American Red Cross Brownsville

952 E. Levee St. Brownsville, TX 78520

(956) 541-5206

Contact: Ms. Chris Delgado cdelgado1306@aol.com

 

Agency Information:

Educate and train to provide relief for fire, flood & other natural disasters. Provide financial assistance for military personnel & family. Provides classes for first aid, CPR among others. It also offers first aid stations and health fairs.

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

During natural disasters and shelters.

 

Training Provided:

Training for natural disasters

 

Special Skills needed:

None

 

Length of Involvement:

No requirements

 

Avance-RGV

Fabriel Cisneros – fabcisneros@aol.com Youth Advisory Committee Facilitator

1901 E 22nd St

Brownsville, TX

(956) 541-6337

www.avance.org

 

Agency Information:

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

 

Training Provided:

 

Special Skills needed

 

BAIR Foundation

Silvia Gomez – sgomez@bare.org

San Benito

(956) 399-8330

 

Agency Information:

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

 

Training Provided:

 

Special Skills needed

 

 

Brownsville Adult Literacy Center 

Brownsvilleliteracycenter@yahoo.com

Miriam Rivera    

542-8080

1235 E. Jefferson Brownsville, Tx

 

Agency Information:

Provide English classes and GED review for examination

The Brownsville Literacy Center is a non-profit United Way agency, which delivers education services to community residents by means of volunteer (non-paid) instructors.  Volunteer ESL instructors learn to teach English in a classroom setting.  Most classes meet two days a week.  A variety of schedules is available:  mornings 9:00- 11:00, afternoons 1:00- 3:00, or evenings 6:00 -8:00.

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Serve as instructors

 

Special Skills needed

 

 

Brownsville Chamber of Commerce

Irma Hernandez

irma@brownsvillechamber.com

1600 University Boulevard

Brownsville, Tx 78520

542-4341

 

Agency Information:

It’s a member driven business. Its main principle is to provide visionary leadership, which will foster a prosperous business environment & improve the quality of life while building on Brownsville’s unique resources.

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Assistance on placing labels on newsletters & special events coordination

 

Training Provided:

Yes

 

Special Skills needed:

No

 

Length of Involvement:

None

 

Brownsville Museum of Fine Art

Carol DaMoss

bamuseum@aol.com

660 Ringgold

Brownsville, Tx 78520

542-0941

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Participate in children’s art program, clerical work and around museum.

 

Training Provided:

Yes

 

Brownsville Good Samaritan

Silvia Landin  slandin@good-sam.com

510 Paredes Rd.

Brownsville, Tx

546-5358    542-3714

 

Agency Information:

Takes care of the elderly, it provides physical therapy, personal and spiritual care.

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Provide support with activity time to residents and office duties. Students that need hands-on experience on the medical or social work field are welcomed. 

 

Training Provided:

If needed yes

 

Special Skills needed

No

 

BISD Hosts

Sonia Saenz (principal) soniasaenz@bisd.us

Burns Elem.

1974 Alton Gloor Blvd.

Brownsville, Tx

548-8490

 

Agency Information:

Help one student to succeed through mentorship in writing and reading

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Serve as tutors for 30min. a day

 

Training Provided:

Yes

 

Special Skills needed

2 forms of picture I.D.

 

Length of Involvement

A school year if possible. Mon-Thurs.

 

Boys and Girls Club Inc.

Brownsvilleclub@aol.com

Jesse Araguz

1338 E. 8th St. Brownsville, Tx.

546-4254

 

Agency Information:

Instill a sense of competence, usefulness, belongingness and influence to youth

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Help students with homework, arts & crafts

 

Special Requirements

Application and background check

 

Valley Baptist Medical Center Brownsville

Volunteer and Seniors Choice

Manuel Chacon Coordinator manuel.chacon@valleybaptist.net

1040 W. Jefferson St. Brownsville, Tx

Teri McCabe

544-1513

 

Agency Information:

Its mission is to anticipate, plan for and meet the long-term health care needs of all people living in our community.

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Managing gift shop, running errands, clerical work, transport patients and supplies and manning front desk

 

Training Provided:

Orientation is provided, and it includes: blood born pathogens, patient’s needs, hospital ethics and codes, safety techniques

 

Special Skills needed:

Caring

Respectful

Flexible

Motivated

 

Age Requirement:

Jr. Volunteers must be between ages 14 –18

Sr. Volunteers must be between ages 18 and over

 

Camille Lightener Theatre Playhouse

Ben Agresti     patcramick@aol.com 

1 Dean Porter Park - Brownsville, TX 78520

(956)542-8900

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Help with decorating different sets for upcoming plays.

 

Training Provided:

Yes

 

Catholic Campus Ministry

1850 Ridgley Rd. Brownsville, Tx

Hilda Escandon ccmutb@hotmail.com

542-3942

 

Agency Information:

So students can grow in their relationship with God and come to see themselves as part of the wider Christian community, there needs to be an organization which will enable and call forth this kind of growth. Catholic Campus Ministry aims to help students clarify their values and grow emotionally, intellectually, socially, and spiritually through various activities.

