United Way’s Volunteer Center seeks volunteer tax assistants. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is the largest and most effective federal aid program for low- and moderate-wage income families. That’s why United Way’s Volunteer Center is helping the Chattanooga Urban League, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and the City of Chattanooga – and they are doing it by recruiting volunteers to help Hamilton County residents with free tax preparation so they can get their EITC return.

Anyone can volunteer - college students, stay-at-home moms, members and volunteers for other community organizations, veterans and businessmen and women. The following volunteer positions are needed as soon as possible:
·Volunteer tax preparers – you will receive free instruction and all the training and certification materials necessary to prepare basic income tax returns, including training in Taxwise software at no cost to you. You will help people complete and electronically file their returns at no charge. Scheduling is flexible during the day, evening and weekends throughout tax season.
·Site assistants – you can help the site coordinators with paper work, answering phones, scheduling, etc.
·Site greeters – you will welcome people to the tax preparation centers.
·Bi-lingual and hearing impaired site interpreters – you will provide services at the tax centers for people with hearing impairments and those who don’t speak English.

To volunteer or for more information about the VITA Program, contact Toya Cobb at the United Way’s Volunteer Center at toyacobb@uwchatt.org or call 423-752-0316.

Creative Discovery Museum -
Looking for something exciting to do with your Friday nights? We have just the thing for you. Join us for Friday Family Fun Night at the Creative Discovery Museum Science Theatre. It is held the fourth Friday of each month, and is getting rave reviews from guests. As a volunteer, you will lead a science activity with guests and help with the set up and breakdown of your activity station. Shifts are from 6-9 p.m., and all training is provided. Our next Family Fun Night will be held on Feb. 22. The Science Theatre is located at Northgate Mall in Hixson. Please contact Kate Skonberg, Volunteer Manager, at 423-648-6046 for more information, or stop by the museum for a volunteer application.

Lookout Mountain Conservancy, Reflection Riding Arboretum & Botanical Garden, and Tennessee River Gorge Trust
-Take a Hike...Into Volunteering Saturday, March 1 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Come learn about the Lookout Mountain Land Trust, Reflection Riding Arboretum & Botanical Garden, the Tennessee River Gorge Trust, and Jeffrey Hunter’s work with the American Hiking Society and the National Park Service Trails during this informative 3.5 mile hike. We will start at LMLT’s John C. Wilson Park on Cummings Highway, take you along the LMLT’s Guild Trail and part of the NPS’s Gum Springs Trail and will conclude at Reflection Riding. Along the way, you will learn about these active organizations and how you can help fulfill their missions as a volunteer. At the Riding, a free lunch will be served and you can choose to picnic or eat in the Humphreys House before a caravan will take you back to your cars at John C. Wilson Park. This is a great way to learn about nonprofit organizations in your community, enjoy a beautiful hike and meet like-minded individuals who are interested in local conservation efforts, not to mention, you’ll get a great workout. The hike requires moderate physical activity (JWP to the Guild Trail will have some uphill travel, but after that it’s flat and downhill). To register, please contact Sarah Quattrochi, Volunteer Coordinator, at (423)653-0091 or sarahq@cnpchatt.org.

Chattanooga Parks and Recreation is hosting a Valentine’s Sweetheart Dance. Come celebrate Valentines Day with us at the First annual Sweetheart Dance. This is sponsored by the Chattanooga Parks & Recreation, Therapeutic Recreation Department – providing programming opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The Dance will be held at the Brainerd Recreation Center (1010 North Moore Road) on February 8th from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Please contact Elaine Adams at 423-697-1345 or adams_e@mail.chattanooga.gov if you are interested in volunteering.

The Samaritan Center has the following volunteer opportunities available. Contact Michelle Hayes if interested, 423-238-7777, ext. 24. The Samaritan Center is located at 9231 Lee Highway in Ooltewah, TN.
·Volunteer Assistant: If you have talent skills or experience in working with children and youth than this is the volunteer position for you. You will be helping with school and youth groups, must be good with elementary age children mostly a.m. hours as needed 1-2 times per month
·Dock Assistant: People person needed to assist Staff with accepting donations, lifting required up to 50 lbs with assistance, hours needed 9 a.m.-2 p.m. up to one to two days per week
·Sorter: Enjoy finding treasures? Than sorting donated goods will be fun for you, required standing for length of time, hours needed 9 a.m.-4 p.m. up to two days per week

Human Educational Society
Both cats and dogs housed at the Humane Educational Society need socializing for bonding, exercise, companionship and reducing stress. A pet socialization volunteer spends one on one time with shelter animals by exercising, playing, and loving them. This experience is not only fun for the volunteer but enriches the life of animals while they wait to be adopted.

A pet therapy volunteer accompanies pets to assisted living homes and visits with the residents. Many of the residents shared their lives with companion animals prior to their current living situation and now miss them terribly. Accompanying pets in an assisted living home is not only a wonderful and compassionate experience for the elderly, it can be very fulfilling for you. In addition, you enrich the life of a homeless pet with love and attention while he/she is waiting to be adopted. For more information or if you would like to volunteer, please contact Tricia Sebes, Volunteer Coordinator at 423-624-5302 ext. 228 or hesvolunteer@comcast.net.

Tennessee Aquarium is accepting applications for weekday scuba divers. Divers must be certified and have at least 25 open water dives. Volunteer divers perform shows for the public and clean and maintain some of our favorite galleries. Volunteers commit at least one day a month from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Fill out an on-line application at www.tnaqua.org/Get_Involved/Scuba.asp or call the Volunteer Office at 423-785-3057.

Foster Grandparent Program is need of volunteer foster grandparents. Foster grandparents work twenty hours a week with special-needs children in day care centers, head start programs, hospitals, schools and nonprofit agencies. Typical service hours are from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Monday through Friday. Foster grandparents must be 60 years of age or older and meet low-income eligibility requirements and must reside in Hamilton, Bradley or McMinn Counties. To become a foster grandparent or for more information contact Billie Wright, field supervisor, 423-757-5273.

Partnership for Families Children and Adults The Dogwood Thrift Shop in Highland Plaza, whose proceeds benefit all partnership programs, is seeking volunteers to assist with sales and processing donations. The shop is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Volunteers can work morning or afternoon in three-hour shifts. Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older. To volunteer contact Sue Forsythe at 874-0247.

United Way’s Volunteer Center promotes volunteerism by recruiting volunteers, connecting volunteers with opportunities, publicly recognizing volunteer efforts, and directing programs that mobilize volunteers to address community problems.

Contact United Way’s Volunteer Center at (423) 752-0300 or at www.uwchatt.org to learn more or to sign up for volunteer opportunities.