TO VOLUNTEER OR NOT?

Volunteering is a way for future health professionals to learn first hand about problems facing different populations in our community. During the 2008-2009 MUSC students participated in volunteer service throughout the Low Country in a variety of ways offering a surplus of 18,116.45 hours of support.

If volunteering in the Charleston community interests you or your group, but you cannot decide where to start, call us at 792-5138 or stop by the MUSC GIVES BACK office located at the Harper Center. You can even browse our website at www.musc.edu/muscgivesback for suggestions where you can GIVEBACK!

SCHEDULED VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

August 16, 2009
First Day Festival, 723-3600
csmith@dnlcc.org
DNLCC will be an exhibitor at the First Day Festival at Liberty Square, SC Aquarium & Charleston Maritime Center. Volunteers are needed to distribute school supplies and assist with the activities for children. Shifts include: 11am-1pm, 1pm-3pm, and 3pm-5pm.

August 17-22, 2009
Trident Literacy Association Book Sale, 747-2223
echepenik@tridentlit.org
Used Book sale to raise funds for Trident Literacy Program on 1650 Sam Rittenburg Boulevard, Village Shopping Center. Volunteers needed to sort and price books and to help on the day of the sale.

September 19, 2009
MUSC Wellness Center, 792-6610
2 Mile Run & Walk
lenharme@musc.edu
Volunteers are needed for the 2Mile Run & Walk, which will take place at the Medical University of South Carolina, beginning and ending at the Harper Student Center. The duration of the event will be from 7am-10am, and volunteers will be needed for course support. Please contact Mary Lenhardt at the MUSC Wellness Center for additional information.

September 24-26, 2009
American Heart Association, 853-1597
Lowcountry American Heart Walk
kate.mcclain@heart.org
Support the American Heart Association by volunteering for the Lowcountry American Heart Walk on September 26, 2009 at . Volunteer opportunities include: Volunteering on September 24-26 for various duties. (from labeling banners to heavy lifting) and assisting with the walk at the actual site at Liberty Square, Downtown in front of the SC Aquarium, with the actual walk beginning at 9am; Including a set-up at 7am and Registration at 8am. Please contact Katie McClain for additional questions/concerns.

September 26, 2009
Make-A-Wish Foundation of SC, 853-7880
5th Annual Waves and Wishes 5K Run/Walk
awilder@mawfsc.org
Volunteers needed on the day of the race at Folly Beach-Edwin S. Taylor Fishing Pier to help with registration,set-up, water stations, course, and finish line. Volunteers also needed the week before the race to stuff runner bags. (Please mention MUSC Gives Back when you call or email)

October 31, 2009
American Lung Association of South Carolina, 556-8541
Fight for Air Run/Walk
rdowns@lungsc.org
We need volunteers to help with event set-up and the race route. If you are interested in forming a team, please contact us. We are fighting for the entire community to breathe as easily and healthfully as possible.

CHILDREN'S HEALTH

Charleston Area Children's Garden Project, 406-3993
dgoodwi@clemson.edu or www.childrensgardenproject.org
Join the CACGP in our mission to create safe and beautiful places in our community while working to eradicate childhood obesity and hunger. No gardening experience necessary, just a big heart and open mind. Garden sessions are Mon. through Sat. Please visit our website for detailed schedule and more info.

Mayor's Office of Children Youth and Families, 769-7715
greend@ci.charleston.sc.us
Be a mentor is a community wide initiative to recruit volunteers as mentors and connect them with children.
Various mentoring opportunities are available, Charleston, Mount Pleasant, North Charleston, West Ashley etc. Contact us for additional information.

Lowcountry Orphan Relief, 747-4099
cathy@clf1670.org
Volunteers do not need any special equipment. The work is mostly sorting and sizing clothing that has been donated. When we get requests from the agencies that have the children, volunteers fill the orders, picking out clothing, coats, pajamas, shoes and socks, underwear, toiletries, books and school supplies that have been requested for the children.

March of Dimes, 571-1776
mrepik@marchofdimes.com
Volunteers needed to attain data from events into database. Data-Entry office work and follow up with potential donors and volunteers.

Twenty First Century Community Learning Center After School Program, 937-6423
Cynthia_epps@charleston.k12.sc.us     
www.ccsdschools.com
After school academic enhancement and enrichment program which provides educational, social and recreational alternatives for elementary, middle and high school students. Volunteers can provide assistance with homework and art and recreational activities.

