Ideas for Living Volunteering
WSU Extension is looking for new volunteers to join our award winning Nutrition and Life Skills education programs. You will learn skills that can help you at home and in your career, gain confidence in your abilities, and best of all, you will have the satisfaction of helping others in our community.
What are we trying to achieve?
Our goals are to help low-income and at-risk individuals become more self-reliant by:
- reducing dependence on public assistance by enhancing basic life skills
- helping food stamp recipients learn new nutrition ideas for healthier living
- decreasing isolation through establishment of social networks
- increasing self-confidence by validating present knowledge while expanding skills
- increasing community understanding of the challenges faced by low-income families
What do our volunteers do?
DSHS Nutrition volunteers assist with nutrition demonstrations at the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) in Mount Vernon. The demonstrations are conducted in the DSHS lobby from 8:30 to 10:30 each Thursday morning.
Ideas for Living volunteers present basic life-skills classes to the clients of social service agencies and other organizations who serve low-income and at-risk individuals in Skagit County. These interactive classes are interesting, informative and fun to present. Topics include parenting, nutrition, budgeting, consumer awareness, and other skills that enhance day-to-day living and strengthen families.
What kind of volunteer are we looking for?
You don't need special skills, and you don't have to be fluent in English to become a volunteer. We especially need volunteers who are fluent in Spanish. Our volunteers come from a variety of backgrounds, but they have one thing in common - all are enthusiastic about their volunteer work. A typical volunteer:
- Wants to help others
- Enjoys working with people
- Has life experiences that he or she is willing to share with others
- Is willing to learn new things
- Is interested in nutrition and healthy living
What kind of training will I receive?
DSHS Nutrtion Volunteer: You will be paired with an experienced nutrition educator who will teach you how to help others learn new ideas for healthier living. The training will be conducted during our Thursday morning nutrition demonstrations at the Mount Vernon DSHS office.
Ideas for Living: You will receive approximately 30 hours of professional training on life-skills and group facilitation techniques. You will be given research-based information and learn how to share this information with others using discussions, demonstrations, and hands-on group activities. The next training will be conducted in October and November 2007 in Mount Vernon.
What's in it for me?
- You will have the satisfaction of knowing that you are making a difference in our community by helping others.
- You will receive top quality training from WSU Extension educators.
- You will learn practical ideas that you can use every day.
- You will be given the opportunity to polish old skills and learn new ones that can help you in your career.
- You will become a certified training facilitator and a member of a truly outstanding team of volunteers and professional educators.
- You will earn a State of Washington Food and Beverage Service Workers Permit.
How do I apply?
Download an Ideas for Living volunteer position description (Word Format) (PDF) and an application (Word Format) (PDF) form or contact WSU Skagit County Extension at (360) 428-4270, extension 239.
Funded in part by USDA-Food Stamp Program, state and local government agencies.
Nutrition and Life Skills Education Programs
Ideas for Living Volunteer Position Description
Word Format PDF Format
Family Living Programs Application Form
Word Format
PDF Format
2008 IFL Volunteer Training Schedule
PDF
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