Liz Klein has been a volunteer at the LightHouse for three and a half years, working with LightHouse Wellness & Enrichment Coordinator Molly Irish. This year, Liz, who has low vision and has received mobility and technology training at the LightHouse, is one of several whose dedication and exceptional, above and beyond volunteer service to the LightHouse was celebrated with a special award at September’s Volunteer Recognition event.

Before volunteering for the LightHouse, Liz was an Administrative Assistant for 20 years, supporting physicians and staff at a doctor’s office. When she retired she looked for ways to keep up the daily pace; one Friday evening she wandered into the LightHouse during one of Molly’s legendary Bingo and dinner get-togethers and noticed there were a few things Molly could use assistance with. Since that night Liz has been a constant and much valued help to Molly.

Liz tells us that what she loves most about volunteering is that it gets her out of the house and keeps her mind busy. She loves interacting with the students and staff and feels that volunteering is a highlight of her week. She said, “I really love working with Molly. The people keep me coming back and it’s so much fun…I’ve made a lot of friends and enjoy coming here to knit with the Beanies for Babies Club on Thursdays.” She adds, philosophically, “Eventually, it might be me that needs help so why not help now? I enjoy helping.”

Liz’s favorite volunteer memory is a recent one – our recent Volunteer Recognition event where she was given her award. “I was so surprised! I was told that I was nominated but I shooed it away and didn’t give it much thought. Even when someone asked if I was going to dress up, it still didn’t register, but boy what a surprise to be called up there.”

We salute Liz, who is part of an ongoing LightHouse tradition, from building houses to knitting baby caps, from blood drives to toy drives, all done by blind people for the wider community.

We invite you to volunteer with the LightHouse! There are three easy ways to apply. Contact Justine Harris-Richburgh at volunteer@lighthouse-sf.org, call her at 415-694-7320 or complete your volunteer registration online.

“The program is fantastic and I think it provides a valuable service for people that need it, but I think the part that people that don’t understand is that it’s a two-way street – I get as much if not more than the person I’m working with.” –LightHouse Personal Services volunteer Jack Hankin

Every day our volunteers prove how special they are by giving their time and energy to LightHouse students. There are a myriad of opportunities available for willing volunteers, including one-on-one services such as reading mail or assisting with grocery shopping, partnering to exercise and stay fit, helping with youth field trips, working at Enchanted Hills Camp in Napa or lending a hand at one of our offices. And every year we celebrate and honor our active volunteers with a gathering that recognizes and expresses our appreciation for all that they do.

LightHouse volunteers positively rock! If you have volunteered with us anytime in the last year and a half, please join us in a celebration this month recognizing you and your awesome altruistic spirit. Don’t miss the party. Call 415-694-7343 or email 1altruism@lighthouse-sf.org for more details.

Not yet a LightHouse volunteer? What better time to join than now?! Our next volunteer orientation is just around the corner and we would love to have you join us. The registration is simple: call 415-694-7366 or email 1altruism@lighthouse-sf.org for more information. You can get a head start by registering directly at https://lighthouse-sf.org/donate/volunteer/.

When Kelly McCarthy, who has low vision, started attending Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind as a youngster, she had no idea where life would take her. It was when she worked at Enchanted Hills as a Counselor-in-Training for the Adults with Special Needs camp session that she realized she had a knack for supporting others.

Kelly, an East Bay resident who has worked off and on with the LightHouse, maintains an incredibly busy volunteering schedule. To start with, she’s found the perfect volunteer job at Meals on Wheels, and they think so much of Kelly that they profiled her in their newsletter. Each week Kelly meets with Anne, a 75-year-old woman with low vision who was looking for a reader through Meals on Wheels’ “Friendly Visitor” program. When after three years she was finally matched with Kelly, it meant a lot to Anne, who told Meals on Wheels, “I’ve been grateful for many things in my life, and Kelly is at the top of that list.” Kelly, for her part, enjoys seeing Anne so much that the one-hour assignment often turns into a three-hour visit: they chat, Kelly helps Anne with tasks, reads to her and is even teaching Anne how to better use an iPad. “I really enjoy it,” she beams.

In addition, throughout the week, Kelly also finds herself at the East Bay Center for the Blind, where she makes ceramics to give to family, friends and the elderly whom she visits. And then there’s her volunteer work with Senior Centers Without Walls, a telephone conference service in the East Bay providing remote support and companionship to seniors with low vision who are unable to leave the house. And that’s still not all.

A soprano and longtime fan of the musical Phantom of the Opera, Kelly has been into vocal music since high school, where she sang in a choir, and college where she sang in a jazz group. Through volunteering she has reinvigorated her passion for singing by working with the Singing Messengers, a volunteer group that specializes in Broadway tunes and old standards. With 25 members, Kelly and the group sing predominately in senior centers and homes all over Contra Costa County.

We know that volunteering boosts self-confidence, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. Kudos to Kelly for setting a worthy example of volunteerism while reaping the rewards of her efforts. If you’d like to volunteer, the LightHouse has a multitude of opportunites. Start by visiting our volunteer page at https://lighthouse-sf.org/donate/volunteer/.

Want to make your summer more than just fun in the sun? Read on for these interesting and worthwhile volunteer opportunities.

Be a part of our video film team and get experience you can put on your resume
We’re putting together a crew to work on cutting edge video content promoting LightHouse programs and services. The LightHouse film crew will assist with production work, set design, transportation, operations tasks and more. An initial shoot will be conducted on an all-volunteer basis, with the chance of paid future work for crew members who excel. Ideal candidates are film school students, those with prior video experience, or those simply enthusiastic about getting into the field of video production. Experience is appreciated, but not required. Blind and visually impaired volunteers enthusiastic about getting into this line of work are encouraged to apply. Interviews start next month so apply now to be considered. Volunteers will be selected based solely on attitude and availability. Deadline to apply for this exciting opportunity is July 22, 2015.

East Bay Personal Services Volunteer
Interested in volunteering, but not psyched about commuting to San Francisco to do it? We have eager East Bay students waiting to be matched with you. By becoming a Personal Services Volunteer, you’ll be working with LightHouse students on a one-on-one basis to help them be more efficient in their lives. Typical tasks might include reading mail, grocery shopping (with or without the student), acting as a sighted guide at social or cultural events, transportation and more. Apply today to be considered.

Volunteer Driver
Do you love to drive the highways and byways in and outside the Bay Area? We offer our blind and low vision students a myriad of fun outings and special events each month and need a friendly and responsible driver to lead the way. If you are at least 21 years old, maintain a valid Class B or C (or higher) California commercial driver license, have infectious good energy and a bit of free time, we’d love to talk to you. You must have a clean driving history. Prior experience with people with disabilities is a plus, but not required.

Getting started with these or any of our many volunteer opportunities is super easy with several ways to apply: contact Justine Harris-Richburgh at volunteer@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7320 or register and schedule your interview online by going to https://lighthouse-sf.org/donate/volunteer/.