Volunteering

A Neighbor's Independence Depends on You

Providing comfort and care since 1998

Volunteer Opportunities

"All you need is a wealth of spirit to help with Faith in Action”
(Su, pioneer board member)

Who can help?

Anyone who cares about
the quality of life in our community and
who desires to improve it.

Anyone who is motivated to help the homebound maintain dignity.

Anyone who wishes to respond
to a call to serve others

Why do we help?

Because we desire to help people maintain their sense of independence and remain in their own homes for as long as possible.

Because our faith traditions motivate us
to come to the aid of others.

Because we care;
we can’t look the other way.

Because we desire to make
our community a better place to live.

"It feels good to know that you matter to somebody, and I know that I matter to my care receivers."
(Larry, volunteer caregiver)

"When these volunteers come to help me, it opens another door. They remind me that I'm still alive."
(Dorothy, 86 year old care receiver)

To volunteer, call (707) 425-6164,
(707) 469-6675, or (707) 469-6668.
You can email at volunteerrecruiter@faithinactionsolano.org.

Key to the success of Faith in Action are our volunteers. Matched with homebound care recipients, the volunteers of Faith in Action provide a vital link to the community, for oftentimes the volunteer may be the only contact a care recipient has throughout the day or week. Because of this, both the volunteer and the care recipient may forge a strong relationship between themselves, which in turn will improve the health and outlook of the care recipient.

The requirements to being a volunteer in Faith in Action are simple:

must be at least 18 years of age (families with children under the age of 18 are encouraged to volunteer; many of our elders enjoy having children in their home; families are matched together with one care recipient)
must be able to communicate in English, although bilingual, bicultural persons are needed
a valid driver's license and car insurance is needed
available 2 to 4 hours a week
must complete 6 hours of orientation training and attend at least 2 additional trainings throughout the year. Volunteers in the Senior Peer Counseling Program will need at least 20 hours of additional, specialized training
willing to complete necessary paperwork, which is minimal.

There is no cost to trainings; all needed materials are provided by Faith in Action.

Volunteers are normally matched with a care recipient from the same city. There may be times, however, when a senior or person with a chronic illness may have to be transported to an appointment in another city within the County. Program staff try to keep this to a minimum.

You can also see our volunteer opportunities at Volunteer Center of Solano County www.volunteersolano.org and at VolunteerMatch www.volunteermatch.org

Volunteer Duties

Volunteers provide the following:

transport to and from medical and social service appointments. In the Caregiver Respite Program, this may require door-tthrough-door service, and waiting at the doctor's office.

in the Ride with Pride Program, volunteers will also transport to other destinations, such as to the bank, the hair salon; volunteers will transport up to 4 persons on a predetermined route.

in the Senior Peer Counseling Program, transport is to and from group counseling sessions or individual therapy sessions.

being willing to take senior to the grocery store or if care recipient cannot go, go grocery shopping for that person. Will require putting away groceries

aid in some light house cleaning, or yard work, and for those willing to share their skills -- provide small repairs

phone reassurance

home visitation

in-home peer counseling

facilitating peer group sessions

reading to those unable to see clearly or at all

Volunteers do not provide

hands-on personal care, such as bathing, dressing, or lifting
hands-on medical care, such as changing bandages, wound care, or IV bags.