Volunteer East Tennessee

Food Packing (C19)

Volunteers are needed to pre-pack food items for families during COVID-19 response. Healthy Volunteer Guidelines If you are taking part in volunteer projects during this time, we ask that you observe the following precautions: Please do not volunteer if you are sick or feeling unwell. Please do not volunteer if you have been near someone who is sick. Please do not volunteer if you have experienced domestic or international travel to high-risk areas with known COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) spread, or travel by cruise, in the previous 14 days. Please do not volunteer if you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19. Please do not shake hands with anyone if you are attending a volunteer project. Please be advised that staff may ask you to leave the volunteer project if you show signs of illness or if you insist on making physical contact.

8/4/20 9:00 AM + more

Check on a Senior Citizen - Volunteer Reassurance Specialist

Are you interested in helping your neighbor reduce social isolation and loneliness? CONTACT Reassurance is a program of CONTACT Care Line, Inc., East Tennessee’s oldest crisis hotline. Safety concerns and social isolation threaten the ability for seniors to live independently. CONTACT Reassurance provides trained volunteers to make daily calls, in the comfort of their own home, to seniors who live alone, and have little to no caregiver support. We want your help! Our mission is to help older adults maintain an independent living status and reduce their social isolation. Our program cannot thrive if it weren’t for our dedicated volunteers. WHAT WE DO: The Reassurance Program provides a daily telephone call from a volunteer to at-risk seniors, who live alone with little or no caregiver support. WHAT WILL YOU DO: This volunteer opportunity is for those interested in checking on senior citizens by giving them a daily social call or by giving them a safety check call (1-2 times a day). Medication reminders may also be included in the calls. After an initial 4 hour training course, you would make your calls from the comfort of your home. TRAINING REQUIREMENTS: Reassurance volunteers must be 18 years or older Complete a 4-hour training program 3 hours of apprenticeship with the Reassurance Coordinator Must sign a pledge of confidentiality Comply with the policies and procedures of Contact Care Line, Inc. OTHER REQUIREMENTS: Personal phone Personal computer at home CURRENT SHIFT OPENINGS: MONDAY - 2PM-5PM TUESDAY - 9AM-12PM THURSDAY - 7PM-9PM FRIDAY - 7PM-10PM SATURDAY - 9AM-12PM SATURDAY - 7PM-9PM SUNDAY - 9AM-12PM SUNDAY - 7PM-10PM Once the training and an apprenticeship is completed, shifts can be covered from home.

Through 1/1/21

Listeners Wanted

If you knew you could save a life, just by listening, would you? CONTACT Care Line Crisis Line Specialist might be the volunteer work for you! As a CONTACT Crisis Line Specialist, you could provide hope and even save a life - just by listening. Completion of training is the first step to becoming a CONTACT Care Line Crisis Line Specialist and responding to calls on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL). The Art of Active Listening training provides hands-on experience helping people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. The training program teaches powerful listening skills everyone can use in their daily lives with family, friends, and co-workers. It enables participants to develop empathetic, nonjudgemental listening techniques. This training offers important information about how to respond to a variety of problems in skilled, helpful ways. Practice sessions in a supportive, nonjudgemental atmosphere help participants begin to use their new skills and gain confidence as they discover the value of constructive, caring listening and responding. TRAINING REQUIREMENTS: Contact Care Line Crisis Line Specialist Training includes 16 sessions of the Art of Active Listening Course, 2-day Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), and apprenticeship observatinos. The Art of Listening training requires active participation in large and small group discussion, role-play activities, and apprenticeship observation. WHERE WOULD I VOLUNTEER? CONTACT's office is in Oak Ridge, TN. You would volunteer to work the crisis phones from our office. Shifts are 4 hours long (10am-2pm, 2pm-6pm and 6pm-10pm). If you are a student at University of TN in Knoxville, we have a crisis call room on campus. You may volunteer to work the crisis phones from that center on campus. We NEED volunteers, so we ask that you volunteer as much as you would like. Most volunteers try to complete one shift per week - some do more! Contact Care Line is East Tennessee’s oldest crisis hotline, answering crisis and other calls for help 365 days a year since November 3, 1973. Founded to address the need for immediate access telephone crisis services, our goal is to provide round-the-clock access for people in need. Through services that emphasize confidential, non-judgmental, and compassionate listening, CONTACT’s trained volunteers alleviate despair, isolation, distress, and suicidal feelings in callers from East Tennessee and beyond. There are no fees for our services. We have a local crisis line and we are the only local affiliate of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Contact is grateful for the many organizations who help share the Lifeline phone number (1-800-273-TALK). But, you can be part of the only organization in the area that answers those calls. And, we believe local folks like you provide the best care for those in our area.

Through 1/1/21

Volunteer with Knox Area Rescue Ministries & KARM Stores

Knox Area Rescue Ministries & KARM Stores has a variety of volunteer opportunities. Express interest below to find out more!

Through 12/31/20

Deliver Meals to Seniors (C19)

The CAC Mobile Meals program is the home-delivered meal program for senior citizens in Knoxville and Knox County (called Meals-On-Wheels in other areas). Mobile Meals are delivered to over 1,000 homebound seniors, every day Monday - Friday to every zip code in Knoxville. With the increase in client count since the COVID-19 crisis we are now serving more seniors than ever and have 70 routes daily to cover. Deliveries take about 2 hours to complete, and pickup time is anytime between 9:45 am - 11:00 am. A short orientation is conducted before leaving for your first delivery. Volunteer opportunities are available seasonally (summer with kids), regularly scheduled weekly, bi-weekly, monthly route, or as a substitute whenever you are available. Mobile Meals has implemented a safety plan for staff and volunteers that includes social distancing, face coverings, and special delivery instructions that will be discussed prior to arrival.

Through 12/31/20

Help Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee support mentees' families!

You can volunteer with BBBS-ETN from the comfort of your home! 1. Host an online activity for Matches. 2. Lead trainings for Bigs, Littles, and families. 3. Help BBBS-ETN ensure families' essential needs are met. Learn more about virtual volunteer opportunities by emailing Development@TennesseeBig.org!

Through 12/31/20