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Volunteer at SAY

Have some SAY in your life!

Would you like to make a difference in your community?

Join Friends of SAY today!

Ways to get involved:

Please contact: Serene Cooper, Volunteer Coordinator (707) 544-3299, ext 216

How to get started

To become a member of our volunteer community, you’ll need to:

  • Be 16 years of age or older
  • Contact the volunteer coordinator to schedule a personal interview to match your skills and interests with an opportunity
  • Complete a volunteer application packet, including a Live Scan fingerprinting and background check
  • Produce a valid driver’s license (and in some cases, proof of car insurance)
  • Make a time commitment appropriate to the volunteer position
  • Attend both a volunteer orientation and a specific training for your position

Download your volunteer application now.

Current Volunteer Jobs

Welcome Friends of SAY! Our volunteer opportunities are designed to engage community members in activities which make a significant impact on the at-risk youth we serve; and enable big-hearted folks like you to donate your valuable time and talent!

EVENTS

#1) Spring 2011 BIG Event SAY Sock Hop Host Committee

Our host committees are an opportunity to have a direct impact in aiding at-risk youth while putting on a fantastic party for SAY friends and donors. SAY fundraising events are the talk of the town and a rocking good time! Our volunteer committees are the backbone of these events and are charged with procuring and organizing items and volunteers related to their committee focus; alongside the Volunteer Coordinator and Director of Community Resources. Committees include: auctions, decorations, entertainment and activities, food and beverage, and logistics. Committee volunteers will expedite tasks based on the direction of the committee and meet monthly. Each committee will have a chair to lead and organize the committee. Chairs will lead and support volunteers in their individual committee, meet as a leadership group as needed, ensure communication between SAY staff and volunteers, keep the event on budget, and help ensure the success of the event alongside the Volunteer Coordinator and Director of Community Resources. The first meeting convenes in July 2010.

#2) Day of Caring – September 8, 2010

Come on out and get your hands dirty with us! Bring your whole family or your co-workers and get into the “can-do” spirit of participating in our one of Day of Caring Projects. The United Way Day of Caring is about coming together for a common purpose to improve the lives of others. Day of Caring mobilizes employees from hundreds of companies in Sonoma County to volunteer for the day at local non-profit agencies. Each year the event continues to grow. Most volunteers begin their day by attending a kick-off rally from 8:00 to 8:45 AM where breakfast foods and coffee are available. Volunteers should provide their own brown bag lunch, snack and water. There will also be an after-party starting around 3 PM. Join other Day of Caring participants in sharing your experiences and relaxing after a rewarding day of volunteering. Food, music and non-profit agency booths will be part of the celebration.

MENTORING

#3) Youth Employment Center – Career Mentors/Presenters

We are looking for volunteers who would like to share their expertise to prepare and support at-risk youth and young adults in finding jobs and careers. Activities may include: career industry presentations, job skill workshops, one-on one career mentors, resume writing, GED tutoring, job shadowing, and connecting youth to local employers.

#4) Opportunities NOW! – Youth Mentoring Program Sonoma Valley

Would you like to make a difference in the life of an at-risk youth ages 14-21? Mentor/mentee relationships will be one-on-one and will require 5-6 hours a month for a period of at least one year. Activities would include: social and community events, career and educational support; as well as sports and hobbies. The Mentor, parents, and SAY staff work together to meet the student’s academic and personal goals. Most youth and families live in Sonoma Valley, thirty minutes east of Santa Rosa.

#5) The Mary and Jose Tamayo House – Life Skill Mentors

Support young adults (18-25) who have aged out of the foster care system and are gaining skills to make it out on their own. Bring your passion and interests to the residents of the Tamayo House for project based work or one-on-one mentoring. Tamayo House is a transitional housing opportunity for former foster youth and young adults who may be homeless. Tamayo House offers a safe place to live, counseling, case management, job readiness training, adult mentoring, and independent living skills instruction. Peer facility monitors provide security and stability and, together with all the Tamayo House residents, everyone helps each other to become independent, community-involved adults. Bi-lingual services available.

GENERAL

#6) The Dr. James E. Coffee House Teen Shelter – Make Home Cooked Meal for Teens!

Share your culinary talents and your heart with teens staying in our runaway and homeless youth shelter. Come make a home cooked meal and conversation with teens. The Coffee House Teen Shelter is open 24 hours a day, 364 days a year providing a respite for families in crisis and family reunification services for runaway and homeless youth and their families. We provide short-term shelter, food, counseling, and referrals for youth and their families. Services are available in English and Spanish.

#7 Skills-based Volunteering

SAY depends upon skill-based volunteers to help get the behind the scenes work done to support our direct service programs. If you have skills to share and/or want to fine tune others, we would love your help with: database entry, courtesy calls to donors, internet research, processing applications for our Youth Summer Jobs Program, help organize and maintain our art therapy rooms and more.