VOLUNTEER

Volunteers play an important role in Operation Our Town. Volunteers participate in community events to help us reach more people. Volunteers serve on Roundtables, the Steering Committee & the Board. Volunteers provide valuable services such as artwork & design, software development, and more.

We thank all our Operation Our Town volunteers. It is only through the support of active community members like yourselves that we will be able to take back our neighbor-hoods from illegal drugs and crime.

To volunteer with Operation Our Town, please submit an on-line application.  All information submitted for volunteer opportunities will be confidential and will only be shared with the Operation Our Town committee.

Operation Our Town roundtable groups are working on many critical focus areas, including housing, K-12 education, higher education, faith-based initiatives, volunteers, gangs, pharmacies, hotels/restaurants, retail, government, law enforcement, criminal/judiciary, health, human services, marketing and blight. For more information about becoming a Roundtable Member, Contact Us.

Complete list of roundtable members, partners and grant recipients
 

ON-LINE VOLUNTEER  APPLICATION  

Organizations/Programs that need volunteers:

Big Brothers/Big Sisters – Mentors to spend time with a child as a big brother or big sister.  Helping children in need reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one mentoring relationships with volunteers. Big Brothers: Adult male companionship on a one-to-one basis for boys (6-17) who need and want the service, contributing to better schools, brighter futures, and stronger communities for all. Big Sister: Adult female companionship on a one-to-one basis for girls (6-17) who need and want the service, contributing to better schools, brighter futures, and stronger communities for all.

If interested, please contact Peg Breckinridge at (814) 944-6129
or pabreckbbbs@aol.com

The ROCK Program (Reaching Out to Community Kids) – Volunteers needed for their after-school program for children in kindergarten through 12th grade at 2nd Avenue United Methodist Church in Altoona.  The program is held on Wednesday evenings from 4:30-7:00 during the school year.  The program provides a hot meal, structured game time, physical recreation period, art time, and instruction focused on positive life choices.

If interested, please contact Danny Billetter at (814) 502-3676
 or sandwichgenius@yahoo.com

Evergreen Manors/Gloria Gates Memorial Foundation – Volunteers needed to help with the after-school program to work with youth ages 4 to 12 years old during the after school program held from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Volunteers are needed to attend one or more days per week to help with small group educational activities. They would like volunteers to attend on a weekly or monthly basis to teach special interests topics such as science, crafts, or storytelling.  They would also like to have a choir if they can find a volunteer who knows how to sing.

If interested, please contact Toni Bilik at (814) 949-8838
or tonibilik@winbeam.com

Family Resource Center – Is offering a free Mentoring/Homework Help Program for Blair County students in grades 1-6 and is in need of volunteers to be mentors/tutors.  The mentoring/tutoring sessions take place at the Family Resource Center, 5414 Sixth Avenue, Altoona.  The program is held throughout the school year and each child is scheduled a one-hour session per week.  Hours available for tutoring sessions are Monday-Thursday 3:00-5:30.  All tutors undergo a training program and are required to have background checks and clearances.

If interested, please contact Susanna Tomlinson at the Family Resource Center, 941-7711 x405 or stomlinson@unitedwayofblaircounty.org.

Wednesday Evening Family Night – This program seeks to aid youth in making better choices and becoming their best-self through a faith-based program of discipleship.  Organized by Bellwood Calvary United Methodist Church, weekly attendance averages 40+ children (ages 18 months to 15 years old), 13 teachers and aides, plus 12-16 adults for Bible studies.  A meal is served at 6 pm to all participants.  Volunteer serving and/or cleanup crews are needed from 6 pm to 7 pm to help with the meal and resource volunteers are needed to help mentor children through the difficulties of coping with their world.  All volunteers require appropriate clearances. 

If interested, please contact Pastor Donna Vaux at
(814) 632-8439 after 11 am, or donnavaux@cpcpastors.org

The Beacon: A Youth Outreach Project – Adult Christian role models are needed to build relationships with and encourage “at-risk” youth to make beneficial decisions in their lives.  Services are provided in a safe, Christian environment through professionally supported and structured activities. The program provides structured athletic activity or game time, snack and relaxed peer-based discussion period.  Meets Friday nights from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. at the Salvation Army, 6th Avenue, Altoona.  All volunteers are required to complete an application, interview and provide appropriate clearances.

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Jerry Rice, Program Director, at jbricepad@verizon.net or (814) 207-7830.