Thank You for supporting your local Volunteer Center
Programs
Volunteer Matching
One of the main goals of the Volunteer Center of Sacramento is to match community volunteers with high-quality volunteer opportunities at local non-profit organizations.
We achieve this goal in two ways:
We manage a cutting edge volunteer matching website (www.volunteersac.org) that automatically pairs volunteers with volunteer opportunities using location and interest as the matching criteria. Volunteers can search for one-time or ongoing opportunities, as well as, opportunities that allow youth volunteers under the age of 18.
We also manually match volunteers with volunteer opportunities. If none of the opportunities on our website meet your needs, our dedicated staff is available to help you find the perfect match on the phone or in person. Call (916) 567-3100 to speak to a member of our team or stop by our Community Resource Center to flip through hard copy binders of current volunteer opportunities.
Birthday MAGIC
This program coordinates personalized birthday parties for children currently living with their families in local homeless shelters. Monthly donations, sponsors and volunteers are needed to run this program.
Adopt-A-Family
The Volunteer Center of Sacramento’s Adopt-A-Family Program provides food and gifts for local families in need during the holidays. Without this program, these low-income families may go without Christmas dinner and gifts for their children. Donations, sponsors, and volunteers are needed to ensure the success of this program.
In 2009, Adopt-A-Family assisted 166 families and 462 children during the holiday season. Your sponsorship can make one more family’s Christmas wish come true.
2010 Adopt-A-Family Guidelines “Providing Food & Gifts for Families”
Dear Potential Sponsor:
Thank you for your interest in Adopting-A-Family through the Volunteer Center of Sacramento’s Adopt-A-Family Program! As you know, our program provides food and gifts to low-income families during the holiday season. We’ve created a few guidelines to make sure your Adopt-A-Family experience is clearly outlined, positive and rewarding. If you still have questions after reviewing this document, call us. We’ll be happy to chat!
Program Facts:
• Families on the Available Families List have passed a strict application process.
• Families range in size from small (1 parent/1 child) to large (2 parents/13 children).
• Approximate cost of adopting a family ranges from $50-100 per member.
• Sponsors provide a family gift, gifts for each child and a grocery store gift card for Christmas dinner.
• Families can be shared! Groups are encouraged to sponsor large families together.
• Sponsoring a family is a tax-deductible donation.
How It Works:
1) Contact Us at (916) 567-3100 or info@volunteersac.org to request an Available Families list. Our list will be available in early November (you may call anytime during the year to be placed on the Interested Sponsor List).
2) Select Your Family. Our Available Families list includes total number of family members, gender of each child and the type of presents the children are requesting.
3) Confirm Your Family. Please make sure to get a written confirmation from VCS BEFORE buying presents for your family. Several sponsors in the community have that same list.
4) Go Shopping. Purchase a family gift, gifts for each child and a grocery store gift card. You may receive "Dear Santa" letters from your family's children that will help you get to know them.
5) Wrap Your Gifts. Please wrap all gifts and clearly mark each gift with a name, age and family number (ie: Johnny #73)
6) Place All Items into a Large Box or Bag that is Clearly Marked with the Family Number. If there are large items that cannot fit into the family box (bike, comforter, etc) clearly mark the item with a tag. This ensures all of your gifts are delivered to your family.
7) Drop Off. Drop off gifts during assigned days in December.
Thank you for donating to Adopt-A-Family through the Volunteer Center of Sacramento!
EX: Adoptable Families List
Family #6
Number of family members: 4
Mom: vacuum, clothing (tops size M, pants size 8)
Girl, 18 mos. clothes 3T, shoes 6, Dora items
Girl, 3 shoes 8 ½, pants 3T, Wall E toys
Boy, 15 pants 34, shoes 9, shirt x-large
Please note: Families will be kept anonymous – thank you. In the case that your family cannot be contacted, your gifts will be distributed to other families that were not adopted. If you have any other questions – please ask!
Community Resource Center
At-risk or low income members of the community utilize the center to learn about and be connected with helpful resources, such as Public Housing, Assisted Childcare and Counseling Information. Volunteers can also stop by the Community Resource Center to browse through a hard-copy collection of volunteer opportunities and leave with a customized list.
Heart of Sacramento
Special Heart of Sacramento (HOS) projects are one-time volunteer events available to everyone. No special training or orientations are needed. These events are usually 4-hours, family friendly, held on Saturdays and have few participant restrictions.
Action Alert Network
When non-profits need volunteer support they turn to VCS for assistance. Our action alert volunteer network allows us to contact approximately 4,000 volunteers with an e-mail call for volunteer help.
Volunteer Spirit Awards
2010 brings the 10th Annual Volunteer Spirit Awards, celebrating a decade of volunteer spirit! This year's event is scheduled from 11am - 1pm on Friday, October 29, 2010 at the Sacramento Grand Ballroom 629 J Street, Sacramento.
The Volunteer Spirit Awards is Sacramento’s largest volunteer recognition ceremony based solely on the volunteers who change and improve our community. Volunteer Spirit Award volunteer nominations are open to individuals and groups who have performed exceptional volunteer service at a community based organization during the past year. A panel of involved community leaders, independent of VCS, reviews and chooses a winner in each of the categories. All categories will be judged independently. VCS will introduce and honor all nominees and award the winners at the Volunteer Spirit Awards luncheon.
Youth & Family Volunteerism
It’s never too early to volunteer. In fact, most Junior High Schools, High Schools and Colleges require community service hours to graduate. To help youth complete these requirements and make finding youth volunteer opportunities easier for everyone, the Volunteer Center of Sacramento has included a special search capability for youth friendly volunteer opportunities.
