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Lend a Hand Help families thrive

Portsmouth Herald - 10/23/2016

This week’s column features volunteer opportunities that target helping children and families thrive in the communities we live in. These opportunities range from classroom support to hands-on support. With the cold winter months approaching, help to ensure that our community is ready with whatever is thrown at us. Find more volunteer opportunities on Volunteer HQ at www.supportunited way.galaxydigital.com or contact United Way of the Greater Seacoast at www.uwgs.org or 373-9118.

Rochester child care center

Rochester Child Care Center is the largest provider of child care and early education services in the Rochester area. It is a nonprofit organization that offers a full range of child care services for children ages 6 months to 12 years old to support working families. It is seeking volunteers to create a unique Mudkitchen Playground. Mudkitchens are fun outdoor playground elements — built with pallets and real sinks to help children become involved in creative play outdoors. It is looking for a small group of volunteers to help build. Volunteers should be comfortable using basic tools.

Contact Christiane Casserly, executive director, at 332-9333 or rccced@metrocast.net.

Location : Rochester.

Rochester school department: school library helper

Love books? Was the library your favorite place at school? Help Rochester Schools to boost its library services to students. Library helpers may assist students to select books, read to students, catalog books, return books to shelves, input books on computer databases, etc. This opportunity is available from October to May of each school year. This is a great opportunity for those who enjoy organizing and would like to share their love of books. Computer skills helpful but not required. Flexible with time commitments.

Contact Kathleen Boston, volunteer manager, at 332-3678 or boston.k@rochesterschools.com.

Location: Rochester.

Rochester school department: personal care drive

Rochester School Department is also looking for volunteers to run a personal care drive. With the cold winter months approaching, many families are struggling this year. Food stamps do not cover personal care items, cleaning products or over-the-counter medications. If you have the time to organize a drive at your work place or just pick up an extra couple of items each week when shopping, you could make a big difference to another family. Ideas for items that are needed: shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, deodorant, shaving cream, disposable razors, hair spray, diapers, feminine products, toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, dish soap, laundry soap, all-purpose cleaners, headache and cold medications, etc. When children and their families have their basic needs met they succeed in school.

Contact Kathleen Boston, volunteer manager, at 332-3678 or boston.k@rochesterschools.com.

Location: Rochester.

Hampton child and family program

Hampton Child and Family Program operates Village Preschool offers an extended day preschool program for children 3-5 years old. It is seeking volunteers on Fridays. The hours could be 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. This position is helping one of the special needs students in the preschool classroom. It is a hands-on opportunity to guide the child to the different activities. Village Preschool staff takes care of personal care items. You would be part of their preschool classroom. Village Preschool would pay for the criminal check and fingerprinting at the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Contact Virginia Bridle at Villageprs@aol.com.

Location: Hampton.

LEND A HAND: These and hundreds of other opportunities to volunteer or donate goods have been brought to you by the United Way of the Greater Seacoast’s Volunteer HQ, sponsored by NextEra Energy Seabrook. www. supportunited way.galaxydigital.com.