GREENFIELD — Nearly 30 nonprofit organizations set up shop Tuesday at the Hancock County Public Library for the 12th annual Hancock County Volunteer Fair, a collaboration between the library and United Way of Central Indiana.
Here’s a glance at some of the organizations and their missions. A publication with information about every organization in attendance at the fair is available at the Hancock County Public Library, officials said.
Read more about the volunteer fair, here.
Court-Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA)
Address: 98 E. North St., Greenfield
Contact: Marciann Miller
Phone: 317-902-3462
Email: [email protected]
Website: casahancockcounty.org
About 45 Hancock County children are currently on a waiting list for a Court-Appointed Special Advocate — a volunteer who can stand before a judge as the voice of a young victim of child abuse and neglect.
State law requires a judge to assign a Court-Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA, to every court case where a child’s well-being is at stake. The advocate serves as the eyes and ears of the judge, taking an in-depth look into a child’s life and then reporting back with a recommendation about what is best for the child going forward. They help kids secure a safe, permanent and nurturing home.
CASA volunteers must be 21 or older and have to pass a background check. Each must complete 30 hours of training and will be sworn in by a judge. Volunteers spend an average of eight to 10 hours a month developing a rapport with the child through regular in-person meetings as well as collecting information from the child’s family, caretakers, teachers and anyone else involved in the child’s life.
Families United for Support and Encouragement, FUSE
Address: 1133 W. Main St., Suite E, Greenfield
Contact: Denise Arland, executive director
Phone: 317-462-9046
Email: [email protected]
Website: fuseinc.org
FUSE empowers families and individuals with disabilities and mental health disorders by providing information, training support and encouragement. Volunteers are needed to help plan FUSE events, set up and tear down those events as well as assist with fundraising and other duties.
Volunteers must be at least 15 years of age, though some opportunities exist for younger kids.
Agape Therapeutic Riding Resources Inc.
Address: 531 W. County Road 100S, Greenfield
Contact: Shirley Mascoe, operations director
Phone: 317-773-7433
Email: [email protected]
Website: agaperiding.org
Agape Therapeutic Riding Resources Inc. recently took over the site of the former Edelweiss Equine-Assisted Therapy Center, which dissolved and donated its assets to Agape earlier this year.
Agape, which now has three locations including the Greenfield site, provides adaptive services for individuals and families that enhance the cognitive, physical, emotional and social well-being of people with disabilities by teaching horsemanship skills.
Volunteers must be at least 14 years old and accompanied by a parent or guardian until they turn 16.
Volunteers are needed to act as rider support, horse leaders and grounds and stable keepers among other opportunities
Brooke’s Place for Grieving Young People
Address: 8935 N. Meridian St., Suite 200, Indianapolis
Contact: Lauren Griffith, support group coordinator
Phone: 317-705-9650 Ext. 212
Email: [email protected]
Website: brookesplace.org{p dir=”ltr”}The Indianapolis-based nonprofit is dedicated to providing a safe place for children to process grief after the loss of a loved one. Brooke’s Place was started in 1999 by founder Pam Wright and a dedicated group of volunteers, who saw the need for a ongoing grief support program serving kids in Central Indiana. Its leaders work to create a community where every young person living with grief feels safe, supported and understood during their personal journey.
The organization, which provides support to young people ages 3 to 20, and their families, is seeking volunteers willing to commit to walking alongside children working through their loss.
Volunteers can have several roles, including support group facilitators and companions, and are asked to commit to a year of volunteering for Brooke’s Place to provide stability for the children and young adults who come there, said support group coordinator Lauren Griffith.Support group facilitators must be 16 or older; buddies must be 14 or older or accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Love In the Name of Christ (Love INC)
Address: PO Box 192, Greenfield
Contact: Karla Whisenand, executive director
Phone: 317-468-6300
Email: [email protected]
Website: loveinc-ghc.org
Love INC exists to mobilize local churches to transform the lives of the community’s most vulnerable members. With the help of volunteers, the group serves anyone with a manageable need, connected them with serves in the community.
Help is needed answering phones at the Greenfield clearinghouse. Volunteers must be 18 or older, said clearinghouse coordinator Michelle Prather.
