Opportunities for Otsego recognizes the vast knowledge and talents of the community and offers volunteer opportunities through the following programs and events:

Programs

Head Start: A comprehensive preschool program that helps children from low-income families develop the early reading and math skills they need to be successful in school. Center-based services promote school readiness and enhance social development of children ages 3 through 5.

Volunteers needed to:
• Serve as Classroom Aides and/or Bus Riders
• Coordinate at-home projects
• Assist during play time
• Chaperone field trips
• Serve as a member of Policy Council

To Get Involved:
• Contact a Head Start Teacher/Center Director by email:
• Cherry Valley
• Cooperstown
• Milford
• Morris
• Oneonta: River Street
• Oneonta: SUNY Campus
• Richfield Springs
• Schenevus/Worcester
• Unadilla
• Call the Head Start Administrative Office at 607.433.8055

Head Start relies on the help of volunteers to provide 20% of its annual budget through in-kind donations of time and/or resources. The success of the Head Start program depends upon the active participation of parents and others in the community.

Violence Intervention Program: Comprehensive program providing support to adult and child victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and violent crimes. The program provides a 24-hour crisis hotline, individual and group counseling, advocacy and legal/medical accompaniment, education to schools and community groups, and safe housing.

Volunteers needed to assist with:
• General office duties (i.e. answering phones, filing documentation, data entry, photocopying, assembling informational folders)
• Community education and outreach
• Community awareness events (i.e. Take Back the Night, Crime Victims Awareness Month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, or Domestic Violence Awareness Month)
• Accompanying clients to the emergency room, court, police departments, or the Department of Social Services
• Answering the 24-Hour Crisis Hotline
• Coordinating activities for residents of the safe house
• Child care
• Mentorships

To Get Involved:
• Submit a Volunteer Application
• Call Violence Intervention Program Office at 607.433.8038

All VIP volunteers, other than those only assisting in general office details, must receive their New York State Rape Crisis Counselor Certification. Certification requires participation in 30-hours of classroom training and an additional 10 hours supervised training annually.

Events
Holiday Baskets: Annual distribution of food and nutritional resources to families during the winter holidays. Project runs September through December.

Volunteers needed to assist with:
• Collecting and sorting donations
• Packing boxes
• Distribution

To Get Involved:
• Call 607.433.8080

River Ride: An annual bicycle fundraising event to benefit all programs of Opportunities for Otsego. The event runs through the Susquehanna Valley and offers cyclists five scenic routes to ride, extending 11 to 46 miles. The River Ride is the first Saturday of June each year.

Volunteers needed to assist with:
• Water stops
• Registration
• Lunch (set-up, serving, clean-up)

To Get Involved:
• Call the River Ride Event Coordinator at 607.433.8004