Volunteer
Over 1,200 volunteers a year grace the Carter Burden Center with their time,
expertise and energy. These wonderful, committed individuals are
invaluable to many of our programs, from those that care for homebound elderly to on-site activities and celebrations such as Thanksgiving and
Christmas.
We offer both long-term and one-time volunteer opportunities
in order to welcome volunteers from all walks of life, from busy professionals
to families to neighborhood seniors themselves looking to give back to
the community. Our volunteer programs enable different segments of the
community, who would otherwise have little contact with one another, to
meet and develop friendships.
We are always looking for new volunteers to join us and
share the experience of our vibrant volunteer programs, which includes:
Friendly Visiting
A program that matches volunteers with a senior who shares common interests and hobbies. Volunteers visit seniors at home, read a book or just talk. Volunteers also accompany seniors on walks. These seniors may have limited social interactions and look forward to having someone to talk with.
Hours:
Volunteers meet with seniors once a week at an agreed upon time for an hour or two.
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Grocery Shopping
Volunteers assist seniors at the supermarket or shop and deliver groceries to seniors who are unable to get out. This is a great way to get to know a senior; it also serves the crucial function of ensuring that seniors have food at home.
Hours:
Requests for grocery shopping are on an as needed basis or on a regular schedule determined by the senior and the volunteer.
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Medical Escorting
Volunteers accompany seniors to doctor's visits, wait until the visit is completed and safely see them home. Medical visits can be stressful for all of us- for the elderly the anxiety is exacerbated by the challenge of the trip. Requests for Medical Escorting come from a Social Worker or the client to the Volunteer Coordinator who then matches a volunteer with the client. The senior covers transportation costs.
Hours: Requests are on an as needed basis and doctor's visits may take at least 2 hours. We encourage clients to provide as much advance notice as possible.
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Telephone Reassurance
Telefriend is one of many volunteer programs directed at helping seniors who reside in our geographic service area of the Upper East Side. This program is a telephone reassurance program for seniors who may have limited social interaction and who look forward to having someone to talk with. We have over 130 seniors, many of whom are homebound, who participate in our Meals-on-Wheels program. Volunteers call these particular seniors once a week. Additionally, there are 50 seniors who receive reassurance calls daily from volunteers who work out of our call center at 1484 First Avenue.
Volunteers can call seniors from our call center, from home or from the office. Corporate Volunteers who have busy schedules can call seniors just to check-in and chat on breaks or at lunch. Volunteers complete a report sheet which includes date and time of the call, the volunteer's initials and any comments. The Carter Burden Center provides a listing of clients with their names and phone numbers only. Conversations range from the weather to the clients personal interests and do not need to be longer than five minutes. Over time, we find that some of the seniors and volunteers build a friendly relationship and may talk more or even arrange to visit the senior. Even a five-minute conversation will make the senior feel less isolated, lonely and that someone cares about them.
Telefriend Guidelines (PDF)
Telefriend Summary (PDF)
Hours: Volunteers call seniors seven days a week between 9:00AM and 3:00PM. The volunteer can choose a time that is most convenient for them. Each call would take no more than 5 minutes.
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Carter Burden Luncheon Club
Meal service volunteers assist in many areas of the CBLC & SP daily luncheon program which is located at 351 East 74th Street between First and Second Avenue. They work both in the kitchen and dining room in food preparation, meal distribution, and cleaning capacities. Food preparation tasks include packaging Meals-on-Wheels and assisting the chef with in-house lunches. Volunteers working in the kitchen may peel food, help with general cleaning and wash dishes.
Hours: Meal service volunteers are needed from 11:00AM to 1:00PM Monday through Friday. They are free to choose the frequency of their commitment.
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Senior Program
Socialization, performance, workshop and event volunteers can share a wide variety of experience and expertise with CBLC & SP members in their particular area of talent. It is a highly creative and flexible program that welcomes any knowledge or skill volunteers wish to share. Classes led by volunteers range from yoga to computer tutorials while others enhance the luncheon environment with singing or jazz guitar performances. One of CBLC & SP's largest and most successful volunteer events is the Holiday Gala. On December 25th volunteers served more than 150 seniors a wonderful Holiday Dinner.
Hours: Volunteers work within the Senior Program hours - 10:00AM to 3:00PM, Monday through Friday. The frequency of classes and workshops is dependent on the volunteers' availability.
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Computer Training
Volunteers receive training in our computer curriculum and then use their expertise to train seniors in simple computer literacy. Classes are small (three students) and the focus is on Microsoft Word, Excel, the Internet, eBay, and e-mail.
Hours: Sessions run once a week for a six week period from 10:30AM to 11:30AM and 1:30PM to 2:30PM Monday through Friday.
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Weekend Meals-on-Heels
Every Saturday morning meals are prepared and delivered for our homebound clients for Saturday. Saturday meal delivery also serves as a weekend status check and a friendly visit for clients who receive few, if any, visitors. Meals are delivered on foot to clients living between 69th and 79th Streets, between Fifth Avenue and the East River. Volunteers deliver in pairs or groups and generally visit 4-8 clients. Volunteers should be able to carry 5-10 pounds and walk up several flights of stairs comfortably since some clients live in walk-up buildings.
Hours: Meals-on-Heels volunteers are needed from 10:00AM to 12:00PM on Saturday. Volunteers can choose the frequency of their commitment, from a one-time experience to a regular weekly route.
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"I started working with the Carter Burden Center 3 years ago and am completely hooked. I look forward to the meal deliveries I participate in each month, and occasionally try to select routes I know will bring me to specific homes so I can visit with some of the seniors I've become attached to over time. Working with the Associates provides even more opportunities for me to participate in social or cultural events with the seniors which, hopefully, shows them how much they're appreciated by the younger generations."
