Volunteer
The Impact of Volunteering
Santa Cruz Branch Manager and Board Member
Interested in Volunteering for Vista Center?
JUST CLICK THE BUTTON TO START YOUR VOLUNTEER APPLICATION
If you have any difficulty in completing or submitting your application, please contact Neeraj Gupta, Volunteer Coordinator at ngupta@vistacenter.org or call 650 858-0202 ext. 2368.
For Current Volunteers
If you are a current volunteer at Vista, then thank you for continuing to work on behalf of our many clients. Your volunteer time and efforts are so important to the quality of our clients’ lives. So thank you from the staff and clients of Vista Center for all that you do.
We do keep track of all volunteer hours so please help us by reporting your volunteer hours every month. It is very easy to do so. Just….
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteers attend an on-site, informative, interactive orientation and training seminar. Below are some of our volunteer opportunities.
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Client Partner Program
Direct support of our clients is Vista Center’s most popular volunteer program. Meet a few times a month with someone affected by a visual impairment. Depending on what is needed, you might be reading aloud, helping with mail, going on walks, running errands or just having a friendly visit. We match you with a client based on your region and interests.
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Accessibility Team Member
With an additional 8 hours of volunteer training, and under the direction of the Volunteer Coordinator and Rehabilitation Staff, volunteers conduct home visits to help clients develop filing/tracking systems, program phones, and/or label appliances. If you have experience, education, or an interest in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy or Social Services, this opportunity will be a perfect fit. This type of work is dependent upon client needs. A 6-month commitment is requested.
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Volunteer On-call
Periodically, a client needs help with a home project such as unpacking or figuring out a complicated form. We can also use assistance now and again with delivering adaptive aids including canes and cane tips to clients.
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Office On-call
Are you a computer or collating whiz? We often need help with mailings, updating computer files, or other office work.
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Palo Alto Store
The Store at Vista Center is stocked with a variety of products that can help people who are blind or visually impaired enjoy and lead more independent lives. Products include color contrast and/or talking watches and clocks, replacement canes, lighting and magnification aids, cooking aids, large print calendars and address books, and games. Assist customers in finding just the right product. M-F days. Training is provided. A 6-month commitment is requested.
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Event Support
Do you enjoy meeting new people and helping with events? Summer events benefitting Vista Center are the Horse Show and Vintage Affaire that are planned and staffed by community volunteers. We would love to have your help with these important events.
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Translators
Many different languages are spoken in the Bay Area. If you are fluent in English and another language, you can serve as a translator for our staff.
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Youth Volunteers
Are you age 16 to 18? Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired relies on enthusiastic volunteers like you for occasional help with youth events. If interested, please email Bethany Small at bsmall@vistacenter.org with your name, phone number, age and school. We’ll keep your information on file and contact you when opportunities arise.