Noisette Foundation Lunch Buddies Program, 554-6399
foundation@noisettesc.com
Kids want a mentor/friend to look up to! Spend 1 hour each week on your lunch break with students at North Charleston, Mary Ford, and Chicora Elementary Schools and Morningside Middle School.

Big Brothers Big Sisters, 266-5256
www.becomeabig.org or lolayiwola@cydc.org
Want to make a positive difference in the life of a child? Being a Big Brother or Big Sister is about the magic of little moments. Brighten your world through friendship with a child. A variety of Volunteer opportunities are available to fit your schedule. Call about volunteering 3 to 4 times a month in your community or one hour a week at a local school. No special skills are required and training is provided.

HALOS- Helping and Lending Outreach Support, 953-3715
kate@charlestonhalos.org
Your assistance is needed to organize our Resource Closet, our storage unit, and in organizing events to raise funds/or supplies for various programs. Volunteers may assist with specific administrative tasks like mailings, or by serving as a liaison between their group or social network and HALOS. We also need childcare providers during workshops, and help with food preparation or pick-up.

Outreach Learning Center at St. Matthews, 579-0420
www.outreachlearningcenter@gmail.com
www.connectinghands.org
Volunteers are needed for the following programs:
1. AS Kids (after school program): Help with homework Mon-Th 3:00-5:30PM during the school year.
2. ESL for adults. Knowledge of another language is not necessary.
Training is provided. Classes meet Tues, Wed and, Th from 9:30-11:30AM and Mon/Wed from 6:30-8:30PM

Communities In School, 740-6793
cwinders@cischarleston.org
Make a difference in the life of a child, become a mentor or tutor with Communities in Schools! We have plenty of opportunity to become mentors or tutors. Please contact us if interested.

Heart Health- MUSC Children's Hospital, 792-4717
catjan@musc.edu
Heart Health is a pediatric weight management program. We offer fitness sessions for our participants and need volunteers to work out with the kids. Help overweight kids learn to move their bodies and lose weight! Work with 4-5 children at a time within gym setting (this does not happen often). Sign up for your preferred time! If you are interested in volunteering please feel free to contact Janet at 792-4717.

Eagle Harbor Boys Ranch, 843-688-5995
www.eagleharborkids.org or liz@eagleharborkids.org
Brighten a child's day by simply sending an encouraging card. You can make a difference in a child's life by encouraging him to excel in school, sports, and most importantly LIFE. We have many volunteer opportunities to help make a difference in a child's life. Please contact for more information.

The Dee Norton Lowcountry Children's Center, 723-36300
csmith@dnlcc.org or dnlcc.org
Child Advocate volunteers work directly with the children, playing games, reading books and generally spending time with them. Shifts are usually two hours anytime between 8:30-5 Monday through Friday; however we are very flexible and will work with your schedule. Some volunteers come a few times a week, some come in once a week and some once a month, so it is really up to you to dedicate your own hours. An orientation/training and background check is required.

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Special Olympics South Carolina, 795-6226
LucySwaffield@bellsouth.net
Coaches are needed for a roller skating program that will be held at Music in Motion Family Fun Center in Summerville. You will conduct practices and prepare athletes for competitions. Please contact Lucy Swaffield.

Rein and Shine: Horses that Heal, 849-0964
admin@reinandshine.org or www.reinandshine.org
Volunteers needed to help with our therapeutic horseback riding lessons for children and adults with disabilities. Volunteers are needed for barn maintenance and administrative tasks. No experience necessary but we do require a 1 1/2 hour training session of lesson and feed prior to begin. Contact Katie Boehm for additional information.

City of Charleston Dept. of Recreation, 769-8284
daviss@ci.charleston.sc.us
Volunteers are needed to facilitate activities. Please visit http://www.calendar.yahoo.com/shellicityofcharleston
Unified Swim - Thursday 5:30pm-6:30pm June 11-Aug 1(W.L. Stephens-West Ashley)

Charleston Miracle League, 763-2513
MiracleLeagueED@gmail.com
Charleston Miracle League 2009 Spring Season!!
Volunteers needed on March 7-May 2, Every Saturday from 9AM-1PM and Thursdays at 3:30PM. Duties included: Buddy with Players, Be a Fan in the Stands, Assist with Registration, concessions, and announcing. Also come participate in Bridging the Gap through basketball Fundraiser with the Cooper River Bridge Run on April 4th, this year Run or Walk the Bridge for something more than the view!