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Depends on the individual’s talents. Volunteers are informed of activities as they choose to sign up for these.

 

Special Skills needed

Successful volunteers must be understanding, dedicated, energetic, friendly, modest, social and open to all kinds of interpersonal communication with others.

 

Child Protective Services

Miriam Ibarra

1000 W. Price Brownsville, Tx

546-5591

 

Agency Information:

Investigate abuse and neglect toward children

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Fieldwork for Criminal Justice majors

 

Special Skills needed

Be a Criminal Justice major or similar

 

City of Brownsville

Mack Guerra

mackg@cob.us

547-6584

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Holds Texas Recycle Day

 

Confederate Air Force (Museum)

Tom Santos

955 S. Minnesota Brownsville, Tx. 78521

541-8585

 

Agency Information:

Share with our community the history of the Air Force.

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Air Show assistance in March, vendors, trash collectors and counters as well as assisting in the museum.

 

Don’t Mess with Texas

www.dontmesswithtexas.org

 

Agency Information:

This organization strives to keep our cities clean and beautiful.

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Adopt a highway program, Trash-off, and Campus Clean-up

 

Food Bank of Rio Grande Valley, Inc.

Myra Martinez956-682-8101 ext. 26;

myram@foodbankrgv

Nadia Ochoa, (956) 682-8101, ext. 31

nadiao@foodbankrgv.com

www.foodbankrgv.com

 

Agency Information:

Adults, Children, and Seniors are facing hunger on a daily basis. With the help of our member agencies we strive to end hunger by promoting healthy living in South Texas.

For a volunteer application go to:  www.foodbankrgv.com/

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

The Product Recovery area is where volunteers are needed the most. In this part of the food bank the off-the-shelf donated product is sorted, inspected, and repacked for distribution to the community.

The Product Recovery area is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

We are open on Saturdays for groups of 15 or more.

 

Friendship of Women, Inc.

Address:  302 Kings Highway Suite #113

Phone:  956-544-7412

Contact Person:  Ninfa Chavez, Client Service Program Director

E-mail address: fowcsc@sbcglobal.net

 

Agency Information:  A Center for the Prevention of FamilyViolence and Sexual Assault.  24- Hour Hotline, Confidential Counseling, Victims Advocacy & Referral, Emergency Shelter, Community Presentations/Education, Batterer’s Intervention & Prevention Program.

 

Volunteer Opportunities:  Volunteers and Student Interns for the following programs:  Family Violence Program (Domestic Violence), Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention Program, Legal Advocacy, Children’s Program, Batterer’s Intervention & Prevention Program, Board Members and Special Projects such as: Fairs, Fundraisers, Holiday Activities, Community Awareness Activities and Committees.

 

Age Restriction: Minimum: age 18 yrs, with the exception of special projects.

 

Training Provided:  On the job training and a 40 Hour Volunteer Training offered twice a year.

 

Special Skills Needed:  Must possess good organizational skills and the ability to organize and implement center’s social service tasks.  Skill in communicating effectively both verbally and in writing, communicating effectively with diverse groups using tact and diplomacy, researching information, and operating computers and programs is a must.  Able to adjust to rapidly fluctuating situations prioritize tasks to ensure maximum effectiveness, and to maintain effective relationships with staff, staff, and other outside government agencies.

 

Length of Involvement:  Due to the sensitivity of our programs we require a minimum of 100 hr commitment with the exception of Special Projects.

 

Girl Scouts-Tip of Texas Council

Angie Davalos Brownsville Troop

Cell-346-5526

Main office- 202 E. Madison Harlingen, Tx.

1800-477 2688 ext. 114

 

Agency Information:

Teach girls how to be better citizens through service. Including moral values and survival skills.

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Need adult troop leaders among other things.

 

Gladys Porter Zoo

Ellen Tyma

500 Ringgold St. Brownsville, Tx

546-7187

Email: rockhardkennel@wmconnect.com

 

Agency Information:

A visitor-oriented zoological and botanical park dedicated to the preservation of nature through education, conservation and research.

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Assist in summer tours, cleaning and preparing food for animals among other events around the year.

 

Training Provided:

If needed yes

 

Good Neighbor Settlement House

Carlos Gomez Dir.

1254 E. Tyler Brownsville

542-2368

 

Agency Information:

Offers shelter to the homeless, families, mentally ill etc.

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Need volunteers for soup kitchen, thrift shop and reception.

 

Heart of the Valley Hospice

Robert Rodriguez

175 E. Robertson San Benito

361-5158

 

Agency Information:

Hospice is a special way of caring for people with terminal illness in their home. Hospice strives to meet all the patient’s needs physical, emotional, social, and spiritual as well as the needs of the family.

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Volunteers can serve as caregivers; make quilts for patients and rosaries.  Be available to family and patients by sending card.

 

Training Provided:

Yes            

 

 

H.E.B.

Bob Clark

542-7755/ 371-5118

Agency Information:

Reach out to community by providing FEAST OF SHARING, Thanksgiving lunch

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

To all willing to help

Help decorate Jacob Brown and serve during the event

 

Monica’s House Cameron County Children Advocacy, Inc.

