Volunteer InternAt — Veterans Association of North County
We need people willing to listen, empathize and assist our Veterans, Active Duty & families, both by phone and in person. We find resources for all in the military community. You need to answer phones, assist walk-ins and those with appointments (both making them & reminders). You can assist with events and attend meetings. If preferred you can assist with set-ups, clean up of events/facility and such. Your interactions with this population can give you more personally than the assistance that you give. There's opportunity to help with Facebook or other social media accounts. We have research opportunity in finding new resources or updating information on our existing ones to maintain current information. We strive to be a "one stop shop" for our military/Veteran community in all ways. You'll need to get along well and cooperate with your coworkers and management along with providing excellent service to our customers.
Empathy & understanding of both elderly, Veterans both Homeless and those suffering with mental complications from their service (PTSD, TBI, battle fatigue or other issues). Customer service skills with Veterans, family members and homeless. We provide assistance to Veterans, Active duty service members and dependents of both trying to find Resources and information on filling out documents, upgrading service discharge status, transition services, job availability, groups available to join to share camaraderie to those who have been in the same situation. Can also learn skills in food service and barback services while helping with events at our site. Learn communication skills, enhance computer skills. You will need to answer phones, transfer calls, take messages and work well with fellow volunteers. Follow directions from supervisor and higher management. You may need to make copies or fax paperwork to the VA or other government entities on behalf of our clients. May also be asked to assist with set up and takedown of rooms for events (retirements, celebration of life, Christmas parties, Memorial Day, Veterans day etc.
Students will receive on the job training from supervisor, higher management and/or long term volunteers on how to answer phones, collect statistics for grant writing etc. If he helps with food serving our chef will inform him of what's needed. There will be elderly veterans and family members coming in and/or calling for assistance or information. Homeless Veterans may come in looking for help with housing, food or education. Our Interns will never be alone with clients, there will always be someone in the building to assist if there were to be any problems. There are no mandated reporter requirements. If he helps with event set-up or takedown there will be someone directing and supervising him during that activity.
POPULATION SERVED: Students may be working with minors, elderly, behaviorally challenged populations or individuals who have a known criminal background or history of violent behavior.
It's possible that elderly Veterans and/or family members may come in looking for information or assistance with paperwork to be sent to the Veterans Affairs office. Veterans and Active duty military families could come in for the same purpose and could include minor children but they would always be under the supervision of their parent/s and would not be left alone with our Intern. The last possibility could be a veteran whose homeless and/or having PTSD, TBI etc. We have an employee/s from Zero 8 Hundred is in our building each day and would be available to help, if needed. Our management team is also available at most times and there will be fellow volunteers there also.
Student can come into our site to pickup our Volunteer Worksheet or fill it out on our website www.vanc.me. The worksheet will need to be turned into the volunteer coordinator and the student will need to be interviewed and given a tour of our facility. If the student is still interested in interning, then we will coordinate on available days/shifts so that we can try to find a fit for the students schedule and VANC's hours open.
| Hours | Duration |
|---|---|
| 4 | hours per week |