Volunteer Opportunities/Application

Volunteering with the Sturbridge Council on Aging  is a great way to use your talents to enhance the lives of local older adults. The Center offers a number of ways to get involved and believes that tapping into an individual’s skills and knowledge creates a more meaningful experience for both the volunteer and those being served.

Volunteering requires a firm time commitment with willingness to dedicate at least thirty hours per year. The following opportunities are on-going needs at the Center. Occasionally there are additional short-term positions for special events.

Kitchen Help : Serve lunch, assist with clean up, assist with large gatherings. 

Receptionists:  The volunteer’s position for coverage at the front desk includes the following responsibilities:

• Present and create a positive and welcoming atmosphere for callers and visitors.
• Greet visitors, answer the phone, take messages, and direct a call to the appropriate person.
• Help answer questions and supply information on activities at the Center.
• Register participants for various classes and programs (directing them to the computer sign-in system) .
• Make copies and do other projects as they arise.

Activities:    A volunteer can assist with bingo, cribbage, pitch, or other games, and may help with seasonal decorating of the Center, as well as, perform as a musician or singer.

Course Instructors:   A volunteer may teach arts and crafts, exercise, or skills classes they have to offer. These may be offered as a one-time class or an ongoing session.

Library in Motion:  This program is set up for Home-bound Older Adults and disabled residents that do not drive. Those people would contact the Joshua Hyde Library to order the reading material of their choice. The volunteer’s responsibility would be to go to the library to retrieve the material and deliver it to the person’s home and/or retrieve the materials and return to the Library.

Volunteer Pool :    People sometimes want to volunteer but do not want to be part of an on-going activity. If this is the case, there is a volunteer pool at the Center. You may be called upon to assist with special events and one-time projects. You can also serve as a substitute for any volunteer position.

Confidentiality is imperative. All volunteers are required to sign a Confidentiality Policy. Should volunteers find themselves discussing the Center with family and friends, we ask that they keep in confidence personal information they may have learned regarding participants or staff.