United Way of Greater Nashua and The Telegraph’s web portal “Volunteer Greater Nashua” connects potential volunteers with nonprofit agencies who need help. It is a versatile website that allows people who want to help search for volunteer opportunities by zip code, interest area, and more. Those who use the site always find new and exciting ways to become involved. We’ve listed several new opportunities featured on the site in this article. You can always find more on Volunteer Greater Nashua at http://www.volunteergreaternashua.org.

Boys and Girls Club

of Greater Nashua

Since 1971, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua has been helping our youth avoid risky behaviors, stay in school and succeed in life. During the summer months, camp programs and the One Positive Place drop-in program offer youth a place to learn, grow and prosper. Club locations are not just hang-outs, but places where young people can learn, do homework, utilize technology, express themselves through the arts, play, develop social skills, participate in athletics, give back to the community and engage in meaningful conversations with caring adults.

The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Nashua hosts an annual Thanksgiving Dinner called the Dinner of Thanks. This dinner serves about 350 club members and their families. This dinner gives club members the opportunity to celebrate all they are thankful for in and outside of the club. They are looking for volunteers to help with serving meals, replenishing food and cleaning up after the event. This year’s Dinner of Thanks will be held for Boys & Girls Club members and their families on Nov. 21 from 6-8 p.m. Volunteers are asked to arrive at 5:30 p.m. and plan to stay until 9 p.m. for clean up. For more information, visit www.volunteergreaternashua.org and search for “Boys and Girls Club of Greater Nashua.”

Home Health

and Hospice Care

Home Health & Hospice Care has been a provider of home care and hospice services since 1883, making them the region’s most experienced Visiting Nurse Association. They are a nonprofit, serving 25 communities in the greater Nashua and Manchester areas. Their Hospice team cares for patients in their homes, in nursing facilities and in their 10-bed Community Hospice House. HHHC volunteers visit and provide support to patients and their families in all of those settings. Home Health & Hospice Care serves people from all cultural backgrounds, and it is important that their volunteer pool reflects the population they serve.

They are currently looking to increase the number of volunteers with non-English language skills. They have the greatest need for Spanish, French and Greek speakers, but would welcome volunteers from any background to broaden their collective diversity. When a patient and family is going through a difficult time, it may be a great comfort if they can offer a native language speaker to talk with and listen. Volunteers are required to complete the 33-hour hospice training to volunteer as companions or provide respite for caregivers. Their next training is a daytime series in the Spring. For more information, visit www.volunteergreaternashua.org and search for “Home Health and Hospice Care.”

Greater Nashua Food Council

Greater Nashua Food Council is a collaborative organization working with multiple agencies and community members to improve healthy food access in the region. Along with their partner, Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare Foundation, they are working to improve distribution of fresh produce and community gardening through volunteerism.

They currently need volunteers to help distribute fresh produce and pantry items at various community locations in Nashua. The distribution sites are open on Friday afternoons, and they need two people per site for a total of 10 volunteers. Nashua Soup Kitchen & Shelter will drop off all food items, a table and two chairs to each location, and volunteers will distribute to community members who come to the mobile pantry table. For more information, visit www.volunteergreaternashua.org and search for “Greater Nashua Food Council.”

The Youth Council

Since 1974, The Youth Council has grown to serve as a first point-of-contact for Greater Nashua families trying to get to the root of their child’s difficulties. Whether showing signs of possible mental health symptoms like depression or anxiety, experimenting with alcohol or other drugs or having difficulty in school, they offer best-practice programs to more than 700 Greater Nashua children and teens each year. They also track outcomes for everything they do. Their mission is to build strong families – free from abuse, addiction and court involvement with the help of their dedicated board of directors and talented staff.

The Youth Council has several volunteer opportunities available: Painting – The two-story high walls of the stairwell in their West Pearl Street building need painting. Scaffolding will be required for this task. If you have the proper equipment, they would love to create a more welcoming entrance for their clients. Waiting Room Decorating – They would like to decorate and maintain their waiting room and offices with plants and seasonal decorations. They’d love your help to ensure the families they serve enter a warm and welcoming environment. Recycling – The Youth Council believes in recycling, however it’s a challenge that their waste disposal company does not offer a recycling program. The Youth Council currently collect recyclables, and staff members bring them to a local recycling center. A volunteer to help with this would free up staff time to focus on serving youth and families. Court Diversion Committee Volunteer – The Court Diversion program works closely with local police departments to divert first-time and minor offenders from the court system, enabling the youths to be held accountable for their offense while remaining free of having a criminal record. The volunteer committee designs a strengths-based contract for the youth. Fundraising – The Youth Council hosts six fundraising activities throughout the year to support their Court Diversion, Suspension Center, Counseling, and Prevention Education programs. They would love a couple more volunteers to help coordinate, promote, or recruit donors for events. For more information, visit www.volunteergreaternashua.org and search for “The Youth Council.”

Sara Ceaser is the director of volunteer and community engagement for the United Way of Greater Nashua.

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