Please check out these local volunteer opportunities:
APPRISE is the State Health Insurance Assistance Program for ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø's Medicare beneficiaries. It is located at 1055 Oak St. Indiana, Pa. They are looking for counselors to help others understand their Medicare insurance benefits and coverage, compare Medicare prescription drug plans, and screen for and complete applications for the government programs that help pay Medicare expenses. Training will be provided. To apply, call 724-349-4500.
The Alice Paul House, located in Indiana, offers services to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other violent crimes. They are seeking individuals who want to volunteer to help the victims. Alice Paul House provides a free training course that all volunteers must go through. Volunteering would include answering the 24-hour crisis hotline, providing assistance with child care, empowering victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other crimes to help themselves. After training, volunteers are responsible for three four-hour hotline shifts a month.
Clearances Needed
Child Abuse and Criminal Background
If interested, please contact Melodee Gett, education specialist/volunteer coordinator, at 724-349-444 or melodee@alicepaulhouse.org.
American Language Institute
The American Language Institute (ALI), located in room 206 in Eicher Hall on campus, is seeking individuals who want to help international students learn English and culture in America. It is important for the volunteer to have an understanding of different cultures and language learning, but not necessary. The volunteering is called American Culture and English (ACE) Tutoring, which is a tutoring session in the format of one-to-two interaction in English meeting twice a week on either Monday/Wednesday or Tuesday/Thursday.
If interested, contact the ACE Tutoring supervisor with any questions at ALI-tutoring@iup.edu. When you are ready to apply, complete the ACE Tutor Application and submit it to the ALI main office, 214 Eicher Hall. We accept applications year-round.
Beacon Ridge, located at 1515 Wayne Avenue in Indiana, is looking for assistance with activities in their Activities Department. Interested volunteers must get along well with others.
If interested, please visit the office to complete an application. If you have questions, contact Debbie Fenner at 724-349-5300.
Birthright, located at 271 Philadelphia Street in Indiana, is looking to train staff counselors to help support women through unplanned pregnancies, answer crisis calls, and welcome and care for walk-ins. Computer skills are needed to complete the job, and volunteers must be able to commit to at least three hours a week.
If interested, send a resume to Deb Herman at deb@birthrightindianacounty.org.
Communities at Indian Haven, located on 1675 Saltsburg Avenue in Indiana, is looking for volunteers to play musical instruments, play games with, and sing for groups within. Volunteers must be friendly, outgoing, positive, and able to read and write.
Clearances Needed
Criminal Background (facility provides free of charge)
If interested, please visit the office, send in your resume, or call the office at 724-465-3900 to get in contact with Kim Cobaugh or Bernadette Hodak.
First Unitarian Universalist Church of Indiana is seeking four dynamic volunteers to assist in our Religious Education Department.
- Nursery Care Assistant: Assist the nursery care provider with our youngest children; nurturing a safe environment for young children, infants through age three, on Sunday mornings.
- Greeter/Classroom Assistant (Pre-kindergarten-1st grade): Assist to support the atmosphere for a Montessori-like curriculum for children. Tasks: Readying the art area, greeting children, setting up snacks for the end of class, and assisting the teacher.
- Classroom Assistant (second grade-fourth grade): Assist the classroom teacher with activities and lessons with our youth using a Unitarian Universalist Curriculum that focuses on sports, medicine, food, science, building, and exploring while learning about Unitarian Universalist history.
- Classroom Assistant (sixth grade-ninth grade): Assist the classroom teacher with activities and lessons with our youth using a Unitarian Universalist Curriculum that focuses on a long tradition of Unitarian questioning and searching, loving, kindness, and good works. Knowledge in child development is preferred. Prospective volunteers should send a resume to Penny Vick, 285 Two Lick Drive, Indiana, PA 15701, or email pennyvick@gmail.com.
Hopeful Hearts, a service of the VNA of Indiana County, located at 850 Hospital Road, Medical Arts Bldg. Suite 3000, is a nonprofit organization that supports grieving children, adolescents, and their families through grief groups. Hopeful Hearts is looking for volunteers to work with grieving children and families. Training is offered in September each year. Volunteers are also needed to help with fundraising events and office work.
