Help be a Critical Link for Seniors in Need!

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Become a Volunteer Dispatcher to Support Seniors in Finding Rides!


Many seniors and people living with disabilities find it difficult to find transportation or go grocery shopping for a variety of reasons. These individuals rely on the kindness and generosity of volunteers in our community. Volunteers donate their time to give rides, shop and deliver groceries to fixed-income seniors age 60+ as well as health compromised older adults 55+. Our volunteer dispatchers piece the whole puzzle together by matching seniors’ needs with volunteer availability.

As a volunteer dispatcher, your role would involve answering calls and emails, and facilitating the matching process between clients and volunteer shoppers. The dispatcher's availability is required from 10am-2pm, and you can choose which day(s) you would like to volunteer. The best part is that you can fulfill this role from your own computer, making it convenient for you. Abundant training and support will be provided by the Volunteer Center staff to ensure you feel confident and capable in your role. We kindly ask that the dispatchers commit to a minimum of 3 months of volunteering.

Schedule:

• Our dispatch desk is open Monday - Friday
• Dispatchers take one or more 3-4 hour shifts a week, depending on their availability
• We ask that our dispatchers commit to at least 3 months of volunteering

Responsibilities:

• Answer calls and emails to facilitate matches between clients and volunteer drivers
• Explain how our program operates to new volunteers
• Record all ride assignments

Qualifications:

• Patient, kind, and organized
• Eager to help seniors
• Comfortable with computers and willingness to learn new computer programs

Training/Support:

• Program training and overview with staff
• Volunteers will receive ongoing training and support
• Weekly meetings to share information and ask questions

Benefits:

• Volunteer from the comfort of your own home
• Volunteering is good for your health!
• Decreased levels of stress, a lower risk for depression
• Satisfaction of making a difference in your community and in the lives of others

This is a remote opportunity, however we are serving seniors within Santa Cruz County.

You can also call the Volunteer Center office at (831) 427-5070

or send inquiries to: transportation@scvolunteercenter.org

Read more about our program on our website: https://scvolunteercenter.org/programs/empowered-aging/transportation-program/