DPSREA Logo
Denver Public Schools Retired Employees Association
DPSREA has been dissolved. Please direct your inquiries to the
DPSREA Foundation.

Volunteer and Work Opportunities

Transforming Lives • Strengthening Community

Assistance League of Denver harnesses the power of the volunteer to generate positive change in Denver and surrounding communities. We have volunteer opportunities in our school programs and Thrift Shop. Come join us and share your experience and expertise to overcome learning barriers as we provide clothing, books and hygiene products to deserving students. Please follow the link to learn more about Assistance League and our programs. http://www.assistanceleague.org/denver

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is looking for volunteers to teach youth ages 8 -11 about emergency preparedness.

In our effort to educate the youth about emergency preparedness, the American Red Cross has a fire prevention program, The Pillowcase Project, that teaches 3rd – 5th graders across the county about fire safety and other hazards. The Pillowcase Project is a 40 – 60 minutes classroom presentation that is delivered by an American Red Cross volunteer. Students are taught through a Learn, Practice, and Share approach.

Learn: Students are provided with basic information about home fires. A workbook is provided that teaches a fire escape plan, hazard weather conditions, and how to prepare an emergency supply kit.

Practice: Students have the opportunity to role play what they have learned about what to do during a home fire.

Share: Students are provided a pillowcase in which they draw items and/or concepts related to fire safety/prevention. This information should be shared with the adults in their home.

You need to be able to volunteer at least one day a month for at least 3 hours. Those who would like to learn more, please contact me at tamara.massey@redcross.org or 303-607-4722.

Woodshop Wizards

Woodshop Wizards is an after school enrichment program currently working in 13 Denver Public Elementary Schools. Students learn basic woodworking skills through the completion of kits that are made in the Wizards workshop in Englewood. Instructors hired will act as an assistant instructor for their first eight week session and then considered for leading their own class.

Classes start between 3:00 and 3:45 pm on various Mondays through Fridays depending on the school’s schedule. Instructors may teach on any or all of these days as it works into their personal schedules. Additional classes are taught in the Wizards classroom in Englewood during the day for home schooled students, scout troops and groups making toys for donation to various charities. We will also be working with camps during the summer. Additional money can be earned by helping create and
package kits during the day.

Beginning instructors need not possess woodworking skills but will be taught classroom management, resource management and curriculum development by our experienced instructors. The training coordinator is a National Master Teacher and former Metro State adjunct professor of education. The main qualification for applicants is that they commit to an entire eight week session at the school of their choice and enjoy working with elementary age students.

If any of your members would be interested in earning some extra money with a small commitment of time, please contact me via this email address or call Doug Schmidt at 303-829-1894.

Thank you for your time and consideration. We look forward to hearing from you.

Doug Schmidt

Woodshop Wizards Denver

Nanno

Nanno is an on demand web connecting parents with last minute child care. Retired teachers are considered perfect as high quality caregivers. Contact www.nanno.com/caregiver-how-it-works or Liz Oertie at liz@nanno.com .

Seniors’ Resource Center

Volunteers are needed using their own cars or a car provided by the Seniors’ Resource Center to transport seniors to doctor’s appointments, the grocery store, hair salon or other critical needs. You choose the areas for driving and the days and times that work for you. Seniors reside in Adams, Arapahoe, Denver and Jefferson Counties. Mileage reimbursement and excess auto insurance are provided. For more information please call or email: Pat Pierson – ppierson@srcaging.org, 303 332-3840/Mobile

DPS Homeless Education Network (HEN)

Jackie Bell is the Program Manager for the DPS Homeless Education Network (HEN). Her 14- year career has been dedicated to supporting DPS students of homeless and migrant families. A new emphasis for Jackie is ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act , which replaced the No Child Left Behind legislation). One area of focus for this legislation strives to ensure educational stability for children in foster care and children whose parents serve in the active armed forces. At least 500 DPS students qualify for assistance with the number of students of military families not yet determined.

If you would like to be added as a community member who would like to support these students, please call or email Jackie. All ways to support are available such as help with school fees, purchasing school supplies, holiday outreach and mentoring or tutoring.

Thank you for your time and continued service to DPS students!

You may reach Jackie at 720-423-2318 or visit http://hen.dpsk12.org/militaryfoster-care/

Alzheimer’s Association

Alzheimer’s Association had asked for help in filling a variety of volunteer opportunities. Contact Theresa Grill at 303-813-1669.

Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory

Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory is looking for individuals interested in environmental education who enjoy working with students outdoors. No experience in environmental education or ornithology is needed. Training is in March. Contact Peggy Watson at peggy.watson@rmbo.org

GED Program

GED Program Retired teachers are needed to work with youth (17-24) and adults who are trying to obtain a GED. This paid opportunity involves working only a few hours each week. Contact Gaye Horne at ghorne@springinstitute.org if you are interested.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity has many opportunities for volunteers. Their website provides the details:

Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory

Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory is looking for individuals interested in becoming Volunteer Naturalists. Volunteers assist the education staff with in-class programs, field trips to Barr Lake State Park, and educational outreach events in the Denver Metro area. RMBO’s employees and volunteers work on solutions for bird and habitat conservation through science, education and stewardship. Training sessions will be provided. Contact Emily Snode at 303/659-4348 ext. 11 or emily.snode@rmbo.org.

Boomers Leading Change in Health

Boomers Leading Change in Health, a national movement to provide adults 50+ with meaningful volunteer opportunities, will match, train and place volunteers. These adults work as Healthcare Navigators helping people gain access to appropriate resources, as Community Health Workers providing groups with information about resources and living with illnesses and as Advocates to support legislation and policy. Contact Katie Creedon, Program Manager at kcreedon@blcih.org or 303-4BOOMER.

Project Shine

Project Shine assists immigrants and refugee elders to navigate the health care system. Examples of activities are making appointments for elders, accompanying an immigrant or refugee to an appointment and following up with an elder to make sure medications are being taken correctly. Contact Brandy Kramer at bkramer@springinstitute.org.

DPS Office of Volunteer Services

The DPS Office of Volunteer Services is recruiting retirees who are interested in volunteering in the schools. There are volunteer opportunities for tutors, chess club tutoring/coaching and storytelling with Spellbinders volunteers. Contact Brenda Vasquez, Manager Denver Public Schools, Office of Volunteer Services at 1350 E. 33rd Ave. Denver, CO 80205-3924. Contact numbers are 720-424-8245., Fax – 720-424-8266, or Brenda_Vasquez@dpsk12.org

National Association for Gifted Children

Our Annual National Association for Gifted Children Convention will be helpd in denver this year from November 14th to November 18th. We would love to have your members share their time as volunteers. This would truly help to make this years Annual NAGC conference a success. Please share this with all of your members.

We are seeking volunteers to help make the conference run smoothly. Generally, our format is that volunteers will work a four-hour shift either in the morning or the afternoon of November 14, 15, or 16. As a way of saying thank you, we have arranged for you to attend the conference for the rest of the day. We also are in need of volunteers for Sunday morning, November 17.

We need volunteers in the following areas:

  • Essential Session Monitors (Wednesday only)
  • General Session Monitors
  • Gifted Education Application Session Monitors (Thursday only)
  • Poster Boards (Thursday only) – Help with set up or hosting poster sessions
  • Registration
  • Floater
  • Concurrent Session Monitors
  • Super session Monitors
  • Door Monitors

Note: Monitors assist the session leader with room set up, make take tickets, liaise with NAGC staff as needed, take attendance and then enjoy the session.

The conference schedule is posted. You can view it here.

Please take a few minutes to go to this site http:/tinyul.com/NAGC2012Volunteers and fill out our survey. You will find that you can indicate the days and times that you are available and also the kind of event you’d like to help with. There’s also a place where you can add any additional comments you have.

If you have any questions, please email Debbie, dgetzel@comcast.net or
Dorothy dorothyresnick@yahoo.com

Help children develop healthier habits and make positive changes in you too!

CATCH Healthy Habits is a unique intergenerational physical activity and nutrition program that teams volunteers age 50+
with kids grades K-5. We are seeking volunteers for Summer & After-School Programs at locations in the Denver Metro area.
We have other non-teaching opportunities in volunteer recruitment, community partners, and administration.
For more information, please contact Stacey Booth, 303-235-6947 or srbooth@SRCAging.org,
or visit our website at www.CATCHHealthyHabits.org.
(CATCH Healthy Habits is offered through a partnership of Seniors’ Resource Center and the OASIS Institute and is funded by a grant from
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation.)

The Pupil Assistance Fund

The Pupil Assistance Fund Board is looking for an Executive Secretary to help with grant writing and fundraising.
If you are interested please contact Amy Grant at 720.423.8200 or amy_grant@dpsk12.org or
Cathe Schultz at 303.322.1973 or stecathe@aol.com.

DPS Pupil Assistance Fund, Inc is a 501 (3)c that has been in existence for over 60 years serving the students of Denver Public Schools.
We provied the uninsured and the under insured student of DPS with eye exams and glasses, coats, hats and gloves, clothing and other emergency services.