United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region

Did you know that the American Red Cross responds to a disaster every 8 minutes, and the vast majority of these are home fires? Sadly, every day seven people die from home fires, most in homes that lack working smoke alarms, with children and the elderly disproportionately killed. That’s why the Red Cross launched the Home Fire Campaign in 2014. Since then, volunteers and partners have made over 300,000 households safer and saved over 500 lives. Now we’re on the cusp of something big, and we need your help. On November 2, 2019, we are installing alarms in Poughkeepsie and we need you!! There are a variety of ways to help at this event. Each install team will have members in the following roles. Roles will be chosen by the team on the day of the event. Please see below for a general description of these options to help better prepare for the day of the event. Volunteer Safety Educator: Educates the family on fire safety and assists with completing a disaster plan while the smoke alarms are being installed. This volunteer should be comfortable speaking with a wide variety of individuals. Volunteer Smoke Alarm Installer: Installs smoke alarms in homes during the canvassing event. This volunteer should be comfortable using a ladder and a power drill. Volunteer Documenter: Records information about each home and the number of alarms installed. This person should be comfortable completing basic paperwork. All training and materials provided. Lunch provided! Volunteer to help Sound the Alarm. Save a Life Registration is open! CLICK HERE to learn more and signup!

Poughkeepsie, NY

11/2/19 9:00 AM

“Food rescue” is recovering leftover, unused or unserved foods in edible condition that was otherwise going to waste from retailers, restaurants, manufacturers, growers or dining halls and distributing it to local emergency feeding programs. Often the food is near the “sell by” date, or has surface blemishes making it undesirable on shelves. FeedHV is a food rescue network of food donors (like farms, restaurants and food retailers) feeding agencies (food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, senior centers and more) and volunteers who bring the food from the donor directly to that pantry or soup kitchen in your area, using a free software program to make all the connections happen. Ways to volunteer: "Food runner" Pick up food donation from donor and transport to assigned assisting feeding agency within your specified desired geographic parameters Help with volunteer outreach Sign up to harvest fruit and vegetables left unharvested on farms and deliver to agencies with one of our partner agencies Sign up to process seasonal fruit and vegetables into sauces, soups, stews, or frozen for assisting feeding agencies with one of our partner agencies Sound good? It's fun! You must be 18 years old or older, accompanied by someone 18 years or older. In order to be a food transporter, you must have a car. Please visit www.FeedHV.org/about/ for more information. Right now, we cover Orange, Ulster and Dutchess counties, and Putnam county for harvesting and processing opportunities with one of our partners. Once you sign-up to volunteer and take the food safety quiz, don't forget to download our free Chowmatch app for your smartphone to see available food runs! Simple and easy. Sign-up online to volunteer at www.feedhv.org/sign-up/

Hudson, NY

Through 9/4/20

Volunteers are needed to deliver a noon-time meal to seniors on a local delivery route. Meals are picked up at a drop point and delivered to the homes of 3-10 seniors daily Monday-Friday. Time commitment can be as little as one hour per month.

Newburgh, NY

Through 1/1/25

Volunteers needed throughout the county to deliver meals, drive seniors to medical appointments, volunteer at the VA, Hudson Valley Hospice, become an Ombudsman and more.

Poughkeepsie, NY

Through 7/31/20

-Evaluates needs, provides services and maintains records for clients. -Follow up telephone calls to clients -Refer Clients to community resources -Perform Fiscal Reviews on Client Cases -Conduct final reviews and close Cases Qualifications: -Detail oriented -Good Listening Skills -Patience and understanding when working with individuals from diverse backgrounds -Good organizational skills and attention to detail -Good Oral and Written Communication Skills -Bi Lingual a Plus Extensive Training Provided for all vols! Come join this important team-can work remotely as well!

