Volunteer Opportunities

Residents are invited to participate in any of the following volunteer opportunities in the area. For more information or to sign up, call the phone number listed for the event.

•The Valley Trauma Center at 7116 Sophia Ave., Van Nuys, is a nonprofit, multicultural organization dedicated to the elimination of sexual and interpersonal violence through healing, empowerment and increased public awareness of prevention strategies.

Valley Trauma Center is the sexual assault crisis service for the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys. Services include a 24-hour Rape Crisis and Domestic Violence Hotline, volunteer staff of rape crisis advocates who meet with survivors for emotional support and a volunteer and paid staff of counselors that provide in home and on-site counseling.

In January the center will host a training session for three consecutive weekends. Volunteers are needed to serve as rape crisis advocates or counselor trainees/interns.

To sign up for the training or for more information, call Michele Stayer, volunteer coordinator, at (818) 756-5330.

•Anyone looking for an opportunity to give of their time and talent this holiday season may consult GiftMatch, a free and easy-to-use feature listing local available volunteer opportunities.

The program is found at www .VolunteerVenturaCounty.org.

GiftMatch also offers the public the opportunity to give new and gently used items to local nonprofit organizations this holiday season and year-round.

The website does not accept cash donations.

For information, call Marisa Lopez at (805) 485-6288, ext. 276.