Tag Archive

Volunteer

It’s Easy to Volunteer and It’s Good For You, Too

02/13/2015 LightHouse Staff

Did you know that volunteering is good for you in all kinds of ways? In addition to the good feeling you get from making a difference to others, it can help you gain new skills, give you the chance to meet people and build your network, try different kinds of work before making a longer commitment, and sometimes lead to part or full-time paid employment. It may even improve your physical health by lowering your blood pressure.

“I am about to graduate from SFSU and I feel truly blessed to have worked with some of these students. They have inspired me and taught me that anything is possible and I’m so thankful.” –LightHouse Personal Services Volunteer Jacquelyn Orozco

If you are looking for volunteer opportunities check in with the LightHouse. We can match you with a blind or visually impaired student who could benefit greatly from your assistance, or provide you with other ways of contributing, such as helping us with the programs and services we offer.

The process is so simple:

Read about currently available volunteer opportunities.
Complete the easy online volunteer registration form.
LightHouse Volunteer Engagement Specialist Justine Harris-Richburgh will contact you to set up an initial appointment.
You’ll then get an invitation to participate in an orientation session. Volunteer Orientations are held one Saturday a month.

The next orientation is slated for Saturday, April 11 with orientations to follow one Saturday a month. For more information or to sign-up to attend an orientation, contact Justine Harris-Richburgh, Volunteer Engagement Specialist at volunteer@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7320.

LightHouse News

“Day of Giving” Blind Blood Drive is Thursday, January 22nd

01/08/2015 LightHouse Staff

On January 22^nd, the Bay Area blind community will band together to give back by giving blood. The LightHouse has teamed up with the American Red Cross, Northern California Blood Services Region for “Giving Blood, Giving Life: Bay Area Blind Community’s 3rd Annual Day of Giving” Blind Blood Drive on January 22, 2015. In addition to the LightHouse, the Orientation Center for the Blind and the Santa Clara Valley Blind Center will be community hosts of this exciting event.

Lisamaria Martinez, who is LightHouse Director of Community Services and is coordinating the drive, told us, “Last year’s Blind Blood Drive collected 108 usable units of blood, and we hope to move that figure up to 150 usable units in 2015. This is not just another blood drive. It’s a unique opportunity for Bay Area blind people and their friends and family to unite with the powerful goal of literally rolling up their sleeves and giving back, saving lives in our community.”

Our staff is excited about participating at our headquarters on January 22^nd. Please join us!

When: January 22, 2015, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Where: The LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 214 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Good news — all blood taken by the Red Cross in the Bay Area on January 22, 2015 will count toward our goal of 150 units! You can also participate at the following locations between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.:

Orientation Center for the Blind: 400 Adams St. – Albany
Santa Clara Valley Blind Center: 101 N. Bascom Ave. – San Jose
San Jose Blood Donation Center: 2731 North First St – San Jose
Oakland Blood Donation Center: 6230 Claremont Ave – Oakland
Contra Costa Blood Donation Center: 140 Gregory Lane – Pleasant Hill
Pleasanton Blood Donation Center: 5556-B Springdale Ave – Pleasanton
Fremont – Newark Blood Donation Center: 39227 Cedar Blvd – Newark

To schedule your appointment at any of the above locations, please log on to redcrossblood.org, enter the Sponsor Code: DayOfGiving or call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767).
If you have questions regarding your eligibility to donate blood, please call 1-866-236-3276.

Stay updated on Twitter with #blindblooddrive15.

For more information about our blind community day of giving, please contact Lisamaria Martinez, Director of Community Services, at info@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-431-1481.

LightHouse News

“Day of Giving” Blind Blood Drive is Thursday, January 22nd

01/08/2015 LightHouse Staff

Our staff is excited about participating at our headquarters on January 22^nd. Please join us!

When: January 22, 2015, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Where: The LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 214 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Stay updated on Twitter with #blindblooddrive15.

For more information about our blind community day of giving, please contact Lisamaria Martinez, Director of Community Services, at info@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-431-1481.

LightHouse News

Calling all East Bay Residents – Volunteer in the New Year with the LightHouse

12/19/2014 Andrea Ogarrio

If you live in the East Bay, the LightHouse is looking for you. With the New Year, there’s been an increase in requests for services from those we serve that live in the East Bay. What better time than now to join the LightHouse as a Personal Services Volunteer.

Longtime friend and student of the LightHouse Lori Castner, who lives in the East Bay told us, “Unfortunately for us, our former LightHouse volunteer has moved out of the area. He was wonderful – he worked with me and my husband for ten years and in that time became more than a volunteer, he became a friend. He assisted us in so many ways – for example, during the elections he helped us complete our absentee ballots. He helped us get birthday, anniversary and holiday cards out on time. With the help of a Personal Services Volunteer, it just takes us so much less time to run errands and get through tasks like sorting through mail and completing paperwork. It makes a huge difference in the amount we can accomplish. We’re definitely looking forward to being matched with someone again here in the East Bay.”