Middletown, NY

Through 5/31/20

Assist the Red Cross in delivering its mission by taking and sharing photos and/or video to showcase the Red Cross at work, both in disaster and non-disaster times. • Collaborate with Communications Leadership to identify and carry out ways to tell the Red Cross story visually • Take photos and/or video at events, trainings and disasters in accordance with Red Cross brand standards • Capture portraits, candids and/or studio shots to tell the Red Cross story of service delivery • Cull, edit, caption and upload your photos/video to online sharing accounts; share select photos in a timely manner (typically same day or within 24 hours) with chapter/regional communications leadership and the social media team • Share photos/video on social media, when appropriate • Coordinate with chapter social media leads to share your team's videos and photos on social media or Red Cross sites. • Treat all clients, volunteers and partners with dignity and respect - always obtaining required photo releases. • Organize and deliver photo/video documentation, captions, quotes and photo releases. During Disasters: • Work with communications team to identify daily priorities to share visual story. • Deploy to the scene to seek out opportunities for photos/videos. Qualifications: • Prior experience in photography and/or video required. • Ability to be on call during disaster situations as needed to manage volunteers and secure photos/videos • Willingness to take photos/video of non-disaster stories • Excellent photography/video techniques and abilities • Ability to upload photos/video to online sites • Ability to meet deadlines - often same day or within 24 hours • Ability to communicate in a friendly and engaging manner • Willingness to interview subjects to provide detailed caption information • Experience with social media a plus • Video editing a plus

Middletown, NY

Through 5/31/20

1. Visit with a homebound and/or isolate Dutchess County senior citizen. 2. Provide respite for a Dutchess County primary caregiver who is unable to leave the house caring for his/her loved one. 3. Call a Dutchess County senior citizen just to touch base.

Poughkeepsie, NY

Through 1/8/22

Grocery shop for or with a Dutchess County senior citizen who has no other way to obtain groceries.

Poughkeepsie, NY

Through 1/8/22

Drive Dutchess County seniors citizens to the non-emergency medical appointments. You drive when you want and where you want. No pressure.

Poughkeepsie, NY

Through 1/8/22

Jewish Family Service is looking for volunteers to provide home visits with home bound adults and to make reassuring phone calls to home bound adults living alone. Volunteering is flexible 1-4 times a month. Spend some time playing a game, doing a puzzle, reading, cooking, sewing, or visiting with older adults. All ages are welcome. Spending time with neighbors in your community is as rewarding for our volunteers as it is for our neighbors. All volunteers are Trained during a two part training. Training is offered throughout Orange County. Must have your own transportation. Background checks are included. All ages are welcome

Middletown, NY

Through 5/6/20

The Friendly Visitor Program in Orange County is seeking Volunteers to grocery shop for home bound adults living in your community. Volunteers will need their own transportation. A match will be made for volunteers to meet with neighbors who need groceries and either go to the store for them or accompany them to the store. Volunteers will be given a grocery list as well a form of payment to pay for the groceries. Volunteers average 1-4 times per month.

Middletown, NY

Through 5/6/20

United Way is seeking Nonprofit Mentors with experience, expertise and/or interest in helping coach local nonprofits. We are looking for enthusiastic individuals interested in lending their time and talent to help build capacity for nonprofits across Dutchess and Orange Counties. A great opportunity for retirees, graduate students or anyone wanting to make an impact in the community! Desired Skills Include: - Experience with management, volunteers, grant research and writing, administrative tasks and/or accounting. - Flexible availability to work one-on-one with a nonprofit organization. - Desire to see nonprofits reach their full potential and better serve our local community. Examples of some tasks may include: - Working with the organization to establish a system for recruiting, managing, and/or training volunteers. - Assist employees with skills related to development work, fundraising, grants and compliance. - Helping to establish new organizational practices and processes. United Way will place each Mentor with an interested nonprofit. The Mentor and the nonprofit will establish a schedule and task description that is mutually beneficial for both parties. Questions? Call Melissa Clark 845-471-1900 ext. 3128 or mclark@uwdor.org

Through 6/12/23