This week we are meeting with Lauren Miller of North Coast Opportunities. North Coast Opportunities has been operating in Northern California for nearly 50 years and, in that time, has assisted with countless community projects and volunteer opportunities.
I met with Lauren Miller, program coordinator for North Coast Opportunities for Humboldt County, to learn about two projects for which NCO needs volunteers.
The first project is the Foster Grandparent program. This program engages adults age 55 and over in intensive volunteerism as tutors and mentors for children and youth with exceptional needs. They serve in local elementary school classrooms, providing extra attention for children who need it the most. They also aid in alternative high school settings, ready to help at-risk youth learn and be successful.
Lauren wanted to assure listeners that despite the name, this program does not foster or house children in the volunteers’ home, but a mileage stipend will be paid for transportation costs to and from the sites, along with a tax write-off for time spent with the children.
The RSVP program, which stands for Retired Senior and Volunteer Program, pairs senior citizens with vehicles with volunteer opportunities such as delivering meals on wheels or assisting community members with transportation to and from medical appointments
There are also volunteer opportunities via Zoom if you prefer to volunteer from your home.
To learn more about North Coast Opportunities or sign up to volunteer, please visit their website at ncoinc.org.
To learn about volunteer opportunities specifically in Humboldt County, please follow this link
Thank you for listening and stay tuned for more episodes of North Coast Conversations as we explore more of what the North Coast has to offer.
