Patch Picks: 7 Places to Volunteer in Menlo Park

If your schedule has lightened up a bit this summer giving you some spare time, consider volunteering for a worthwhile organization in your community. Knowing you are making a difference brings feelings of satisfaction and joy within yourself and those you are assisting.

To work with school-age children in Menlo Park, consider the in Belle Haven. Volunteer opportunities include tutoring and mentoring students ages 5 to 18 on academic and social skills.

Individual volunteers as well as groups and employees from companies are welcome. Tutors are asked to commit to one hour a week for 10 weeks. Mentors agree to work with students for the length of the school year. For more information contact Paitra Sharp at 650-646-6131 or by email at psharp@bgcp.org or visit the website, www.bgcp.org.

To assist adults who want to improve their English literacy, check out within the Menlo Park Library. Before being assigned a learner, volunteer tutors receive free training. Times and location of tutoring is worked out between the tutor and the learner. 

Estimated time commitment is 3 hours per week. If you’d prefer office or computer lab work, Project Read has opportunities in this area as well. For more information contact Roberta Roth at projectread@menlopark.org

The City of Menlo Park also has openings for volunteer /interns willing to perform routine office duties for five or more hours per week.  For more information contact the city clerk at 650-330-6620 or go to www.menlopark.org/departments/prs/employment.html

For those wanting volunteer work that is a bit more physical, Habitat for Humanity is rehabbing a home in the Belle Haven neighborhood.  No construction experience is necessary, but an ability to follow directions will make it safer and easier for everyone. For more information visit www.habitatgsf.org

Opportunities for environmental volunteering include: Working at the Ravenswood Salt Ponds by preparing areas for winter plantings to restoring habitat for nesting birds. Space is limited and an online RSVP is required for individuals or groups up to nine people on their site. 

For more detailed information or if you would like to sign up a group larger than 9 people contact Natalie LaVan at (510) 452-9261 x109 or email bayevents@saveSFbay.org.

The Friends of Bedwell Bayfront Park have volunteer opportunities to lead bird identification tours, generate publicity, monitor their website, and contribute to special projects and events.  For more information go to www.friendsofbayfrontpark.org or contact Chris at friendsofbayfrontpark@gmail.com

If volunteering at a medical facility is what you are looking for, the Ravenswood Family Health Center has opportunities for medical and dental professionals, clinical support, multimedia, internships as well as group volunteers. For more information go to http://www.ravenswoodfhc.org.  You can also sign up for the quarterly volunteer newsletter to stay informed about opportunities.