Another LightHouse student, Employment Immersion graduate and East Bay resident Dennis Shepard and his wife Debrah Willard were just recently matched with a LightHouse Personal Services volunteer. “We’re thankful for our new volunteer. Our house runs 100% better when we have someone to help us every week. Especially with running errands and minor household projects – which can be interesting with two guide dogs in tow. We coordinate our schedules so it’s easy for everyone involved.”

There are many reasons to volunteer. Volunteering feels good and allows us to do our civic duty, gain experience that can be put on a resume and exercise our innate, human need to feel needed. The LightHouse has students in the Oakland and Berkeley East Bay area waiting to connect with and hear from you. Start 2015 off right by volunteering as a Personal Services Volunteer. Contact our Volunteer Engagement Specialist, Justine Harris-Richburgh, at volunteer@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7320.

LightHouse Student Dennis Shepard and his Guide Dog Harvard

LightHouse News

Become a Personal Services Volunteer

11/26/2014 Andrea Ogarrio

Are you an individual who believes the simplest pleasures in life sometimes have the most profound impact? Do you prefer to work with people in a one-to-one capacity, rather than in large groups, or on large projects? More importantly, would you like to make a significant contribution to the life of a blind or low vision person in as little as two hours per week? The LightHouse’s Personal Services Volunteer (PSV) program may be just the right fit for you.

Some examples of the daily living tasks our clients may need assistance with are: reading mail; reading books, newspapers and periodicals; writing checks, helping with letters and correspondence; organization/marking/labeling; grocery shopping with or without the client; running errands; attending cultural, social and sporting events; walking; and accessing transportation.

For more information about LightHouse’s Personal Services Volunteer program, or any other questions related to volunteerism at LightHouse, please contact Justine Harris-Richburgh, Coordinator of Volunteer Services and Employment Immersion, at 415-694-7320 or volunteer@lighthouse-sf.org.

LightHouse News

Diageo Volunteers Make Huge Improvements at Enchanted Hills

11/26/2014 Andrea Ogarrio

Last month a very special group of volunteers gathered at Enchanted Hills for a very special Day of Service. Through the impetus of Jim Tomlinson, manager of Volunteer Napa, a program of Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership (CVNL), we hosted the largest group of volunteers ever, when approximately 200 employees of Diageo Chateau and Estate Wine, along with team leaders from the CVNL, seasoned camp volunteers and LightHouse staff, participated in a Day of Service at Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind.

The day-long event demonstrated Diageo Chateau and Estate Wines’ commitment to building stronger communities and its desire to support socially responsible organizations.

Enchanted Hills and the LightHouse reaped the benefit of the strong Diageo work ethic as its staff tackled a number of tasks which made a huge physical impact on the camp. Assignments included cleaning out the upper barn; constructing and staining picnic tables; clearing Lokoya Lake’s water and island of vegetation and painting the bridge; painting the fence around the lake; clearing brush around the wishing well; painting the archery shed; painting the Lakeside cabins; staining and building picnic benches and painting the fence around the pool; and sanding, treating and staining the wood of the playground structure.

We are proud to announce that last year Enchanted Hills was designated an Emergency Shelter for the residents of Mt. Veeder. Volunteers repurposed a 40-feet long storage container to house emergency supplies, constructed shelving units and assembled a supply of emergency blankets and first-aid kits for the shelter.

Jim Tomlinson said, “Vensherrie Campbell from Diageo called me up to coordinate a day of volunteering. They wanted to bring upwards of 200 Diageo employees together in one location. The only place I know that could provide the right number of projects and could handle this sized group all in one day was Enchanted Hills. It worked beautifully. On the day, while I was walking around, I noticed laughter in every group – everyone was so cheerful and willing to help each other, the painting job was done by Madani house painting company. The spirit of the group was so wonderful.”

Camp Director Tony Fletcher said, “It was a fantastic experience working with the employees from Diageo and the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership. Both organizations are class acts and I truly hope we have the opportunity to continue these relationships in the future.”

We want to thank Diageo, Jim Tomlinson of Volunteer Napa , Anton Timms and Emma Mills from Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership, photographer Peter Rodgers, and our camp volunteers and staff for the amazing amount of hard work, muscle and ingenuity each and every one gave to make Enchanted Hills more beautiful and functional for our Retreat guests, our campers and our visitors. We also thank them for purchasing supplies as well as providing a hearty lunch.

