Known for friendly people and a bigger than life attitude, Dallas, Texas has a place for everyone who wishes to volunteer. From juniors to seniors, there's an activity for every age group and every skill level. If you have time on your hands and generosity in your heart, try contacting some of these worthy organizations.
Habitat for Humanity Ph. 214.678.2315.
Whether your skills include swinging a hammer or scheduling on the phone, Dallas Habitat can use your help. This is a nice opportunity for families with teens to work together. Kids under 14 are not allowed on construction sites, but those 14 and 15 can help with landscaping and clean up. 16 and 17 year olds can help in the actual building other work on the roof or with power tools.
Habitat for Humanity is one of America's greatest helping hands to those in need. Those who have volunteered know that not only do they help build houses, but that they meet new friends and learn new skills as well.
Dallas Public Library Ph. 214.670.1789.
Would you like to tutor a child after school? Repair books? Help with computer classes? Assist with Every Child Ready to Read? Help with the Mayor's Summer Reading Program? Help customers build resumes? Shelve books? Translate for Spanish-speaking patrons? Do data entry? Every skill imaginable can be useful at the main Dallas library or one of its branches. Call or email for an application volunteer@dallaslibrary2.org:
The Humane Society of Dallas, 2719 Manor Way. Ph. 214.350.7387. info@dognkittycity.com
Animals need your help as well as humans, and the Humane Society of Dallas has more than four paws full of opportunities. The first no kill animal shelter in Dallas in 1987, volunteers are part of what makes it possible to hold animals until they find their forever homes.
Currently needed are Dog and Cat Socializers people who will walk, groom, play, train, and pet the resident dogs and cats. Foster Parents, those who give TLC to adult pets, kittens, puppies, or sick and injured animals in their own homes, are always needed. Adopt-A-Pet Assistants are being recruited for help in adopting dogs and cats at their off-site locations on weekends. There are numerous other in shelter volunteer opportunities so lend your helping paw to the Humane Society of Dallas.
Dallas Fort Worth Airport.
Do you like to travel? Do you like to help people? If so, the DFW Ambassador program may be just right for you. Currently, 25 Ambassador Volunteers are needed to lending a helping hand to travelers. Besides greeting people from all over the world, you will give directions, assist with special needs, and provide tourism information. Volunteers must be at least 16. Phone 972.574.1492 for more information or read their needs on the web.. http://www.dfwairport.com/ambassadors/
VistaCare Hospice. Suite 112, 7557 Rambler Road. Ph. 214.231.3914 . http://www.vistacare.com
If you have compassion to share and would like to nurture the physical, spiritual, and emotional well-being of terminally ill patients, Hospice can use you. VistaCare is an open access hospice that provides dedicated, caring skilled professionals and volunteers to help patients and their families deal with end-of-life care. Those who have volunteered with Hospice will tell you that it adds meaning to their own lives as well as helping others.
Museum of Nature&Science, 3535 Grand Ave; 1318 S. 2nd Ave. in Fair Park. Ph. 214.428.5555. info@natureandscience.org.
Do you love science and nature? Share your enthusiasm with your community while having fun. You'll meet new people, get cafe and gift store discounts, get free tickets for every 25 hours of volunteering, and receive free membership for 1000 hours of volunteering. The Museum is anxious to work with your schedule and has multiple opportunities you can help children to explore and imagine in the Home School Program; work with teens in the Summer Discovery Corps as they donate their body to science, have a nighttime scavenger hunt, play video games n the giant IMAX screen, and enjoy pizza and ice cream sundaes.
The Museum welcomes corporate and group volunteers for special events. There is a need for exhibit demonstrators, people to work in the Paleo Lab and Collections Department, and clerical and administrative assistance. They also need greeters, information experts, IMAX and Planetarium Control Booth Operators sound like fun? Sign up for the orientation and get started.
Dallas is a great city because of its thoughtful, caring citizens who take time to give back to their community while enriching their own lives.