Thank You for supporting your local Volunteer Center
Programs
Volunteer Matching
The main function of the Volunteer Center of Sacramento is to match community volunteers with high-quality volunteer opportunities. 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. We also manually match volunteers with opportunities. If none of the opportunities on the website meet your needs, our dedicated staff is available to help you find the perfect match. Please call (916) 567-3100 x112 to speak to a member of our team.
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
This program helps local families in need by providing food and gifts during the holiday season. Donations and sponsors are needed for this program.
2009 Adopt-A-Family Guidelines
“Providing Food & Gifts for Families”
Donation Drop-Off Days: Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday, December 7, 8 & 9
Dear Potential Adopt-A-Family Sponsor:
Thank you for Adopting-A-Family through the Volunteer Center of Sacramento’s Adopt-A-Family Program! As you know, Adopt-A-Family 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!
Here’s how Adopt-A-Family works:
- Call/Email & Request an “Available Families” List We will send you a list of approximately 100 approved families (approved families make less than $1,600 per month and have passed a strict application process). The list will include first names, ages, genders, gift wish lists and clothing sizes. See example below.
- Choose A Family Our families range in size from small (1 parent & 1 child) to large (2 parents & 10 children). Keep in mind estimated cost is $100 per person (including food and gifts). If your family, group or organization is looking to donate approximately $500, you should probably choose a family with 5 members.
- Call/Email & Confirm Your Family Call us immediately after deciding on a family. Several people in the community will have the same list you have. It’s always good to have a first, second, even third choice. Please – do not go out and buy gifts before you have verbal or written confirmation from us!
- Go Shopping Food: Please purchase a grocery store gift card according to family size. Christmas Dinner for a family of 2 costs approximately $50, family of 3 $75, family of 4 $100, and so on. Gifts: Please purchase and donate new items only. This is the one time of year when we do not accept used items. Provide (at least) two presents per child. There is no maximum number of gift(s) you can purchase. Also provide (at least) 1 family gift. Wish lists will be provided. Gift certificates are always welcome.
- Drop-Off Days Donation Drop-off Days are Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday, December 7, 8 & 9. Early drops are welcome! Due to time and space limitations, late donations will not be accepted. Please do not disappoint your family by missing the deadline. We may or MAY NOT have extra staff or volunteers on-hand to help with heavy drop-offs, please make sure you have enough help when dropping off donations.
Please make sure all gifts are contained in ONE or TWO large “family” boxes, CLEARLY marked with the family number. If there are large items that cannot fit into your family box (vacuum, bicycle, etc) clearly mark the item with a tag.
IE: 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.
2009 Volunteer Spirit Awards
The Volunteer Center of Sacramento (VCS) is proud to honor outstanding Sacramento region volunteers by presenting the 9th Annual Volunteer Spirit Awards.
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 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 on Friday, October 30, 2009.
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
Since 1976, the Alternative Sentencing Program (ASP) has been providing 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 Sacramento County.
ASP provides services to the entire Sacramento community. 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 nonprofits benefit from the hours of service participants provide. ASP provided more than 370,000 service hours to the Sacramento community in 2008.
The Alternative Sentencing Program 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
Offenders are ordered to report in person to the Alternative Sentencing Program for an interview within 10 CALENDAR DAYS of the court date. NOTE: WALK-INS ONLY. APPOINTMENTS ARE NOT GIVEN.
Please Report To:
Volunteer Center of Sacramento:1111 Howe Ave. Suite 600 Bld. 600
Sacramento, CA 95825
(We are on the lower level next to the elevator)
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8am to 5pm
Tuesday from 10am to 5pm Note: We do not accept walk-ins after 4:30pm. We are closed on all court recognized holidays.
Phone: (916) 567-3114
Fax: (916) 567-3151
Fee Schedule
Mandatory Application Fee: $30, PLUS the Following Program Fees:
| 1-10 hours = $10 | 11-20 hours = $20 | 21-30 hours = $30 |
| 31-40 hours = $40 | 41-60 hours = $60 | 61-80 hours = $80 |
| 81-100 hours = $100 | 101-120 hours = $120 | 121-140 hours = $140 |
| 141-160 hours = $160 | 161-180 hours = $180 | 181-200 hours = $200 |
| 201-220 hours = $220 | 221-240 hours = $240 | 241-260 hours = $260 |
| 261-280 hours = $280 | 281-300 hours - $300 | 300-350 hours = $325 |
| 351-400 hours = $350 | 401-450 hours = $375 | 451-500 hours = $400 |
| 501-600 hours = $425 | 601-700 hours = $450 | 701-800 hours = $500 |
| 801-900 hours = $550 | 901-1000 hours = $600 | Over 1000 hours = $650 |
New Clients:
Payment in full is due at the time of your first visit. If you cannot make your payment in full during your first visit, a one-time $30.00 billing fee will be added. Please Note: you must be prepared to pay a minimum of $50 at the time of initial interview to enter to ASP program – no exceptions.
Out of County/State Clients:
Out of County: Additional $10 Fee
Out of State: Additional $25 Fee
Frequently Asked Questions for 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. There is a mandatory $30 application fee PLUS program fees. Program fees depend on the number of your number of hours. 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?
- You chose the option of completing community service instead of paying your original fine or going to jail. The fees you pay us covers 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.