Email hopefulhearts@vnaindiana.org or call 724-463-6340.
The Indiana County Humane Society, located at 65 Haven Drive in Indiana, is looking for volunteers to help in various ways with animals. Hours are very flexible, and help is always needed! Come help clean, play with cats, or take dogs on walks! This is an ongoing volunteer opening.
If interested, please stop by the office to complete an application, or contact Marie Twal or Lisa Grosch at 724-465-7387.
Continue your community service by volunteering locally with the Indiana Fire Association. On an annual basis, the IFA responds to over 600 fire and rescue calls throughout our service area. We operate out of two stations with two aerials, a heavy rescue, three engines, a brush, and two utility vehicles. Consider our student live-in program and spend your college years at IUP living and responding to fire calls from our station—at no charge! You can submit an application online or stop by the station at 501 Philadelphia Street.
The Indiana Free Library, located at 845 Philadelphia Street in Indiana, is looking for a volunteer shelver. You'll play an important role in helping the library better serve its patrons. Duties include shelving materials in the proper place in the library, checking the shelves to ensure that they are in order, and sorting carts of materials to be shelved. Must be at least sixteen years of age; confident with arranging English-language materials alphabetically and numerically; able to push and pull moderately heavy loads and to kneel, bend, climb, and stretch frequently; detail-oriented, precise, reliable, responsible, and able to work independently.
Training is provided, and student must be willing to commit to at least a full term (fall semester, spring semester, or summer session) of volunteer service by working from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. one or two days a week (excluding Fridays and Sundays).
Clearances Needed
Child Abuse and Criminal Background, FBI Fingerprints (if non-PA resident)
If interested, please visit the library to complete an application.
Contact Person: John Swanson 724-465-8841 or iflshelving@gmail.com.
Indiana Players Inc., located at 725 Philadelphia Street in Indiana, is looking for help with box office ticket sales, ushers to assist patrons, stage crew to set and change the stage for scenes, and with other miscellaneous duties as needed, such as costuming, make-up, costume changes, etc. Volunteers must be proficient in math, enjoy working with the public, and be willing to work hard and get dirty as well as clean up.
Volunteers are needed on Saturdays to help clean up, and on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays for help with performances.
If interested, please call the office at 724-464-0725.
The CARE Center of Indiana County is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to improving the lives of abused, neglected, and at-risk children and their families through the Children's Advocacy Center that supports the identification, prevention, and intervention of child abuse and neglect. We promote healthy families through Family Preservation Services, Nurturing Parent Groups, Supervised Visitation, and Community Outreach and Education. We provide a safe and child-friendly environment for children who may have been sexually abused to tell their stories in order to promote their healing by ending the abuse and by helping to stop the perpetrator from abusing other children.
Volunteers are always welcome. If you are interested in volunteering, please visit the .
The Jimmy Stewart Museum, located at 835 Philadelphia Street in Indiana, is looking for volunteers to assist their guests at the ticket booth and museum, as well as to help with other light duties. Volunteers should be friendly and well-spoken. This is an ongoing opportunity.
If interested, please visit the office or contact Tim Harley, director, or Pauline Simms, volunteer, at 724-349-6112.
Moorehead House, a senior living community located at 116 Madison Circle in Indiana, is looking for volunteers at 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. every Saturday in April. Volunteers are needed to call Bingo, bowl with the residents, etc.
If interested, please contact Anna Bernard at 724-465-9606.
The Ark of Learning Tutoring Program is a free service offered to all students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade in all subjects. We are currently tutoring on Tuesday through Thursday from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Each session includes a one-on-one session with an ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø (IUP) student and lasts for one-half hour. Each night, students also participate in enrichment activities, including music, arts and crafts, computer lab, Scouting programs, and community outreach presentations. We serve a nutritionally balanced dinner each night from 5:00 to 5:30 pm. Indiana Area Jr. and Sr. High students are able to walk to the program after school. Elementary students in the Indiana Area School District may take a bus from their elementary school to our building via application. Students in other parts of the county are invited to attend.
