At Home Care Companions, we rely a great deal on our friends in the community -- like you -- to serve the people who need us. With only two paid employees, we're a tiny organization with a huge mission -- to teach practical home care skills so that our neighbors living with a life-threatening illness can thrive at home. Our work depends on the dedicated volunteers who help to lead us -- and who keep us running.

At HCC, volunteers make a real difference in the lives of caregivers. We welcome ambitious volunteers, who have passion, unconventional ideas, and a burning desire to excel. We believe that the people who know us best, support us most. So we encourage you to review the information contained throughout this web site. And we invite you to attend one of our classes before volunteering. Finally, after 'checking us out', we encourage you to ask yourself these questions:

• Is HCC the kind of organization I can champion?
• Can I commit the time needed to help HCC serve caregivers?
• Are my skills & desires, and HCC's needs, a good match?
• Can my volunteer work at HCC make a real difference?

If you answered YES to at least one of these questions . . . here's what to do next

Please read through the list of volunteer opportunities below. If you find something that interests you, call Kevin Murphy at (415) 824-3269 to arrange an interview. NOTE: if you have a special skill, talent, or interest that you don't see in our descriptions -- please call us anyway. If you really want to help us -- and the caregivers we serve -- we'll find a meaningful role for you at HCC.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Provide leadership, program & financial oversight to the agency. Help raise money. Work with fellow Board Members and agency staff to ensure the smooth operation of HCC's caregiver training programs. Provide expert-level advice in one or more of the following disciplines: organizational management; financial management /accounting; public relations; marketing; law; volunteer recruitment and training; fund raising; special events; medical care; AIDS; cancer; or brain tumors. 2 year term. 2-hour meetings every month. Additional time commitment requested, 2 - 4 hours per month.

ADVISORY BOARD

Offer leadership and expertise to promote HCC and our training programs for caregivers. Provide advice, strategies, feedback, and contacts to: promote, improve & publicize programs; develop strategic alliances; and raise money. Most work will be conducted via phone with agency staff & the Board of Directors. Two 2-hour meetings annually (October, April.) Additional time commitment requested, 2 - 4 hours per month.

FACULTY

Volunteer faculty members are currently needed to present the classes that comprise HCC's FREE caregiver trainings for people living with AIDS or cancer -- and their families, friends, and partners. Working professionals are sought, especially those with expertise in AIDS care and Oncology, including: Doctors; Nurse Practitioners; Registered Nurses; Pharmacists, Nutritionists, Discharge Planners; Licensed Vocational Nurses; Certified Nursing Assistants; Physical Therapists; Occupational Therapists; Social Workers; Lawyers; & Funeral Directors. Time commitment requested - 2-4 hours per month.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Contact Bay Area service providers to establish stronger working relationships with HCC. Identify key contacts within local organizations and collect data (names, titles, addresses, phone and fax numbers, email addresses, etc.) to help HCC reach more caregivers. Represent HCC at community events and conferences to discuss programs, answer questions, and distribute literature. Time commitment requested: 8 hours per month for 6 months.

INTERNET OUTREACH

Help HCC identify web sites that are useful to the caregivers we serve, and establish links to and from HCC web site. Research chat rooms, on-line conferences and other internet resources that can promote HCC's mission. Collect information on funding opportunities within foundations and corporations. Time commitment requested: 8 hours per month for 6 months. NOTE: Much of this work can be done from home.

PUBLICITY

Identify and pursue no- and low-cost publicity opportunities to promote HCC's training programs for caregivers. Develop feature story ideas and pitch them to local reporters. Develop radio PSA scripts and place them with Bay Area stations. Pursue & schedule on-air interviews with HCC staff, Board, and former students. Time commitment requested: 8 hrs per month, for 6 months.

PUBLIC RELATIONS/MARKETING

Identify low-cost strategies to promote HCC's FREE training classes for caregivers. Review agency's promotional materials and recommend enhancements. Develop marketing strategies to reach more caregivers and increase the agency's overall profile in the community. Time commitment requested: 8 hrs per month, for 6 months.

WEB SITE MAINTENANCE

Maintain HCC's web site, so that information remains timely and accurate. Update class schedules. Add new links to other internet resources. Time commitment requested: 4-8 hours per month for 6 months.

TRAINING PROGRAM SUPPORT

Assist HCC's Founder (and Clinical Director) in setting up and delivering FREE classes for caregivers. Duties may include follow-up phone calls with potential trainees, student registration, information packet preparation & mailing, purchase/setup of refreshments, etc. Time commitment requested: 8 hrs per month, for 6 months.

OFFICE SUPPORT

Assist HCC's staff in the daily operation of the office. Duties are varied and can be custom-tailored to the skills and interests of individual volunteers. Tasks may include answering phones, preparing mailings, collecting information on area resources for caregivers, editing & proofreading, data entry, filing, etc. Time commitment requested: 4 hours per wk, for 6 months.

GRANT WRITING

Write funding proposals and letters of inquiry to foundatio s and corporations on behalf of HCC and its training programs. Research funding opportunities within foundations and corporations. Will work under the supervision of HCC's Executive Director, and learn grant writing 'hands on'. Minimum time commitment requested: Six hours per week for 6 weeks (during training), 8 hours per month thereafter.

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Design and produce high quality print materials to support HCC and our caregiver training programs. Materials may include leaflets, advertisements, training materials, or web content. Help identify & pursue no- and low-cost services from Bay Area printers. Time commitment will vary from project to project.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Help HCC design, develop and run special community-based events that will publicize the agency and its FREE classes for caregivers -- and raise money from the general public to support the organization. Projects will range from small one-time events (house parties, sidewalk sales, etc.) to the development of an HCC signature event that can be repeated annually. Team players with enthusiasm, strong customer service skills, and strong ties to professional, social or neighborhood groups are especially welcomed. Should have strong skills (or the desire to learn them) in producing an event on a shoestring budget, and soliciting donated goods and services. Time commitment will vary from event to event.

INTERNSHIPS

HCC is currently developing an internship program. We welcome inquiries from colleges and universities, job training programs, community service organizations, and individual volunteers. For more information, please call Kevin Murphy at (415) 824-3269.

VOLUNTEER TRAINING

In general, volunteer orientation and training will be provided one-on-one with a member of HCC's staff or Board of Directors. Occasionally, HCC will provide specialized trainings for groups of volunteers (in grant writing, for example) or will send a volunteer to a specific training available through another community service organization (these trainings are free to the volunteer.) NOTE: All volunteers who come into contact with HCC client information will be required to sign an agreement to protect our clients' confidentiality.

VOLUNTEER BENEFITS

All volunteers will have the opportunity to enhance the lives of our Bay Area neighbors living with a life threatening illness-and their families friends and partners who are helping them to thrive at home. HCC's volunteers can learn new skills, and master them through "hands on" experience on real projects. HCC holds at least one party annually to thank volunteers, and welcomes the chance to champion our volunteers, whenever possible (through professional references, community contacts, etc.)