FAQs
About the Virtual Volunteering Project
seniors as online volunteers and/or
online volunteers assist seniors
If you would like your agency to be included in this listing, please complete our online survey.
Arizona Pioneers' Home Volunteers Association
http://aztec.asu.edu/azph/azpioneertoc.html
This organization in Prescott, Arizona was one of the VV Projects Affiliates, and our web site features a very detailed profile of this organization and how it has involved online volunteers.
CyberSeniors
http://www.cyberseniors.org
A national nonprofit organization based in Portland, Maine. Its premise (reinforced by recently published scientific studies documenting how challenging mental exercise stimulates brain cell growth in seniors) is that use of the Internet can aid and equip seniors to retain and/or regain their independence, dignity, purpose, health, long-term mental and physical well-being, and sense of community -- both real and virtual.
Cyberspace Seniors/InterAge CyberPals Classroom Project
http://aztec.asu.edu/cyberspaceseniors/CSS01.html
This pilot project based in Tucson, Arizona brought together teachers, students and seniors to engage in "Curriculum and Casual Correspondence" via e-mail. "I send weekly e-mail reports to the adults and also manage a discussion roster in which the adults express their thoughts about the Programs successes and failures," says the project director, Martha Gore. "I keep in close touch with the adults to make sure they understand how important their contributions are in the lives of these students, some of whom come from rather sad home environments."
Legal Hotline For Older Texans
http://www.tlsc.org/hotline.html
This state agency worked with the VV Project manager to create opportunities for online volunteers, then used the beta database to find volunteers to complete these tasks.
OASIS Institute
http://www.oasisnet.org
Based in St. Louis, Missouri, this national nonprofit organization works to enrich the lives of mature adults. Its Internet Mentoring Program matches older adult volunteers with middle school students. Mentors and students exchange weekly e-mail messages on topics pre-determined by OASIS and the school. The project provides reading and writing opportunities for the students, and a chance to sharpen technology skills and gain support from a caring adult role model. Another benefit is that the program reaches schools where OASIS volunteers cannot travel each week. Individual schools screen the online volunteers according to their district policies (many of the volunteers already volunteer onsite at the schools and have been previously screened). OASIS also provides an online message board to foster communication among online volunteers and staff. The key to their online mentoring program success: "We've always believed in training -- or at least clear guidelines for each volunteer role -- and this is also important for the online volunteers. Also, clearly define the volunteer role and time commitment. They need to understand how much the organization is counting on them. Have written guidelines for staff who will be involved so they understand the goals of the project and how it will benefit the organization. And be patient. Technology has its pitfalls and glitches that need to be worked out."
SeniorNet
http://www.seniornet.org/
A national nonprofit organization in San Francisco, California for computer-using adults, age 50 and older. SeniorNet involves dozens of volunteer CyberHosts and volunteer Discussion/Community leaders. In 1998, SeniorNet hosted the Olympic Cyber Volunteer program, where students in grades four through eight competed for "medals" by responding to academic challenges online.
Service Corps Of Retired Executives (SCORE)
http://www.score.org/
A resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration, dedicated to aiding in the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. SCORE offers an email counseling at no cost (for U.S. citizens and resident aliens only); its huge searchable databank helps users find the SCORE member whose expertise best addresses their business needs. The expertise of members if highly varied and specialized -- users can get email counseling in everything from tropical agriculture to unemployment compensation to wholesale lighting equipment. The Web site also has a database for finding local SCORE affiliates.
