Friends of the Volunteer Center Inc

Here are the nine programs we have at The Volunteer Center:

Youth Volunteer Corps is a program for volunteers age 11-18. The youth identify a need in the community, learn about that issue and complete projects to help meet that need. Topics include leadership, literacy, animals, environment, homelessness and many others. Each month a group of youth chooses their own topic, plans their own meeting and coordinates a project. The Youth Volunteer Corps also includes the TeenCertprogram. TeenCertis an emergency response team and any youth can participate in trainings for certification. 

Youth Court provides alternative sentencing to first-time juvenile offenders in Washington County and serves as a unique pre-petition diversion program for non-violent offenders. The goal of Youth Court is to divert first-time youthful offenders, ages 13–17, away from the juvenile justice system and provide a meaningful alternative to the traditional adjudicatory format in juvenile cases.

The Caring Hearts Volunteers and Community Volunteer programs are for volunteers age 18 – 55. Volunteers may choose one of our many volunteer stations and volunteer on a consistent basis or respond to one-time requests and community events. Many organizations utilize these volunteers for special events and short-term projects. Large numbers of volunteers are used for many of the festivals in Southern Utah, the Utah Summer Games, the Huntsman Senior Games, the Festival of Trees and many more. Consistent opportunities include Intermountain Healthcare, local non-profit thrift stores, food banks, museums, family assistance programs and many others.

The Retired Senior Volunteer Program is a program through the Corporation for National and Community Service. Volunteers 55 years and older volunteer on a consistent basis at one or more of our many volunteer stations. These volunteers may provide administrative support for non-profit or government organizations or work directly with patrons or clients. Opportunities are as varied as the interests of the volunteers. Special focus is placed on programs that help fight homelessness, poverty and provide educational opportunities for members of the community.

The Foster Grandparent Program is a program for low income seniors to volunteer in classrooms and is another program with the Corporation for National and Community Service. Volunteers receive a small stipend for their service and work one-on-one with students who are struggling in school or have barriers to learning. The majority of volunteers in this program work with about 20-30 students a week and spend a minimum of 15 hours a week in the classroom. Volunteers work closely with teachers to provide extra assistance in literacy and math.

The Senior Companion Program is another program for low income seniors through the Corporation for National and Community Service. The primary goals of this program are to help seniors and people with disabilities live independently and to provide respite care for full-time caregivers. Most Senior Companions provide transportation for shopping and doctors’ appointments and provide social support and visits to those who are homebound or isolated. Additional services include meal planning and preparation, assistance in reading mail and paying bills and light housekeeping. Volunteers in this program receive a small stipend for their service and generally serve about 5-7 clients a week and spend a minimum of 15 hours per week with their clients. Clients have access to transportation and support they would otherwise go without and many say they would be hopeless without their Senior Companion.

The Senior Health Insurance Information Program provides information about Medicare coverage options to individuals and families. Staff and volunteers provide one-on-one counseling to discuss Medicare options with clients. Volunteers receive extensive training to learn about Medicare Coverage options and can also provide assistance with applications for Medicaid and Extra Help programs. Staff and volunteers also teach “Medicare 101” classes several times a year to those who are just starting out on Medicare or are preparing to start Medicare. Along with this program is the Senior Medicare Patrol, which is a group of volunteers and staff focused on preventing fraud. Volunteers educate the public on types of fraud and ways to avoid becoming a victim of fraud. Staff also assist in recovering payments made for services or medical equipment that was not provided to the patient.

The Homeless Outreach Program provides food, clothing, bedding and housing assistance for those that are homeless or potentially homeless. Our volunteers make blankets, sleep at the overflow shelter as chaperones, provide and serve dinners in the parks, and help serve the Sunday lunch at Solomon’s Porch.