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Supporting Us
Volunteering Program
What is the service?
Volunteer with Lane Cove Community Aid Service (LCCAS) and discover the rewards, make new friends and join a vital, active community organisation that
was founded by volunteers in 1961.
Over 300 enthusiastic and committed people now work with a staff of 30 to ensure that LCCAS can continue its support of the local community.
Volunteers are welcome to assist staff with the following vital community programs.
Job descriptions, guidelines and training/information seminars are provided for all volunteer positions. As well, a regular newsletter keeps volunteers in touch with all that is happening. Our staff are always ready to listen, advise and share your volunteering joys and concerns.
The regular contact the volunteers provide to our clients is invaluable to their well-being, and many of our services could not operate without their participation.
Food Services/Meals on Wheels
Can you give us two hours once a fortnight, once a month or even on an emergency basis. Perhaps you may not be able to commit to a regular roster and would prefer to be at call.
41 volunteers are required to help each week either as drivers or helpers. All deliveries are in the Lane Cove Municipality and take place Monday-Friday each week. Teams leave the Community Centre at 10.30am and usually return before 12.30pm. Drivers may claim $5 per run petrol money.
This important service provides not only the meal, but also a daily visit by friendly, caring volunteers who sometimes may be the only person the client speaks with all day. Volunteers also play a valuable role in passing on messages or concerns about a client to the Coordinator.
Community Support Transport
Volunteer drivers, with their own cars, take local residents who may be older or have a disability to vital medical appointments.
The service mainly helps people who do not have friends or relatives who can help with transport. Appointments are usually to Lower North Shore doctors, hospitals, dental or other medical services.
There is always a need for drivers as the call on the service is great and always growing. All transport takes place Monday to Friday and volunteers may opt to work a flexible schedule that suits their lifestyle. Most trips start no earlier than 8.00am and finish no later than 3.30pm.
Clients pay a nominal fee, which helps with administrative costs, and volunteers are eligible to claim $5.00 petrol money per trip.
Group Social Activities
Choose to work as part of our team helping with Community Café luncheons here at Lane Cove. There is no major food preparation. Volunteers help set up the room, then heat and serve the meal. There is plenty of time to have a chat and get to know clients -and the other members of the volunteer team.
Luncheons are on the 2nd & 4th Mondays of the month and afternoon tea - Tea and Tunes - once a month on a Tuesday. Entertainment makes these afternoons very popular.
Volunteers are also needed to accompany our Bus Driver who picks up and takes home Tea and Tunes participants.
Linen Service
Once a fortnight, on a Monday morning, a team of two volunteers visit three or four housebound people - have a chat - change their bed and bathroom linen with commercially laundered replacements.
The service covers the Lane Cove municipality and targets frail older people, people with a disability, and their carers. We help people who find the basic task of changing and laundering bed and bathroom linen a daunting prospect.
Volunteer drivers are given $5.00 per run to cover petrol costs.
Shopping Service
If you enjoy having a chat on the telephone why don't you consider becoming a volunteer with our Shopping Service.
These volunteers spend Friday morning in the office taking telephoned orders from clients, as well as having a chat with them at the same time.
Our staff then take the orders to Coles Supermarket in Lane Cove, who deliver the groceries COD on the following Tuesday.
Front Desk Assistance
Volunteers are the front line faces of Lane Cove Community Aid Service.
Our great team of Front Desk Assistants give us a full day answering our telephones, some general administration duties, and greeting all visitors and clients to the office. They also assist with handling many of the bookings for the Community Support Transport program.
Lower North Shore Easy Care Gardening Service
Be part of a volunteer team to help convert clients' gardens to low maintenance and easy care. We work in the Willoughby, Mosman, North Sydney and Lane Cove local government areas.
No gardening experience is required!
Teams currently work in the mornings of Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Morning tea is provided and it is a good opportunity for the teams to socialise and get to know each other.
Activities can include clearing of paths, removal of overhanging branches or vines, clearing around trees and shrubs, and mulching. General maintenance is then provided at six monthly intervals.
Our efforts help clients stay in their homes for as long as possible. For many people looking at a loved garden that is slowly running away from them can be the last straw. We often hear the comment "It is just getting beyond me!".
Community Visitors Scheme
Become a friendly Visitor to an elderly resident in any one of our local nursing homes or hostels.
Our Co-ordinator will discuss your interests and pastimes and arrange for you to visit a person with similar interests. Many residents of our local nursing homes find time passes slowly and the occasional visit of a new friend brightens their days.
Visitors are asked to visit at least once a fortnight and where possible give a 12-month commitment to the program. It can sometimes take a little while to make the perfect match, but rest assured it will happen.
One of the many strengths of this volunteer program is that it gives the working person the opportunity to become involved with a volunteer activity on Saturday or Sunday. However, our Coodinator will need to have her initial chat with you during the week.
Fundraising and Events
Fundraising is a vital part of LCCAS's activities.
The organisation is partially funded by grants from Local, State and Federal Governments. The remainder of our financial support comes from minimal client fees, and most importantly donations, sponsorship and bequests.
Enthusiastic people are required to assist, when necessary, in
the following areas:
- Assist in publicising activities which may, from time to time, involve manning information booths in the plaza.
- Help seek donations for fundraising events.
- Assist, in the office, with processing requests for tickets to fundraising events.
- Spend time in the office packaging raffle prizes.
- Help at the door during fundraising events.
- Assist with the sale of raffle tickets.
- And other fundraising assignments as agreed between the volunteer and the fundraising Committee.
This is a great volunteering way to have fun, meet new people, get to know your community and use your versatile people skills to the fullest.
How can I join the Lane Cove Community Aid Service volunteer team?
Either
Ring the office on 9427 6425 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, speak with the Volunteer Coordinator, or one of our Volunteer reception staff, and request our Volunteer Information pack be mailed to you.
Or
Download a Volunteer Information Form and post it to our Volunteer Coordinator to arrange an interview. You can email the Volunteer Coordinator at volunteers@lccas.com
And then
The Volunteer Coordinator will arrange to meet you and discuss your volunteer choices.
Do make sure you complete the Volunteer Information Form prior to this interview. You will notice that we are obliged to ask you to supply two personal references and seek your permission to instigate a police check. Our funding body, the Department of Ageing Disability and Home Care, now requires this to be done for all new volunteers and staff.
We will then spend at least an hour together - so we will really get to know each other - we can then work out how you can best be part of the team to help us continue Sharing the Caring.
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