Patch Picks: Volunteer Organizations

Volunteering in your own city is a rewarding and enriching experience for all who take part. Like most cities, Westlake has a variety of volunteer opportunities. Even if you only have an  hour or two a month, you can make a big difference in the community. Here are five great Westlake organizations that need volunteers.

Youth Challenge

Youth Challenge is a recreation center in Westlake that caters to children with all kinds of disabilities. Children are treated to fun and enriching activities like bowling, swimming, tennis, crafts, dancing, sailing, baseball and basketball and many others.

The facility is completely adapted to accommodate children with all kinds of disabilities, so no child is ever denied the excitement of his or her favorite activities and the friendships that go along with them. Youth Challenge is looking for volunteers who can help out at the center in a variety of ways from preparing snacks to participating in activities to office work. All volunteers must be at least 12 years old. For more information, visit the Youth Challenge website.

Meals on Wheels

is a nationwide program that delivers nutritious food to the elderly and disabled who have limited opportunities to shop for food. In addition to bringing meals to the needy, Meals on Wheels provides a lifeline for some clients, as volunteers with the program provide friendly smiles, conversation and the security of having a friend who visits daily.

Meals on Wheels delivery volunteers ensure that a client’s needs are met and that the client is safe when they visit to deliver the meal. In addition, Meals on Wheels volunteers are needed to prepare and package the meals that are delivered. For more information on how to volunteer with Meals on Wheels in Westlake at the Westlake Senior Center, call 440-899-3544.

The Gathering Place

Located on Sharon Drive, The Gathering Place is a community-based cancer support center. The facility opened in 2008 after founders realized that the city of Cleveland had an “unmet need” in serving the mental and emotional needs of cancer patients and their families at no cost.

According to their website, The Gathering Place has served more than 17,500 cancer victims in the past 11 years. The facility includes two education centers that include lending libraries with books, CDs and DVDs, support groups for people suffering from all types of cancer as well as their loved ones, Tai Chi and yoga classes, nutrition and cooking classes and more. Volunteers at the center work directly with patients by providing warm smiles and forming lasting friendships in a variety of ways. For more information, call (216) 595-5946 or fill out the online volunteer registration form.

Achievement Centers for Children

Founded in 1940, provides care and rehabilitation for children with all kinds of disabilities whether physical, neurological, sensory or cognitive. Their programs focus on family support, special-needs child care, autism, therapies and recreation activities.

All participants are eligible for the center’s programs on a sliding fee scale that makes the center accessible to children from all kinds of socioeconomic backgrounds. Both children and their families will be enriched by the innovative programs offered by the center. Volunteers are needed to help out throughout the center. To find out more, call them directly at 440-250-2520 or email cory.ramsey@achievementctrs.org.

COMPEER Community Linkage

The Compeer Community Linkage Program is a neighborhood volunteer group that needs caring volunteers to help provide friendship and encouragement to adults recovering from and living with certain mental illnesses.

The program holds monthly events at the Far West Center at on Crocker Road. The events include activities like bowling, restaurant lunches, community festivals, game nights and parties, all of which take place at regular intervals throughout the month. Volunteers are asked to commit to just two events per month, but they can certainly attend more if they wish. For more information on Compeer Community Linkage, call 440-440-6212, Ext. 242 or email compeer@farwestcenter.com.