Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities
Program Planning Committee Opportunities
Fourth of July Celebration Committee
Committee members needed to organize a celebration to include members of all branches of the service and their families on the Fourth of July. The event will be held at the ISC, Coast Guard Base in Boston. Volunteers are needed to work on the following planning sub-committees: Food/Refreshments, Prize Donations, Decorations, Entertainment, Logistics, and Publicity/Promotion. Sub-Committee members will meet initially in March and then work by phone and email. Meetings will be scheduled as needed.
Date (TBA) A Taste of the North End Committee – Coast Guard
Committee members needed to organize a food tasting luncheon program, featuring participating restaurants from the North End. This event will be held at the US CG Command Center in Boston. This committee will work to solicit restaurants to participate, create a festive atmosphere for the event.
Short-Term Project Committee Opportunities
USO Outreach Information Committee
Committee members needed to work on designing and customizing informational packets which will disseminate information describing the services offered by USO to military members and their spouses. Committee members will design several different types of packets to suit the unique needs of individuals. Packets for short term visitors, newly enlisted, port visitors, and those who have recently arrived in the New England area will all be created.
Military History Committee
Committee members needed to work on creating several displays for the USO office, which would honor and highlight military history. This committee would be responsible for working to create several permanent shadow box displays for our office, which is undergoing refurbishment.
On-Going Committee Opportunities
Homecoming/Deployment Support Committee
Committee members needed to support the planning and execution of homecoming and deployment events. Volunteers would also coordinate a distribution program of care packs to deploying soldiers as well as military personnel using our Logan Center.
Military “Pulse” Committee
Committee members needed to help keep the “pulse” on what’s happening with our military in the New England area. This includes deployment and homecoming schedules, noteworthy events and news stories, injuries or casualties. The goal of this committee is to keep abreast of current happenings and evaluate if USO support can be offered.
United Through Reading
Committee members needed to assist with USO’s program, which will unite children with a deployed parent or family member through an interactive, read-aloud DVD recorded story-time. USO Volunteers run all aspects of this program from scheduling appointments to video recording the reading sessions. All volunteers are trained to work with the pre-deployment military member to ensure a high quality and successful, interactive recorded session. The DVD and book are given to the child by the parent or caretaker during the deployment, so the child can read-along while the DVD recording of the deployed parent is enjoyed. Scheduling times will be very flexible to suit most committee members’ schedules.
Arts, Entertainment and Enrichment Committee
Committee members needed to do research and lend support to on-going efforts to bring quality entertainment, cultural and personal enrichment, and recreational opportunities to our military members and their families. Committee members will explore available venues, seek out entertainers and speakers as well as assist with securing general discounts, donated admissions and performances.
Family Support Committee
Committee members needed to pinpoint unique opportunities as well as provide on-going efforts to bring specialized support efforts to the dependents of those preparing, enduring or returning from a deployment.
Graphics/Media/Communications Committee
Committee members needed to assist with a variety of on-going projects including designing promotional materials, contributing to newsletters, photographing events and assisting with thank you letters. (Many projects do not require the work to be done at the USO office)
College Hosts Committee
Committee members needed to coordinate efforts to host individual meet and greet programs for the crew members of visiting naval ships involving local area college students’ groups. * Committee members must be college students or recent graduates maintaining an affiliation with the school.
Other On-Going Volunteer Opportunities
Center Greeters – Boston Office and Logan Airport Lounge
USO has two visitors’ centers. One is located at 427 Commercial Street in Boston (US Coast Guard Command Center), which is open Tuesday through Saturday 10:00AM-4:00PM. The other is located in Terminal C at Logan Airport, which is open seven days a week (currently 9:00AM -9:00PM, but our goal is to have the center open from 6:00AM-11:00PM). Volunteers work in our centers to greet patrons, answer phones, and assist visitors with information as well as the use of center amenities. Greeters ideally work a regularly scheduled 3 or 4 hour shift. Greeters are asked to work a minimum of one shift per month. Many of our greeters also lend assistance to other projects while on their shifts when center traffic is slow. * Please note that free parking is available, while on your shift, at both locations. Logan Express transportation to the airport is free for USO volunteers as well.
Clerical Assistance
On an “as need basis”, volunteers assist with clerical duties associated with special projects, mailings and events preparation - anything from data entry and research to stuffing envelopes.
USO Support/Outreach
When our volunteers provide USO Support/Outreach, they man booths at events and assist with disseminating information, distributing USO giveaway items and talking with patrons about the programs and services USO offers. Opportunities to support USO as part of this team are posted regularly each month, so volunteers can sign-up for events and programs on an individual basis.
Port Greeters
Each year many naval ships visit Boston and Newport and when they arrive, USO is there to welcome them! Our port greeters play an important role by helping visiting sailors ‘navigate’ in and around the cities and make the most of any “liberty”(personal time) they may be granted. Port greeters spend time on ships during the first few hours they arrive, assisting the crew with maps and general information about recreational opportunities and special events in the area.
“All Hands” Crew
Many volunteers might not have time to be part of a planning committee but are glad to “show up and lend a hand”….literally. When our volunteers sign-up to serve as part of the “All Hands” crew at the events and programs we host, they assist with set up, break down, and clean up.
Development
A wide variety of opportunities to assist with fundraising efforts exists including; solicitations, planning drives, and events to raise funds and in-kind (goods and services) donations, as well as research and development of corporate partnerships. Opportunities are posted as committees on an individual basis. Other opportunities may be available, please contact the Executive Director to talk about individual, prospecting projects.
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