To find these opportunities, visit the Volunteer page and check the box that reads “Volunteer Opportunities for 18 and under” inside the green search box. The search results will only include volunteer opportunities that are available to youth. Please note, every opportunity has a different minimum age so be sure to pay attention to the age requirements. Please contact us via phone or email and ask for a “Personalized Volunteer Matching Request” if none of the youth friendly opportunities fit your needs. We’re always happy to help.
The Volunteer Center of Sacramento has also published a Youth Volunteer Directory. The Directory is a comprehensive listings of non-profit organization that welcome youth as volunteers. The Directory highlights a wide range of non-profits and volunteer opportunities open to youth like working with animals and mentoring children to planting trees and sorting donated clothing. This helpful publication is available at no cost to youth, parents, teachers, or administrators in hard copy, email, and is available in downloadable pdf form. Please contact us via phone or email (enter Youth Volunteer Directory Request as the subject) to request a copy. Download the Youth Volunteer Directory PDF.
A companion publication to the Youth Volunteer Directory is Get Involved! A How-to Volunteer Guide for Parents, Teachers and Youth written by Mary Lynn Perry, a local Manager of Volunteer Services. This How-To Guide includes helpful hints and tools that address youth volunteering issues and barriers. The book explores reasons for youth volunteering, the benefits, types of volunteering, how to approach volunteering and what to expect, and finally how to track the experience for use on college or job application. This publication is also available at no cost. Download the How-to Volunteer Guide PDF.
Corporate Volunteerism
Corporate Project Opportunities for socially conscience companies that want to give back to the communities in which they work and live are available through VCS. Some of our corporations schedule week-long projects, working with 3 or 4 different organizations at a time. Please contact Christine Wallace (916) 567-3100 for more information.
Alternative Sentencing Program (Court Ordered Community Service)
The Alternative Sentencing Program (ASP) provides adult & juvenile courts, probation departments and judicial officers with the option of community service as an alternative to fines and/or incarceration for traffic, misdemeanor and felony offenders in the Sacramento region.
The local court system benefits from ASP because it’s a viable alternative to fines or incarceration, local community members benefit because it allows them to fulfill legal commitments while giving back to the community, and local nonprofit organizations benefit from the hours of service participants provide. ASP provided more than 370,000 service hours to the Sacramento community in 2008.
ASP is the only sentencing option for the local court system that is completely funded by the participants it serves. ASP receives no outside funding.
Location, Hours and Contact Information for Alternative Sentencing Program
You must sign up with the Alternative Sentencing Program within 10 days from your court date.
Please report to:
Alternative Sentencing Program
1300 Ethan Way, Suite 700
Sacramento, CA 95825
Please sign-up between the hours of:
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday
10 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. Tuesday
We are closed on all holidays.
Phone: (916) 567-3114
Fax: (916) 567-3151
What you need to sign-up:
1. Referral form issued in court
2. Valid ID
3. Total fees or minimum of $40. Payment plans are available for a one time $30 billing fee. (see fee schedule below)
Re-referrals: must pay any previous balance owed to ASP and a $30 re-referral fee.
Accepted Forms of Payment: Cash (bills only, no coins), Money Orders, Checks, Debit or Credit Cards (No American Express)
Note: If you fail to complete your hours and payment by the due date, your case may be converted to the original fine or sentence. Check to see if you have a court date.
Out of County/State Clients: Out of County: Additional $10 Fee
Out of State: Additional $25 Fee
Fee Schedule:
| 1-10 hours = $40 | 11-20 hours = $50 | 21-30 hours = $60 |
| 31-40 hours = $70 | 41-60 hours = $90 | 61-80 hours = $110 |
| 81-100 hours = $130 | 101-120 hours = $150 | 121-140 hours = $170 |
| 141-160 hours = $190 | 161-180 hours = $210 | 181-200 hours = $230 |
| 201-220 hours = $250 | 221-240 hours = $270 | 241-260 hours = $290 |
| 261-280 hours = $310 | 281-300 hours - $330 | 301-350 hours = $355 |
| 351-400 hours = $380 | 401-450 hours = $405 | 451-500 hours = $430 |
| 501-600 hours = $455 | 601-700 hours = $480 | 701-800 hours = $530 |
| 801-900 hours = $550 | 901-1,000 hours = $630 | Over 1000 hours = $680 |
Frequently Asked Questions about Alternative Sentencing Program
- Do I need to bring my court papers?
- Yes, we need your paperwork to proceed with the interview.
- Can I interview over the phone?
- No, you must appear in person. If you live out of County/State call (916) 567-3114. See below.
- Can I send someone else to sign up for me?
- No, you must appear in person. If you are under 18 years of age, you may come alone or with a parent or guardian.
- Do I have to pay a fee?
- Yes, everyone pays fees to participate in the Alternative Sentencing Program. Program fees depend on the number of hours you were assigned. Accepted Forms of Payment: Cash (bills only, no coins accepted), Money Orders, Checks, Debit or Credit Cards (No American Express).
- Why do I have to pay fees to do my hours?
- The fees you pay us cover the time it takes to interview you, monitor your progress, provide you with a completion certificate and report back to the courts or the appropriate party.
- Can I pick the place that I will go to complete my hours?
- You will meet with an ASP Case Worker who will work with you to determine what placement will best suit your needs based on the court orders and other restrictions.
- Can you give me an extension (more time) to complete my service/hours?
- No, permission to extend the court ordered deadline is only given by the court.
- What if I live in a different County or State?
- Yes, you can complete your hours, please call us: (916) 567-3114.
- I have finished my hours. What do I do?
- Submit your completed time sheets to ASP in person. You will receive a date stamped copy for your records.
