

Website: 

www.greendecade.org

Organization's Mission: 
Our mission is to create an environment in better balance with the natural world by making significant, measurable improvements in the way we use resources.
How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 
Check out the volunteer section of our web site.
Contact Person: 
Margaret Ford - 617 965-1995
Number of people served each year: 
over 1000

Green Decade/ Newon

Mailing Address: 
P.O. Box 590242, Newton, MA 02459
Phone: 
617 965-1995

Location

Newton Cultural Center 225 Nevada Street
Newton, MA, 02460
Email: 

info@greendecade.org

Website: 

www.greendecade.org

Organization's Mission: 
Our mission is to create an environment in better balance with the natural world by making significant, measurable improvements in the way we use resources.
How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 
Check out the volunteer section of our web site.
Contact Person: 
Margaret Ford - 617 965-1995
Number of people served each year: 
over 1000

Boy Scout Troop 355

Mailing Address: 
Boy Scout Troop 355 c/o Scoutmaster Karl Kaltenbach 183 Walnut Street Newtonville, MA 02460
Phone: 
(617) 965-3970

Location

575 Washington Street
Newton, MA, 02458
Email: 

scoutmaster@troop-355.com

Website: 

http://www.troop-355.com/

Organization's Mission: 
For almost 100 years, Scouting programs have instilled in youth the values found in the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Today, these values are just as relevant in helping youth grow to their full potential as they were in 1910. Scouting helps youth develop academic skills, self-confidence, ethics, leadership skills, and citizenship skills that influence their adult lives.
Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 
We meet Tuesday nights from 7:30-9pm at Trinity Catholic High School, 573 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02458, whenever the Newton schools are in session. In addition we have monthly campouts and community service events.
How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 
Call, email or stop by a meeting.
Contact Person: 
Karl Kaltenbach or John Lightfoot

Newton Community Service Center, Inc.

Mailing Address: 
492 Waltham Street West Newton, MA 02465
Phone: 
617-969-5906

Location

492 Waltham Street 429 Cherry Street
West Newton, MA, 02465
Email: 

kfreedman@ncscweb.org

Website: 

www.ncscweb.org

Organization's Mission: 
Newton Community Service Center (NCSC) is a multi-service agency that strengthens children, youth, families and the community through educational programs and a network of support services. We promote social and emotional wellness and continuity of care. The agency serves a racially, ethnically, economically, and culturally diverse population from Newton, Waltham and surrounding communities. For individuals and families from childhood to mature years, NCSC fulfills our mission through education enrichment programs and support services. We have developed a unique ability to nurture parent/child and teacher/student relationships and use them to enhance growth and development at every stage of life. Thus, the organization serves the community through four distinct but well-integrated program areas:<br> * Early education and child care * Family counseling, education and support * Teen enrichment * Volunteer service opportunities for adults 55+
Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 
Child Care: 8 am - 6 pm / Teen Centers: evenings and weekends.
How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 
Visit our website at www.ncscweb.org.
Contact Person: 
Kim Freedman
Scholarships available: 
Yes
Charge for services: 
Yes
Vouchers accepted: 
Yes
Transportation provided: 
Yes
Community Meeting Space Available: 
Yes
Number of people served each year: 
over 1000

Carroll Center for the Blind

Phone: 
617.969.6200

Location

770 Centre St
Newton, MA, 02458
Email: 

info@carroll.org

Website: 

http://www.carroll.org

Organization's Mission: 
The Carroll Center serves the needs of blind and visually-impaired persons by providing rehabilitation, skills training, and educational opportunities to achieve independence, self-sufficiency, and self-fulfillment and by educating the public regarding the potential of persons who are blind and visually-impaired. Established in 1936, the Center has pioneered innovative methods for blind persons to gain independence in their homes, in class settings, and in their work places. New and evolving technologies, combined with time-tested adaptive methods, individualized instruction, and personalized therapies developed by the Carroll Center staff, have provided thousands of blind and vision impaired persons with diverse opportunities for success and independent living.
How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 
Please visit our website: http://www.carroll.org
Contact Person: 
Dina Rosenbaum
Scholarships available: 
Yes
Transportation provided: 
Yes
Community Meeting Space Available: 
Yes
Number of people served each year: 
501-1000

Hospitality Homes

Mailing Address: 
<p>Hospitality Homes</p> <p>P.O. Box 15265</p> <p>Boston, MA 02215</p>
Phone: 
617-482-4338

Location

20 Overland Street
Boston, MA, 02215
Email: 

ccampbell@hosp.org

Website: 

www.hosp.org

Organization's Mission: 
<p>Hospitality Homes provides no-cost, short-term housing to the family members and friends of patients travelling to Boston for medical treatment. Our service is provided through volunteer host family homes all over the greater Boston area. Our hosts provide guests with a safe, comfortable place to sleep so that they can be close to their loved ones during their time of need.</p>
Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 
<p>Mon-Fri, 9-5</p>
How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 
<p>If you are interested in becoming a volunteer host family, please visit our website for more information, and contact the office by calling 617.482.4338 and asking for our Program Manager, Christine Godbout.</p>
Contact Person: 
Caryl Goodman
Scholarships available: 
No
Charge for services: 
No
Vouchers accepted: 
No
Transportation provided: 
No
Number of people served each year: 
501-1000

John M. Barry Boys & Girls of Newton

Phone: 
617 630.2066

Location

675 Watertown Street
Newton, MA, 02460
Email: 

dsellers@newtonbgc.com

Website: 

www.newtonbgc.com

Organization's Mission: 
To inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.
Hours of operation (or meeting times & dates): 
Mon 3-6, Tues 12:30-9, Wed-Fri 2:30-9, Sat 10-4 (Dec-March) Office hours: weekdays 8:30-4:30
How to get involved/application guidelines and procedures: 
Families may join the Boys & Girls Club at any time during the school year. Tours are conducted during business hours. No appointment necessary. Noone is ever denied membership if they cannot afford to pay. Volunteers should contact Jennifer McAuliffe at jmcauliffe@newtonbgc.com
Contact Person: 
David Sellers
Scholarships available: 
Yes
Charge for services: 
Yes
Vouchers accepted: 
No
Transportation provided: 
Yes
Community Meeting Space Available: 
Yes
Number of people served each year: 
501-1000