Disability Resource Center, 225-5080
jmarsh@drcilc.org
This need is urgent! We could use volunteers on Wednesdays and Fridays to assist with refurbishing equipment and reorganizing our closets and cabinets. Please contact for additional information.

WOMEN'S HEALTH

Center for Women, 763-7333
www.infoatctwomen.org
We are an educational and developmental center dedicated to making personal and professional success an everyday occurrence in the lives of women in the lowcountry. We would love for you to visit our website and submit a volunteer application as we have events for this coming year. Please see www.c4women.org

SENIOR HEALTH

Sweetgrass Court Memory Care, 971-7756
activities@sweetgrasscourtmcc.com
Volunteers needed to spend time with our residents, assist with Bingo and other activities. Come make a difference
in a Senior's life!! For additional information please contact the office.

Charleston Area Senior Citizens, Inc. 722-4127
volunteercoord@charlestonareaseniors.com
Charleston Area Senior Citizens provides a family environment for those Senior Citizens who benefit from our services. We need volunteers to assist in the kitchen, office, various activities, lunch duty, etc. Please contact the office for further detail.

Respite Care Ministries, 478-2796
respitecare@comcast.net
Volunteers are needed to socialize with our memory impaired participants and to assist them in our daily activities
and projects. Come share in our fun and bring our wonderful participants moments of pure joy!

Franke at Seaside, 856-4727
eanderson@frankeatseaside.org
Volunteers needed to assist residents in writing their life history. A booklet is available to make the conversation
meaningful. Other opportunities also available. Contact Betsy Anderson for additional information.

LOW INCOME and INDIGENT

Fields to Families, 881-6798
info@fieldstofamilies.org
Gleaning(harvesting vegetables) at Boone Hall and Rosenbank Farm at 9am on Wednesday and Friday. Gleaning usually lasts about 2 hours, but you may leave anytime you become tired or have other commitments.

Noisette Foundation Prison Ministry, 554-6399
foundation@noisettesc.com
Provide faith-based Outreach to Ex-Offenders who are seeking a healthy new life. Group Mentoring and Faith Sharing at Star Gospel Mission, Fridays, 7-9 PM. Help someone reach their potential!

Charleston Habitat for Humanity Building and ReSTORE, 722-7145
laurel@charlestonhabitat.org
www.charlestonhabitat.org
ReStore Operations Assistant Needed! Do you have 3 hours to spare every week? We need people who can help with managing our ReStore (re-use, re-sale, and recycle store). We are open Mon-Fri. from 10am-5pm and Sat. from 9am-4pm. If you could help for any 3-hour period, once a week, this would be a HUGE help! The ReStore is our resource for raising funds and awareness for our housing mission!

Cares Clinic @ East Cooper Community Outreach, 876-7097
cares.clinic@gmail.com
The C.A.R.E.S. Clinic is a student-run clinic, in which the students see uninsured patients from the greater Charleston area. We need students from PA and MD programs to interview and to examine patients before presenting to our volunteer physicians. We also need volunteer physicians to help keep our clinic open. We also have pharmacy students who are welcomed to volunteer. We need additional pre-clinical students to help run the office. Please sign-up online at www.thecaresclinic.org

Sea Island Habitat for Humanity, 559-4009
Restorevista@seaislandhabitat.org or seaislandhabitat.org
Sea Island needs volunteers on the construction site Tues- Sat, at the Restore Mon-Sat, and at the office Mon-Fri. Please contact us with any additional questions, we love to have your help!

Crisis Ministries, 723-9477 ext. 124
bcashman@charlestonhomeless.org
Supervise and help guests with job searching and resume writing and other computer need at our Homeless Employment and Learning Program Center. Duties: Employment Specialist on certain expectations that must be kept in the lab. Make sure our guests are using the lab for the right purposes. Qualifications: Working background on Microsoft programs.

Lowcountry Food Bank, 747-8146 ext. 113
efisher@lcfbank.org
Volunteers needed to inspect, sort, sanitize, and repackage donated food for distribution to 300 plus non-profit agencies. Serving the poor and hungry of coastal South Carolina. Volunteers are needed to help with donor acknowledgement letters on Tuesday Nights from 5PM-7 PM.

