‘Metamorphosis’ to connect volunteers with jobs in GV

There are at least 28 Green Valley organizations, groups and facilities that rely on volunteers, and the Joyner-Green Valley Library will hold an event to connect people with jobs.

Cosponsoring are people from the Green Valley-Sahuarita Volunteer Taskforce.

This program is called “Metamorphosis” and the time and date of event is 1 to 3 p.m., June 17. Similar events will be held later at some Pima County library branches in Tucson.

Resident John Geiger represents the volunteer task force and librarian Karen Greene is handling details at the library.

There could be more than 25 tables in the library’s meeting room where groups seeking volunteers will try to recruit them.

An announcement from the library said “‘Metamorphosis’ is a program that the Pima County Libraries have set up to help adults and youth transform their lives through volunteering.”

Greene said that often during the summer, agencies need more volunteers because of vacations and “snow birds” who have “flown north.”

She added, “Please come. Look for your volunteer match. If you like what you see, you can choose which organization you want to help. It could transform your life.”

In a short interview, Greene and Geiger cited several instances of volunteers taking away from jobs more than they felt they ever gave. In some cases, it’s the friends they can meet and develop at volunteer jobs.

Geiger told of volunteer Cieda Holcomb who volunteered at the Chamber of Commerce and the library “who said that a day had never passed when she was not thanked by a staff member or a patron.” She said she looked forward to seeing her friends at work who “shared the stories of their lives.”

Another example given by Geiger involved Les Brisbois, a Habitat for Humanity volunteer. “He said there was nothing that equaled the feeling when all the volunteers were working together on a family’s house.

He likened it to “a common dinner” all the Habitat volunteers shared.

Geiger said he recently chatted with people at Continental School who had been volunteering with the radio club there. “They loved the opportunity to work with the youngsters who were so eager and energetic.”

He said he and the volunteers found that the youngsters “lifted our spirits and helped us experience that wonderful hope of youth.”

Here are the agencies that will have tables at the library 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, June 17:

The Animal League of Green Valley, Casa de Esperanza, Community Food Bank, Court Appointed Special Advocate, DaZee’s - Hands of a Friend, Friends of the Library, Green Valley Assistance Services

Also GV Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce, Habitat for Humanity, Homicide Survivors Inc., La Posada, Lions Club, Literacy Volunteers of Tucson, Microbusiness Advancement Center of Southern Arizona

Also Mobile Meals of Tucson Inc., Paws Patrol, Pima Council on Aging, Prestige Care Assisted Living, Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers, Southern Arizona VA Health Care System,

Also Telecare Volunteers, Titan Missile Museum, Tubac Presidio State Park, Tucson Museum of Art, U of A Cooperative Extension, Volunteer Center, Welcoming/Diversity Committee and Country Fair White Elephant.

jlamb@gvnews.com | 547-9749