Want to see Enchanted Hills all spruced up? Reserve Enchanted Hills for your yoga retreat, family reunion, church group, conference, wedding or other gathering of thirty or more. All proceeds from Enchanted Hills Retreat support our camp for the blind and visually impaired. For more information please call (415) 694-7310 or visit www.enchantedhillsretreat.com.

LightHouse News

Could You Use a Helping Hand?

11/11/2014 Andrea Ogarrio

Could you benefit from the assistance of a LightHouse Personal Services Volunteer? Our Personal Services volunteers can work with you in a number of areas such as:

-reading mail, books, newspapers and periodicals
-writing checks, letters and correspondence
-home organization such as marking or labeling
-grocery shopping or errands with the client
-attending cultural, social or sporting events
-walking or transportation

LightHouse volunteers are eager to work with you on some of the everyday aspects of life that may be challenging. In talking with you, Volunteer Coordinator Justine Harris-Richburgh will determine what kind of volunteer you are looking for to help you find the best match. You may only be looking for short term assistance or you might be interested in a longer term working relationship. It’s up to you.

Lori Castner and her husband, Mike, are both blind and have been working with volunteers from the LightHouse Personal Services program for over ten years. “My husband and I are pretty resourceful, but we do sometimes need help with tasks we can’t do easily on our own, such as writing checks and greeting cards and sorting quickly through mail. We’ve had good luck getting readers from the LightHouse; they screen their people and really make an effort to make a good match.”

Could you use a helping hand? If you are interested in being matched with a Personal Services Volunteer, please contact our Volunteer Engagement Specialist, Justine Harris-Richburgh, at volunteer@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7320.

volunteer working with LightHouse client

LightHouse News

Enchanted Hills Highlights – A Glorious Summer of Blind Camping

10/10/2014 Andrea Ogarrio 1 Comment

Kiwanis Club of Greater Napa, EHC Neighbors Spruce Up Lower Chapel
At the beginning of September, members of the Kiwanis Club of Greater Napa as well as EHC Neighbors and Staff cleaned up the lower chapel at Enchanted Hills.

The chapel is a shaded area at Enchanted Hills that brings into play all aspects of nature: Surrounded by trees and next to a stream, it is a place of quiet and light breezes – the perfect place for our community to gather. As a program area, the chapel has been used since 1928. It was also Rose Resnick’s favorite location at Enchanted Hills.

The Kiwanis helped restore the pathway to the chapel, including patching and smoothing and building retaining walls. Neighbors and staff added new benches and created terraces to place them on. All cleared debris and vegetation, making the area look attractive and sparkling and returned it to its natural beauty.

Many thanks to Bill Cinquini and the Kiwanis Club of Greater Napa, the EHC Neighbors, including Tony McClimans, Gary Margadant and Bob Hayes, for their hard work and efforts.

Neighbors Build Awesome Picnic Tables for Enchanted Hills
For generations kids, teens and families at Enchanted Hills have memories of outdoor gatherings that included the use of a variety of accommodating picnic tables. The closeness and community that breaking bread together fosters is so important that we’ve decided to vastly increase these rustic gathering places throughout camp.

Last month, EHC Neighbors and friends, including LightHouse Board member Todd Stevenot and his family, began an ongoing effort to build us twenty new tables. With their help we first identified fallen Douglas fir trees on Enchanted Hills and our neighbors’ property that could be used to construct the new tables. Superstar neighbor Tony McClimans milled this wood to perfection, creating lumber vastly stouter than that found at hardware stores, and worked in collaboration with next-door-neighbor Andrew Cates to get the wood cut and formed for assembly. Some of the tables we are building are 14 feet long and take at least six strong people to move them. They will be used in a number of locations all over camp. Ten tables have been completed so far, and we want to thank everyone who involved with the project, including Tony McClimans who milled the wood at his sawmill and lead builder Andrew Cates.

LightHouse Friends Gena Harper and Mike May Tie the Knot
Last month LightHouse Board member Gena Harper and former camper, staff member, current volunteer and supporter Mike May hosted their lovely wedding at Enchanted Hills Retreat. The guests enjoyed delicious food, including a “wedding cake” made of beautifully decorated individual cupcakes, and witnessed the inaugural public use of our new Redwood Grove Theater for a full-blown amplified musical performance featuring singer-songwriter Sara Beck and husband Park Chisolm.

We are grateful for the new couple’s generosity in asking their guests to make monetary gifts to support Enchanted Hills, a place Mike has been coming to since 1962.

Congratulations, Gena and Mike!

EHC staff member Tom Cassidy assists volunteers with terracing and placement of new benches in lower chapel

Neighbors and friends work on a large picnic table

Gena Harper and Mike May sit at their wedding table