Be a Volunteer - Help your Community
Here is a list of current volunteer opportunities at NECC. Some are ongoing, some are one-time events. Some require as little as an hour a week, some will take much more, as much as you would like to offer.
Click on each opportunity or interest, or scroll down, to read a full description.
Drive senior citizens to appointments
Read books with young children
Lead a one-time or ongoing art project, craft or activity
Outdoor Enthusiasts - fly fishing, hiking and more
Develop NECC's Community Garden
Become a Friendly Visitor
Lead a Session of the Teen Book Club
Help Low-Income People Prepare their taxes
Help around the office
Work on our next Mad Tea Party or other benefit
Come to our next volunteer clean-up day
Requirements of Volunteers
Other ideas? Call us!
For more information about any of these projects, stop by or give us a call during regular business hours, or email info @ (remove this) neccmillerton.org.
The Care Car and TAP Van always need drivers. You will use one of our vehicles to pick up a senior or other person in need of transportation at their home, bring them to an appointment, and bring them back when they are done. You will give them an envelope for their optional donation, note the mileage, and let us know if the senior expresses the need for other services we can provide. Time Commitment: as little or often as you wish; the typical appointment at a local doctor takes approximately 2 hours from door to door.
Read to children: We have a special interest in bringing senior citizens to our Monday and Wednesday morning toddler programs, to read to children and help them develop a positive relationship with books. Time commitment: as little as a half-hour one time, or as much as you like.
Lead an Art Project, Craft or Activity: We are always looking for qualified people in the community to lead projects in our after-school program or for the general public here at the center - anything from painting a mural, to quilting, to jewelry making, to sewing, cooking, writing, photography, knitting or crocheting - if you are interested in it, someone else will be too. Time Commitment: one two-hour session, or many - your choice.
Outdoor Enthusiasts: Help lead our 4-H club and share your love of the outdoors. Hiking, fishing, camping, birding... Time Commitment: A few hours a month.
Community Garden - our garden needs a friend. We plant vegetables and flowers, for the enjoyment of all; the veggies are distributed to the participants in the Extra Helpings Food program. In the fall, we need help with weeding, mulching, planting bulbs and preparing for winter. In spring and summer, it's planting, weeding, pruning, harvesting... you will be helping feed the hungry! Time Commitment: while we welcome one-time volunteers who want to do a little of this and that, we are really hoping to find an angel who will oversee the garden and organize other volunteers to help.
Friendly Visitors and Garden Angels: Many senior citizens in our community are isolated and lonely - family members are far away, or they are not able to get out and socialize like they used to. A Friendly visitor can be a lifeline, helping the senior overcome depression and stay in their home longer. The Visitor spends an hour a week in person or on the phone, talking about mutual interests, sharing tea and cookies, and becoming friends. The Visitor also serves as an important early-warning detector as they are often the first to notice when a senior needs more support and help. Garden Angels provide light assistance in a senior's garden as well. Time Commitment: about an hour a week.
Teen Book Club Our teen book club meets once a month to discuss advance copies of soon-to-be-published books that have been provided by Oblong, Jr. Volunteers are welcome to join the group, one time or several, to help facilitate the conversation and encourage these avid young readers.
Tax Preparation: Last year we prepared tax-returns for 33 low-income families, helping them get their earned income tax credit and refunds, and saving the cost of professional preparers. Their gratitude was tremendous, and the impact on their lives incalculable. You will be asked to take a test of your tax-preparation skills, and will be able to take a class to certify you to prepare 1040's, 1040EZ, and several other basic forms. Time Commitment: for the class, 4 hours for the basic class, and about an hour to prepare each return.
Office From time to time we have big mailings and can use as much help as we can get to stuff, label and seal envelopes. Let us know if you'd like us to call you next time one comes around, or when we have another office project. You'll get coffee, cookies and our eternal gratitude! Time Commitment: varies.
Benefit Committee: Have you been to our Mad Tea Party? If so you know how much fun it is! It's even more fun to work behind the scenes, stuffing invitation envelopes, planning the decor, arranging for the entertainment, or making those 5,000 tea sandwiches! We have a great group of volunteers who have a terrific time together - it's a fun way to get to know your neighbors and contribute to NECC at the same time. Time Commitment: Varies, most intense in the spring.
Clean-Up and Spruce Up: Once or twice a year, usually fall and spring, we have a big clean up day to pick up trash, prune bushes, plant flowers and shrubs, and make sure our grounds are welcoming to all. We may also have days scheduled to paint, assemble a new playset (when we get one) or other projects. Let us know if you'd like to join us the next time we have one! Time Commitment: A few hours, a few times a year.
Teenagers volunteered recently to paint the picnic table on NEC's back deck.