Corina Lopez

4905 Paredes Line Portable #3 Brownsville Vela Middle School

 

Agency Information:

Provide an array of services for physically and sexually abused children.

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Needs volunteers for general office duties

 

Opportunities Avalailable to:

Turn in an application, background check and 3 reference letters and attend the orientation.

 

Odyssey Hospice

Josie Sinyrad

2501 Paredes Ln Rd Ste. B9

Brownsville, Tx

504-5298

 

Agency Information:

Taking care of terminal ill patients. Help with medication, medical equipment and give daily visitations if possible.

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Administrative it includes office work and it takes 4 hrs of training and T.B. test. Patient care and training is provided.

 

Ozanam Center- Bishop Enrique San Pedro

Rosy Cortina

956 831-6331

656 N. Minnesota Brownsville, Tx. 78521

 

Agency Information:

Provide shelter for those needing temporary housing and meals.

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

 

Opportunities Avalailable to:

 

Age restriction:

 

Training Provided:

 

Special Skills needed

 

Length of Involvement

 

PUB

Debby Cox

983-6293

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Hold Annual City Wide Clean Brownsville Bash in April

 

Sabal Palm Audubon Center and Sanctuary

Jimmy Paz

541-8034

 

Agency Information:

The Sabal Palm Audubon Center is dedicated to providing visitors, from school children to birders, with a uniquely Audubon nature experience.

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Visitor Center Assistant, which includes: greeting people, selling books, t-shirts and other things. Maintain and upkeep the Butterfly Garden, Trail and Grounds maintenance assistant, office assistant, and tour guides.

 

 

Tip of Texas Family Outreach

Oak St.

541-5566

 

Agency Information:

Child abuse prevention

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

 As needed basis

 

United Way of Southern Cameron County

Wendy Hanson

Po 511 Brownsville

1900 Billy Mitchell blvd.

 

Agency Information:

People organization that provides resources based on community needs

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Campaigns and various other projects

 

Valley Association for Independent Living

Teresa Stern

880 Ridgewood Dr. Suite 1 Brownsville, Tx

544-0468

 

Agency Information:

Work with disabled by making them independent

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Office work

 

 

Valley Baptist Medical Center - Brownsville

Address                      1040 West Jefferson Street

Phone                          (956) 698-4059 (o) /(956) 698-469 (f)

Contact Person           Manuel Chacon, Director, Volunteer Services

E-mail address           manuel.chacon@valleybaptist.net

 

Agency Information:              Valley Baptist Medical Center – Brownsville (VBMC-B) is a 243-bed community-based hospital which provides a broad range of quality medical and health care services to the lower Rio Grande Valley. The hospital places an emphasis on quality care; preventive health care, including diabetes education and management; and service excellence. The VBMC–B Auxiliary (Volunteer Services) is a group of hospital service volunteers whose mission is to provide dedicated, caring service to patients, visitors and staff, and continuous financial support to Valley Baptist Health System.

 

Volunteer Opportunities:       VBMC’s comprehensive array of services provides a diverse range of hospital volunteer opportunities for more than 175 adults and students. Volunteers take on duties that include patient/family liaison, runner, clerical, driver, and more. On average, most volunteers work one-half day a week.

 

Age Restriction:         Must be 18-years of age or older to participate in volunteer program at Valley Baptist.

 

Training Provided:     Training will be provided, by hospital staff, for each volunteer in each department they support.

 

Special Skills Needed:           Must have great customer service skills and a desire to make a difference in the lives of other.

Length of Involvement:         University students, who join volunteer program, are required to participate at least three consecutive months.

 

Valley Regional Medical Center Auxiliary

Alton Gloor Rd. Brownsville, Tx. 78520

John Brown

956-350-7258

 

Agency Information:

Not available

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Volunteers are used in many places in the hospital such as the gift store, assisting with patients, delivering mail/flowers/balloons, delivering outbox items to appropriate department.

 

Training Provided:

The training consist of 9hrs spent shadowing a senior volunteer. After the 9hrs volunteers are expected to work the department they are assigned to or they request.

 

Special Skills needed

A successful volunteer is one who is cheerful, caring, respectful, flexible, and motivated. The successful volunteer is one who is there because they derive pleasure from helping others. These are the people whose hearts’ are in their work.

 

Youth Build/Community Development Corporation of Brownsville

815 Arthur St.

Greg Flores

548-2302

 

Agency Information:

Youth Build offers us to transform our lives through education, leadership, development, construction training and service to the community. We gladly receive the opportunity to develop our independence, work history, and personal integrity. 

 

Volunteer Opportunities:

Volunteers are used to tutor educational skills and to teach leadership skills. They are also used to conduct workshops to instill motivation into the students of Youth Build. Volunteers are also responsible for minor reports and some minor filing in the office.

 

Training Provided:

The training process at Youth Build will offer an orientation type training for the volunteers.

 

Special Skills needed

Positive attitude and motivational