GENERAL COMMUNITY

MUSC Medical Center and ART, 792-3580
kuderk@musc.edu
Join us for un-limited volunteer opportunities to serve all areas of the Medical Center and Ashley River Tower. Go to www.muschelath.com/volunteer

Keep Charleston Beautiful- Clean City Clara Education Program, 879-7501
scalesj@ci.charleston.sc.us or visit www.keepcharlestonbeautiful.org
We are looking for motivated people to help with our litter prevention program. Volunteers visit local schools with our staff and assist in the program by bringing Clean City Clara our pelican mascot to life. Programs run throughout the Fall Mon-Fri. You can help out just once or come every week. It is a fun and fulfilling opportunity.

American Cancer Society- Hope Lodge, 958-0931
Sundi.herring@cancer.org
Join us at Hope Lodge if you would like to make a difference in the lives of cancer patients and their families. Volunteers are needed weekdays (various shifts available) to assist with checking guest in/out, answering phones, sharing fellowship, etc. Volunteers (individual/group) are needed weeknights to provide nutritious meals.

Parents Anonymous of SC, Inc., 747-0480, x 26
www.paofsc.org
Volunteers are needed to facilitate support groups for Parents Anonymous of SC, Inc. in the Tri-County area. Training is required and provided at no cost. Meetings are held weekly. Volunteers must provide own transportation. Parents Anonymous is the oldest child abuse prevention organization in the US. Join us today to help strengthen families in the Tri County Area!

Meals on Wheels, 881-9350
akral@ecmow.org
Meals on Wheels are in need of volunteer regular and substitute drivers to deliver meals to our homebound recipients. Driving routes are approximately 2 hours, Monday - Friday. Please contact for any additional information.

People Against Rape, 745-0144
parvolunteer@knology.net
People Against Rape is looking for dedicated and passionate people to become volunteer victim advocates for the Tri-County area. Volunteers answer PAR 24-hr Crisis Hotline and accompany sexual assault victims @ the Hospital. The next volunteer training is Jan.-Feb. of 2009, check out our website, www.peopleagainstrape.com.

Adopt-A-Highway, 722-5940 ext.132
acrouch@clemson.edu
We need groups of volunteers to adopt a two mile section of road to clean. We schedule four cleanups a year and ask groups to complete a report card after the cleanup and return the card to us. After we get a signed agreement form and the group participates in a cleanup, SCDOT will put up a sign at the adopted section with the group's name on it. SCDOT provides trash bags, safety vests and gloves for groups to use. Contact Angela Crouch for additional information.

Ronald McDonald House Charities, 723-7957
www.rmhcharleston.org
Volunteers are always needed to prepare meals, including nightly dinners and Saturday brunches! House volunteers are also always needed. Call or visit website to get started!

HOSPICE HEALTH

Southern Care Hospice, 569-0870
ShereeLaDuke214@aol.com
Southern Care Hospice is a special kind of caring for terminally ill patients and their families in our area. If you have a little time to donate and would truly like to make a difference in your life and others, become a member of our Circle of Care.

Odyssey Healthcare, 554-4048
dtoth@odsyhealth.com
We are in search of friendly, responsible, people to support patients by providing pet therapy. Volunteers will visit
Hospice patients with pets for companionship. Please feel free to contact us for any additional questions or concerns.

Lutheran Hospice, 296-3647
kbarham@lutheranhospice.org
If you have a few hours to spare each month, we would love to work with you in helping provide quality, end of life care to our patients. Training provided.

Carolina Hospice Care, 849-5910
info@carolinahospicecare.com
Volunteers are needed to provide compassionate care for our patients and their families. Contact Katie Hume, volunteer coordinator, for information about training.

Sweetgrass Court (Oakdale Heights), 971-7756
Volunteers needed to spend time with our residents, assist with Bingo and other activities. Come make a difference in a Senior's life!! For additional information please contact the office or contact ttolliver@5sqc.com

A Caring Heart Hospice, 637-1558 or 225-2331
Acaringheart.org
We need volunteers to support and be an advocate to the hospice mission. Student volunteers who love people, have a compassionate heart, and are interested in providing support to patients and families are encouraged to volunteer.  If you can spare 1-3 hours a week, we are flexible! Call for more information!

Winyah Community Hospice, 554-7161
Rclary@winyahcare.net
Summer volunteers are needed! Help patients and families with a few hours of your summer vacation. Maintain
your nursing skills of compassion, caring and helping someone in need. If you have a love for people, we would
love to have you on our team. Call Kathy for more information.

ISSUE: August 2009