Our Volunteer Program

The Volunteer program consists of two groups: the Bridge Program and the Community Garden Project.

 Bridge Program volunteers
• Provide rides to medical* and other appointments.
• Provide rides to the grocery store, drug store, or Laundromat.
• Run simple errands for you when you are too busy or unable to go along.
• Assist with occasional yard work or gardening.
• Help with moving to a new house/apartment.
• Assist with a household project.

[*Please note that when there is a high demand for services in one week, rides to medical appointments will be prioritized, but other requests are welcome and usually filled.]

Who can use these services?
• Clients/consumers of AIDS CARE/ Hampshire County, whether ill or not. 

How to access Bridge volunteer services
• Call the Volunteer Coordinator with the specific request, with as much advance notice as possible. 
• Requests with less than 2 business days' notice will rarely be filled.  The program is not designed to provide emergency or last-minute assistance. 
• So far, most requests have been filled, but please understand that the program is only able to fill requests when there is an available volunteer.  In certain situations, a back-up van service may be used.

Who are the Bridge volunteers?
• They are individuals who are available mainly during high-demand weekday times, but evening and weekend requests are also possible.
• They are people who simply want to help, and they enjoy doing it.  Nothing is owed in return.
• They are screened and trained by AIDS CARE staff.
• They are committed to respecting your right to confidentiality. 
• They are committed to respecting you, your culture and your decisions. 

Those interested in exploring volunteer options should contact the AIDS CARE/Hampshire County volunteer coordinator at 586-8288 ext. 2, or via e-mail.

The AIDS CARE Community Garden seeks volunteers to help plan, plant and maintain an organic, pick-you-own, community garden in the Northampton Community Gardens. Community Garden project volunteers meet in March of every year to plan and solicit donations for the AIDS CARE garden. During the gardening season from April until November, we plan work parties every 10 days or so to maintain the garden. The Community Garden project is open to anyone, regardless of HIV status, and anyone who assists in the garden is entitled to part of the harvest.

Other brief or ongoing opportunities include fundraising organizing, event assistance, office assistance, newsletter writing, special project coordination and more.

Those interested in exploring volunteer options should contact the AIDS CARE/Hampshire County volunteer coordinator at 586-8288 ext. 2, or via e-mail.