Volunteer with Mental Health



American Red Cross

Mission: To prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.

Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteers carry out 90% of the humanitarian work of the Red Cross. Our vital work is only possible because of people like you. Whether helping one displaced family or thousands, providing care and comfort to an ill or injured service member or veteran, or teaching others how to respond in emergencies, it’s through the efforts of ordinary people that we can do extraordinary things. Browse Volunteer Opportunities in Your Community on our website today!

Volunteer Hours: Business hours are 9:00am to 4:00pm. However, if your staff choose to volunteer during a disaster, there are potentially 24 hour Disaster Operation Volunteer Programs. Each volunteer listing has the required time commitment listed online.

Contact: Meghan Hotchkiss Suslak, Senior Volunteer Specialist
(904) 738-3931
meghan.suslak@redcross.org
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CDS Family and Behavioral Health Services

Mission: “Strengthening Communities by Building Strong Families”

Volunteer Opportunities: We are looking for Youth Care Worker Assistants – these are volunteers who assist us in the care and mentoring of at-risk adolescents at our Interface Youth Shelter in Gainesville. We also have a need for administrative volunteers in our offices. We offer new volunteer training roughly a month into each semester – so September, February, and June typically. Next new volunteer training will be first week of June.

Volunteer Hours: Volunteers at Interface Youth Shelter are needed whenever the youth are not in school: 3-9 pm on weekdays and 9am-9pm during the weekends or vacations. Administrative volunteers are needed a few hours per week, usually Monday-Friday between 9am and 8pm depending on the position.

Contact: Radha Selvester
(352) 244–0628 x3865
radha_selvester@cdsfl.org
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Child Advocacy Center

Mission: A comprehensive, child-friendly facility where professionals from law enforcement, medical, child protection and therapeutic services effectively collaborate to meet the individual needs of child victims and break the cycle of abuse.

Volunteer Opportunities: The Child Advocacy Center has diverse, flexible and meaningful opportunities for those interested in volunteering their time and unique talents toward meeting the needs of children traumatized by abuse.
In-House Volunteers: Those wishing to volunteer within the Child Advocacy Center are screened by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement through background checks and finger print verification. Once approved, volunteers are given a variety of responsibilities to ensure day-to-day operations of the CAC are performed smoothly. Skills and interests of volunteers will be considered in all assignments. Typical opportunities include:
Play Patrol: Play is a big part of what we do and volunteers are needed to hang out and play with children as they wait for therapy appointments. Qualified applicants must be at least 18 years old and able to commit to volunteering for 2-4 hours contiguously each week.
Assisting Staff: You may be asked to assist office staff with their duties including, but not limited to, making phone calls, sending faxes, making copies, restocking brochures, compiling information folders, etc.
Data Entry: Includes, but not limited to, updating mailing lists, media lists, donor lists, etc.
Special Event Volunteers: The Child Advocacy Center coordinates, participates and benefits from many events throughout the year. Our event volunteers help bring these events to life and because we are working outside the CAC, event volunteers do not require background checks/screening. Our 2017 events include the following:
Building a Better Future for Children – April 20, 2017 – 5pm to 7pm - 500 East University Avenue Volunteers needed for event setup/breakdown, guest check-in and bussing tables.
Taste of Greater Gainesville – June 4, 2017 – 4pm to 9pm – UF Hilton Volunteers needed for silent auction setup, event setup, silent auction monitor, trash runners, restaurant assistants, and event breakdown.
Gainesville Wing Bowl – August 27, 2017 – 6:30 to 8:30pm – Splitz Bowling Center Volunteers needed for registration, raffle sales, chicken wing counters and event breakdown
Gainesville Gone Austin – October 26, 2017 – 6pm to 10pm – Santa Fe River Ranch This is our signature fundraising event! Volunteers needed for event setup, registration, silent auction setup, silent auction monitors, silent auction check out, raffle sales, bussers, trash runners, bar-backs, parking attendants, volunteer hospitality and event breakdown

Volunteer Hours: Monday through Friday, 9am – 7pm for in-house volunteers. Special events typically occur nights and weekends.

Contact: Amber Miller
(352) 376–9161
info@cacgainesville.org
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Gainesville Community Ministry

Mission: To provide help and hope to people in crisis

Volunteer Opportunities: Handing out food, seeing clients, tutoring

Volunteer Hours: Mon-Thurs 9am - 3pm, some Tues nights and Saturdays for dental students.

Contact: Michael Wright
(352) 372–8162
gcmone@bellsouth.net
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K9s For Warrioris

Mission: K9s For Warriors is ending veteran suicide and returning our Warriors to a life of dignity and independence. We rescue and train shelter dogs to be paired as Service Dogs for Warriors with service-connected Post-Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Brain Injury and/or Military Sexual Trauma.

Volunteer Opportunities: Kennel Caretaking, Landscaping work, Housekeeping opportunities

Volunteer Hours: Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm, some weekends and holidays

Contact: Donnie Horner III
(443) 262-2245
dhorner@k9sforwarriors.org
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Meridian Behavioral Healthcare

Mission: To promote the health, recovery, and well-being of those affected by mental illness and substance use disorders through prevention, coordinated treatment, and supportive services.

Volunteer Opportunities: Helping in a variety of settings that include assisting with projects and events throughout the agency.

Volunteer Hours: Varied

Contact: Stephanie Esposito
(352) 374–5600 x8630
philanthropy@mbhci.org
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