Clearances Required
Child Abuse, Criminal Background, and FBI Fingerprints.
To apply, contact Ashley Clouser, 724-465-2530, or email ashley.clouser@use.salvationarmy.org.
St. Bernard's Regional Catholic School is looking for before- and after-school help. Participants in this program can either volunteer their time or be paid through federal work-study. You would tutor the children, read to them, coordinate activities, etc. The students are in elementary school. St. Bernard's needs people for before school, 7:45-9:00 a.m., and after school, 3:00-5:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. You would pick a few times a week that work best in your schedule. St. Bernard's is looking for people immediately and for next semester. In order to participate, you will need your ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø criminal background check, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø child abuse clearances, and your own transportation. (FBI background check for out-of-state residents in lieu of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø background).
In order to participate in this program, you must contact Denise Swope, St. Bernard's principal. Denise can be contacted by phone at 724-465-7139.
The United Way of Indiana County, located at 982 Philadelphia Street, is looking for volunteers in several skill areas to help with several special events. It also has a need for volunteers to help assemble mailing packets, make non-sales telephone calls/emails, and, if possible run errands locally in Indiana County only. Skills needed for the job include an ability to use office equipment, such as a fax machine and copier, and good communication skills by way of telephone, email, etc. Hours are variable.
If interested, please send your resume to Terri Dominick at uwdominick@verizon.net. For additional questions, call Dominick at 724-463-0277.
ViaQuest Hospice is looking for IUP volunteers!
With local patients in Indiana along with extremely flexible volunteering hours, ViaQuest Hospice is the perfect volunteer opportunity for those who have an interest in providing companionship and respite to the local elderly population.
The mission of ViaQuest is to assist patients in maintaining dignity and quality of life in their final days while also providing support for caregivers, families, and loved ones. Serving as a hospice volunteer is an excellent way to fulfill course service requirements for a wide range of majors (gerontology, social work, nursing, etc.), gain experience in your chosen field (or explore a new field!), boost a resume, build a network, and to grow as a person.
Volunteers can help at times that are convenient for them; with times available during mornings, afternoons, early evenings, weekdays, and weekends. There is no minimum or maximum hour limit.
When volunteering, students will help provide emotional support, companionship, and practical support to patients and their families. Volunteers have the opportunity to share kindness, happiness, and their company with those who truly appreciate it most.
Clearances are required. Please apply to Kimberly Dipiazza, 724-292-7696.
The VNA, located at 850 Hospital Road Suite 3000 in Indiana, is looking for volunteers to keep patients company, run errands, read to patients, write letters, play games, and encourage patients to tell their life stories. Volunteers also work in the office and help with bereavement follow-up with families.
Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and have a valid driver's license. Twenty hours of training provided. Work will be done in the office and at patients' homes and facilities in Indiana County. Two to four hours a week is desired.
Clearances Needed
Criminal Background
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Ms. Cicola between office hours of 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 724-463-8711 or by email at dgiever@vnaindiana.org.
The YMCA of Indiana County, located at 60 North Ben Franklin Road in Indiana, has volunteer opportunities for students looking to get involved in the Indiana community. There are a variety of opportunities available, many of which will last throughout the school year. These include:
- Adult sports programs
- Senior programs
- Fitness Center and Recreation Center Attendants
- Preschool programs
- Coaching in youth sports programs (soccer, baseball, basketball, etc.)
- Teen volunteer center
- Senior Center volunteer
- Office aid/greeter
- And more!
Currently looking for volunteer coaches for our Middle School Enrichment Program and Adult Sports programs.
- Instruction will be provided when needed.
- Contact Paula Lieb, Director of Sports, at 724-463-9622 or paulalieb@icymca.org.
Clearances Needed
Child Abuse and Criminal Background
If interested, please call Adam Fleek at 724-463-9622, or stop in for a volunteer application.