Community Engagement Project:
Maple Street ShelterLifeMoves Organization- Day Worker Center of Mountain View
- Redwood City Library
The community partner our group had initially chosen to volunteer for, the Maple Street Shelter, had not been able to respond to our repeated communications from Allie who had tracked down the contact information for the individual we needed to speak with. Since a week had already passed and still no response, I decided to reach out to my former supervisor who was the manager of the Redwood Family House for the same organization, LifeMoves, formerly InnVision Shelter Network. In the mean time, I had tried to meet with Katie the manager of the cafeteria food service company BonAppetit in order to secure leftover food in the event our Maple Street gig would work it self out. She had been very busy and I was given her contact information from another worker. I emailed her later that day and informed her about our group service project. It was a bummer to find out that we were unable to get food from the cafeteria as she had gotten back to me saying that the company now has a contract with someone who take the left over food to provide to needy individuals in the community. We were happy to know that the food was already being used and not wasted so it wasn't all that bad. Unfortunately, there was also no response from my former boss within a week and it seemed like we were not going to be able to complete our project at the LifeMoves Organization. It would have been a wonderful opportunity, but maybe the lack of response meant that they already had enough volunteers and there were no current spots available. Anyway, our group has been kind of stressed with all of these obstacles getting in the way of being able to start our community service project but we are staying positive and have a few alternatives in mind as we proceed. Personally, I have spent my time trying to secure these projects via communicating through email and in person, researching other CE opportunities, writing blog/journal entries, and also attended periodic group meetings to discuss our options or create presentation materials.
- Time Sheet Status -
Time Invested: 9 hours
Time with CP: 0 hours
Currently, Marco is in contact with a woman at the Day Worker Center of Mountain View which connects workers and employers in a safe and supportive environment and empowers them to improve their socio-economic condition through fair employment, education, and job skills training. We hope that this will be our final try and we will be able to complete our service project with this organization. Although, if this does not come through, I had mentioned that there are quite a few opportunities at the Redwood City Library. They are listed below:
Redwood City Library Volunteer Opportunities
Children's Homework Help
We need volunteers to help students K - 6th grade with math, spelling, writing, and other homework subjects. No formal training required.
Contact: javerill@redwoodcity.org
Friends of the Redwood City Public Library
Bookstore Volunteer
The Friends runs a resale bookstore at the Downtown Library. If you are a reader/lover of books, it is a great opportunity to browse during your shift. Volunteers work 2-3 hour shifts in the store either weekly or biweekly.
The Friends runs a resale bookstore at the Downtown Library. If you are a reader/lover of books, it is a great opportunity to browse during your shift. Volunteers work 2-3 hour shifts in the store either weekly or biweekly.
Sell Books at the Redwood City Farmers Market
The Redwood City Public Library's Friends operates a booth at the Redwood City Farmers Market that runs Saturdays, April - November in downtown Redwood City. Volunteers work either 8-10am or 10am-Noon.
The Redwood City Public Library's Friends operates a booth at the Redwood City Farmers Market that runs Saturdays, April - November in downtown Redwood City. Volunteers work either 8-10am or 10am-Noon.
Manage Book DonationsThe Friends of the Redwood City Public Library is a non-profit organization that provides financial support to the Library through the sale of donated books. Volunteers needed to evaluate and sort books.
Sign up to volunteer with The Friends through Volunteer Match or Volunteer Center or by emailing Friends at:friendsofrwclibrary@gmail.com
Collection Maintenance
Searching for Holds - pull library materials from shelves using a list of customer requests. Volunteers are asked to volunteer 1-2 days per week, and each day requires 2-3 hours. Training is provided.
Shelf Reading - keep books in proper Dewey order and/or alphabetical order on designated shelves. Keep shelves neat by aligning books and shifting books when necessary. Ability to alphabetize and work with the Dewey Decimal system. Placement test required.
Contact: volunteer@redwoodcity.org
Traveling Storytime: Read to Children
Share the love of books, reading and libraries with the children of Redwood City in preschools and home daycare settings. Training and all materials, including books, puppets and flannel board stories are provided. Volunteers must be available to read to children ages 1 to 5 years of age for thirty minutes on a weekly basis. Must provide own transportation.
Contact: jpedden@redwoodcity.org
Communication is everything in engagement, and is the first step of the whole process.
ReplyDeleteIt's planned, it's flexible, carries all the opinions and weight of the people's voices into consideration to create a plan of attack that meets the needs of the people.
Community Engagement